Maintenance; Basic Saw Operation - Powermatic 64A Instruction Manual

MAINTENANCE

Good saw operation requires periodic preventive main-
tenance.
1. Keep the inside of the cabinet and trunnion ar-
eas clean. A stiff brush will remove sawdust before it
cakes, and pitch or gum is easily removed with a com-
mercial solvent.
2. After cleaning the tilting and raising worm, and
worm gear segments, and the trunnions, grease these
three areas with a good grade non-hardening grease.
3. The table surface must be kept clean and free of
rust for best results. An occasional coat of paste wax
on the table will allow the wood stock to glide smoothly
across the work surface.
An alternative is white talcum powder applied with a
blackboard eraser rubbed in vigorously once a week
to fill casting pores and form a moisture barrier. This
method provides a table top that is slick and allows
rust rings to be easily wiped from the surface. It is
also important to note that talcum powder will not stain
wood or mar finishes as wax pickup does.

BASIC SAW OPERATION

1. Familiarize yourself with the location and opera-
tion of all controls and adjustments and the use of the
mitre gauge and rip fence.
2. Serious injury can result from kickbacks which
occur when a workpiece binds on the saw blade or
binds between the saw blade and rip fence or other
fixed objects. This binding can cause the workpiece
to lift up and be thrown toward the operator.
Listed below are the conditions which can cause kick-
back and should be thoroughly familiar to the opera-
tor.
a. Confining the cutoff piece when crosscutting
or ripping.
b. Releasing the workpiece before completing
the operation or not pushing the workpiece
all the way past the saw blade.
c. Not using the splitter when ripping or not
maintaining alignment of the splitter with the
saw blade.
21