OPERATION

CAUTION:

Do not force the saw. Forcing the saw may overheat the motor and break saw blades.

PLUNGE CUTTING

See Figure 9.

WARNING:

To avoid loss of control, broken blades, or dam- age to the material being cut, always use extreme caution when making plunge cuts. It is not rec- ommended to plunge cut materials other than wood.

Mark the line of cut clearly on the workpiece.

Tilt the saw forward so that it rests on the front edge of the shoe and blade will not come in contact with the workpiece when the saw is turned on.

Make sure the blade is inside the area to be cut.

Using high speed, start the saw and slowly lower the blade into the workpiece until the blade cuts through the wood.

Continue lowering the blade into the workpiece until the shoe rests flat on the work surface, then move the saw forward to complete the opening.

Use only the 7 teeth per inch blade for this type of cut.

METAL CUTTING

See Figure 10.

Many kinds of metals can be cut with the saw. Be careful not to twist or bend the blades. Do not force. If the blade chatters or vibrates excessively, use a finer-tooth metal- cutting blade. If blade heats excessively, use lower speed. If blade teeth become filled or clogged when cutting soft met- als, such as aluminum, use a coarser-tooth blade or lower speed. We recommend use of oil when cutting metals to keep blades cool, increase cutting action, and prolong blade life. Clamp the work firmly and saw close to the clamping point to eliminate any vibration of the work being cut.

When cutting conduit, pipe, or angle iron, clamp work in a vise if possible and saw close to the vise. To cut thin sheet materials, “sandwich” the material between hardboard or plywood and clamp the layers to eliminate vibration and material tearing. By doing this, the material will be cut smoothly. Lay out your pattern or line of cut on top of the “sandwich.”

NOTE: When cutting metal, keep exposed portion of saw blade clean and free of metal chips by wiping frequently with an oily cloth. Use extreme caution in disposing of oily cloth after completion of job to prevent potential fire hazard.

Fig. 8

Fig. 9

Fig. 10

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RIDGID R8442 manual Plunge Cutting, Metal Cutting