Milwaukee M12 FHS Notice Originale page 25

Saw jammed in the cut
Stop the pruning saw and make it safe. Do not try to force the chain
and bar out of the cut as this is likely to break the chain, which may
swing back and strike the operator. This situation normally occurs
because the wood is incorrectly supported which forces the cut to
close under compression, thereby pinching the blade. If adjusting
the support does not release the bar and chain, use wooden
wedges or a lever to open the cut and release the saw. Never try to
start the pruning saw when the guide bar is already in a cut or kerf.
Skating / Bouncing
When the pruning saw fails to dig in during a cut, the guide bar
can begin hopping or dangerously skidding along the surface of
the log or branch, possibly resulting in the loss of control of the
pruning saw. To prevent or reduce skating or bouncing, always use
the saw with both hands make sure the saw chain establishes a
groove for cutting. Never cut small, exible branches or brushes
with your pruning saw. Their size and exibility can easily cause the
saw to bounce towards you or bind up with enough force to cause a
kickback. The best tool for that kind of work is a hand saw, pruning
shears, an axe or other hand tools.
GB
Personal protective equipment
Wear a helmet at all times when operating the machine. A helmet,
equipped with mesh visor, can help reduce the risk of injury to the
face and the head if kickback occurs. Wear ear protectors. Exposure
to noise can cause hearing loss.
Good quality personal protective equipment, as used by profes-
sionals, will help reduce the risk of injury to the operator. The
following items should be used when operating the machine:
Safety helmet
should comply with EN 397 and be CE marked
Hearing protection
should comply with EN 352-1 and be CE marked
Eye and face protection
should be CE marked and comply with EN 166 (for safety glasses) or
EN 1731 (for mesh visors)
Gloves
should comply with EN381-7 and be CE marked
English
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Leg protection (chaps)
should comply with EN 381-5, be CE marked and provide allround
protection
pruning saw safety boots
should comply with EN ISO 20345:2004 and be marked with a shield
depicting a pruning saw to show compliance with EN 381-3. (Occa-
sional users may use steel toe-cap safety boots with protective
gaiters which conform to EN 381-9 if the ground is even and there is
little risk of tripping or catching on undergrowth)
pruning saw jackets for upper body protection
should comply with EN 381-11 and be CE marked
WARNING!
Consequences of improper maintenance, removal or modi-
cation of safety features like the chain brake, ignition
switch, hand guard (front and back), spiked bumper, chain
catcher, guide bar, low kick-back saw chain may cause the
safety features to not function correctly, thus increasing
the potential for serious injury.
Spiked Bumper
The integral bumper spike may be used as a pivot when making
a cut. It helps to keep the body of the pruning saw steady while
cutting. When cutting, push the machine forward until the spikes
dig into the edge of the wood, then by moving the rear handle up
or down in the direction of the cutting line it can help ease the
physical strain of cutting.
Guide Bar
Generally, guide bars with small radius tips have somewhat lower
potential for kick-back. You should use a guide bar and matching
chain which is just long enough for the job. Longer bars increase
the risk of loss of control during sawing. Regularly check the chain
tension. When cutting smaller branches (less than the full length
of the guide bar) the chain is more likely to be thrown o if the
tension is not correct.
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE PROPER TECHNIQUES
FOR BASIC FELLING, LIMBING AND CROSS CUTTING
Understanding the forces within the wood
When you understand the directional pressures and stresses inside
the wood you can reduce the "pinches" or at least expect them
during your cutting. Tension in the wood means the bers are being
pulled apart and if you cut in this area, the "kerf" or cut will tend to
open as the saw goes through. If a log is being supported on a saw
horse and the end is hanging unsupported over the end, tension is
created on the upper surface due to the weight of the overhanging
log stretching the bers. Likewise, the underside of the log will be
in compression and the bers are being pushed together. If a cut is
made in this area, the kerf will have the tendency to close up during
the cut. This would pinch the blade.
Limbing a tree
Limbing is removing the branches from a fallen tree. When limbing,
leave larger lower limbs to support the log o the ground. Remove
the small limbs in one cut. Branches under tension should be cut
from the bottom up to avoid bindingthe pruning saw.