Skil 5164 Instructions page 9

SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR CIRCULAR SAWS
DANGER
Keep hands away from cutting area and the blade;
keep your second hand on front handle (if both hands
are holding the saw, they can not be cut by the blade)
Do not reach underneath the workpiece (the guard
cannot protect you from the blade below the workpiece)
Adjust the cutting depth to the thickness of the
workpiece (less than a full tooth of the blade teeth
should be visible below the workpiece)
Never hold piece being cut in your hands or across
your leg (it is important to support the work properly to
minimise body exposure, blade binding, or loss of
control)
Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when
performing an operation where the cutting tool may
contact hidden wiring or its own cord (contact with a
"live" wire will also make exposed metal parts of the tool
"live" and shock the operator)
When ripping always use a rip fence or straight edge
guide (this improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the
chance for blade binding)
Always use blades with correct size and shape of
arbor holes (diamond or round) (blades that do not
match the mounting hardware of the saw will run
eccentrically, causing loss of control)
Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or
bolts (the blade washers and bolt were specially
designed for your saw, for optimum performance and
safety of operation)
KICKBACK - CAUSES
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound or
misaligned saw blade, causing an uncontrolled saw to lift
up and out of the workpiece toward the operator
When the blade is pinched or bound tightly by the kerf
closing down, the blade stalls and the motor reaction
drives the unit rapidly back toward the operator
If the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in the cut, the
teeth at the back edge of the blade can dig into the top
surface of the wood causing the blade to climb out of the
kerf and jump back towards operator
KICKBACK - OPERATOR PREVENTION
Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by
taking proper precautions as given below
Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and
position your arms to resist kickback forces;
position your body to either side of the blade, but
not in line with the blade (kickback could cause the
saw to jump backwards, but kickback forces can be
controlled by the operator, if proper precautions are
taken)
When blade is binding, or when interrupting a cut for
any reason, release the trigger and hold the saw
motionless in the material until the blade comes to a
complete stop; never attempt to remove the saw
from the work or pull the saw backwards while the
blade is in motion or kickback may occur (investigate
and take corrective actions to eliminate the cause of
blade binding; avoid cutting nails or screws)
When restarting a saw in the workpiece, centre the
saw blade in the kerf and check that saw teeth are
not engaged into the material (if saw blade is binding,
it may walk up or kickback from the workpiece as the
saw is restarted)
Support large panels to minimise the risk of blade
pinching and kickback (large panels tend to sag under
their own weight; supports must be placed under the
panel on both sides, near the line of cut and near the
edge of the panel)
Do not use a dull or damaged blade (unsharpened or
improperly set blades produce narrow kerf causing
excessive friction, blade binding and kickback)
Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must
be tight and secure before making cut (if blade
adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause binding and
kickback)
Use extra caution when making a plunge cut into
existing walls or other blind areas (the protruding
blade may cut objects that can cause kickback)
WARNING
Check lower guard for proper closing before each
use
Do not operate the saw if lower guard does not move
freely and close instantly
Never clamp or tie the lower guard into the open
position
If saw is accidentally dropped, lower guard may be bent;
raise the lower guard with the retracting handle and
make sure it moves freely and does not touch the blade
or any other part, in all angles and depths of cut
Check the operation of the lower guard spring; if the
guard and the spring are not operating properly, they
must be serviced before use (lower guard may operate
sluggishly due to damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a
build-up of debris)
Lower guard should be retracted manually only for
special cuts such as plunge cuts and compound
cuts; raise lower guard by retracting handle and as
soon as blade enters the material, the lower guard
must be released (for all other sawing, the lower guard
should operate automatically)
Always observe that the lower guard is covering the
blade before placing saw down on bench or floor
(an unprotected, coasting blade will cause the saw to
walk backwards, cutting whatever is in its path; be aware
of the time it takes for the blade to stop after switch is
released)
Avoid damage that can be caused by screws, nails and
other elements in your workpiece; remove them before
you start cutting
When you put away the tool, switch off the motor and
ensure that all moving parts have come to a complete
standstill
Use completely unrolled and safe extension cords with a
capacity of 16 Amps (U.K. 13 Amps)
In case of jamming or electrical or mechanical
malfunction, immediately switch off the tool and
disconnect the plug
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