TOOLCRAFT TCHK 20-LI Solo Mode D'emploi Original page 26

Kickback: Causes and prevention by the operator
• Kickback is an unexpected reaction to a seized or misaligned saw blade, which causes an uncontrolled
movement with the saw coming off the piece being processed towards the operator;
• When a saw blade has seized or is blocked by the cut that has been made, the blade stops and the reac-
tion of the motor sends the appliance quickly backwards towards the operator;
• If the saw blade gets misaligned or twisted inside the cut, the teeth on the rear edge of the blade can
get caught in the upper surface of the wood making the saw come out of the cut and jump backwards
towards the operator.
• Kickback is the result of improper use of the saw and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions.
Kickback can be avoided by taking the precautions described above.
• Keep a firm hold with both hands on the saw and position arms so as to withstand the kickback forces.
Put your body in a lateral position in relation to the saw blade, but not in line with it. Kickback could cause
the saw to jump backwards, but kickback forces can be controlled by the operator when the suitable
precautions are adopted.
• When restarting the saw inside the piece being processed, centre the saw blade in the cut and check that
the saw's teeth are not engaged in the material. If the saw blade seizes up, it may come out or have a
kickback reaction when it is restarted.
• Support large panels in order to reduce the risk of the saw blade gelling stuck and kickback as much
as possible. Large panels tend to bend under their own weight. The supports must be placed under the
panel on both sides, near the cutting line and the edge of the panel.
• If the saw blade seizes up or a cut is interrupted for any reason, switch off the saw and hold it firmly inside
the material until the blade stops completely. Do not attempt to remove the saw from the workpiece or
pull it backwards while the saw blade is moving. Otherwise kickback may occur. Analyse and adopt the
necessary measures for eliminating the cause of the saw blade seizing up.
• Do not use blunt or damaged saw blades. Blunt saw blades or blades with misaligned teeth result in
too narrow a sawing gap, which creates too much friction, causes the blade to seize up and leads to
kickback.
• The depth adjustment of the saw blade and the levers to lock the adjustment level at an angle must be
securely tightened and checked before starting the cut. If the saw blade adjustment moves during the cut,
it can cause the blade to seize up and kickback to occur.
• Adopt extra precautions during a cut in existing walls or in other blind areas. The part of the saw blade
sticking out can hit objects which can cause kickback.
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