• NEVER CUT METALS, CEMENT BOARD OR MASONRY. Certain man-made
materials have special instructions for cutting on table saws. Follow the manufacturer's
recommendations at all times. Damage to the saw and personal injury may result.
• THE PROPER THROAT PLATE MUST BE LOCKED IN PLACE AT ALL TIMES to
reduce the risk of a thrown workpiece and possible injury.
• USE THE CORRECT SAW BLADE FOR THE INTENDED OPERATION. The blade
must rotate toward the front of the saw. Always tighten the blade arbor nut securely.
Before use, inspect the blade for cracks or missing teeth. Do not use a damaged or dull
blade.
• NEVER ATTEMPT TO FREE A STALLED SAW BLADE WITHOUT FIRST TURNING
THE MACHINE OFF AND DISCONNECTING THE SAW FROM THE POWER
SOURCE. If a workpiece or cut-off piece becomes trapped inside the blade guard
assembly, turn saw off and wait for blade to stop before lifting the blade guard assembly
and removing the piece.
• NEVER START THE MACHINE with the workpiece against the blade to reduce the risk
of a thrown workpiece and personal injury.
• NEVER have any part of your body in line with the path of the saw blade. Personal
injury may occur.
• NEVER PERFORM LAYOUT, ASSEMBLY OR SET-UP WORK on the table/work area
when the machine is running. A sudden slip could cause a hand to move into the blade.
Severe injury can result.
• CLEAN THE TABLE/WORK AREA BEFORE LEAVING THE MACHINE. Lock
the switch in the "OFF" position and disconnect from the power source to prevent
unauthorized use.
• DO NOT leave a long board (or other workpiece) unsupported so the spring of
the board causes it to shift on the table resulting in loss of control and possible
injury. Provide proper support for the workpiece, based on its size and the type of
operation to be performed. Hold the work firmly against the fence and down against the
table surface.
• IF YOUR SAW makes an unfamiliar noise or if it vibrates excessively, cease operating
immediately, turn unit off and disconnect from power source until the problem has been
located and corrected. Contact a D
WALT factory service center, a D
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service center or other qualified service personnel if the problem can not be found.
• KEEP OUT of the line of saw blade. Stand to the side whenever possible.
• USE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES. The use of improper accessories may cause
risk of personal injury.
• DO NOT OPERATE THIS MACHINE until it is completely assembled and installed
according to the instructions. A machine incorrectly assembled can cause serious injury.
• OBTAIN ADVICE from your supervisor, instructor, or another qualified person if you are
not thoroughly familiar with the operation of this machine. Knowledge is safety.
• ADDITIONAL INFORMATION regarding the safe and proper operation of power tools
(i.e., a safety video) is available from the Power Tool Institute, 1300 Sumner Avenue,
Cleveland, OH 44115-2851 (www.powertoolinstitute.com). Information is also available
from the National Safety Council, 1121 Spring Lake Drive, Itasca, IL 60143-3201.
Please refer to the U.S. Department of Labor OSHA 1910.213 Regulations.
TERMS: THE FOLLOWING TERMS WILL BE USED THROUGHOUT THE MANUAL
AND YOU SHOULD BECOME FAMILIAR WITH THEM.
• Thru-sawing refers to any cut that completely cuts through the workpiece.
• Non thru-sawing refers to any cut that does not completely cut through the workpiece.
• Push Stick refers to a wooden or plastic stick, usually homemade, that is used to push
small workpiece through the saw and keeps the operator's hands clear of the blade.
• Kickback occurs when the saw blade binds in the cut and violently thrusts the
workpiece back toward the operator.
• Freehand refers to cutting without the use of a miter gauge or rip fence or any
other means of guiding or holding the workpiece other than the operator's hand.
WARNING: Never perform freehand cutting with this saw.
• Plunge cutting refers to blind cuts in the workpiece made by either raising the blade
through the workpiece or lowering the workpiece down to the blade.
WARNING: Never perform plunge cutting with this saw.
• Resawing - Flipping material to make a cut the saw is not capable of making in one
pass.
WARNING: Resawing IS NOT recommended.
SAW BLADE GUARD ASSEMBLY, ANTI-KICKBACK ASSEMBLY AND RIVING KNIFE
Your table saw is equipped with a blade guard assembly, anti-kickback assembly and
riving knife that covers the blade and reduces the possibility of accidental blade contact.
The riving knife is a flat plate that fits into the cut made by the saw blade and effectively
fights kickback by lessening the tendency of the blade to bind in the cut. The blade guard
assembly and anti-kickback assembly can only be used when making through cuts
that sever the wood. When making rabbets and other cuts that make non through
cuts, the blade guard assembly and anti-kickback assembly must be removed and
riving knife lowered to the non through cut position marked on the riving knife. Two
anti-kickback pawls are located on the sides of the riving knife that allow the wood to pass
through the blade in the cutting direction but reduce the possibility of the material being
thrown backwards toward the operator.
Use all components of the guarding system (blade guard assembly, riving knife and anti-
kickback assembly) for every operation for which they can be used including all through
cutting. If you elect not to use any of these components for a particular application exercise
additional caution regarding control of the workpiece, the use of push sticks, the position of
your hands relative to the blade, the use of safety glasses, the means to avoid kickback and
all other warnings contained in this manual and on the saw itself. Replace the guarding
systems as soon as you return to thru-cutting operations. Keep the guard assembly
in working order.
MAKING A PUSH STICK (Inside Back Cover)
• In order to operate your table saw safely you must use a push stick whenever the size
WALT authorized
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or shape of the workpiece would cause your hands to be within 6" (152 mm) of the saw
blade or other cutter. A push stick is included with this saw.
• No special wood is needed to make additional push-sticks as long as it's sturdy and long
enough. A length of 15.7" (400 mm) is recommended with a notch that fits against the
edge of the workpiece to prevent slipping. It's a good idea to have several push sticks
of the same length [15.7" (400 mm)] with different size notches for different workpiece
thicknesses.
• See the inside back cover for a picture of a push stick. The shape can vary to suit your
own needs as long as it performs its intended function of keeping your hands away from
the blade.
KICKBACKS
KICKBACKS: Kickbacks can cause serious injury. A kickback occurs when a part of the
workpiece binds between the saw blade and the rip fence, or other fixed object, and rises
from the table and is thrown toward the operator. Kickbacks can be avoided by attention to
the following conditions.
How to Avoid Them and Protect Yourself from Possible Injury
a. Be certain that the rip fence is parallel to the saw blade.
b. Do not rip by applying the feed force to the section of the workpiece that will become
the cut-off (free) piece. Feed force when ripping should always be applied between the
saw blade and the fence; use a push stick for narrow work, 6" (152 mm) wide or less.
c. Keep saw blade guard assembly, riving knife and anti-kickback assembly in place
and operating properly. If anti-kickback assembly is not operational, return your unit
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