DeWalt DCS373 Manual page 17

lower Blade guard
WARNING: Under certain conditions
of use, metal chips may become
imbedded in the surfaces of the lower
guard, causing the lower guard to rub
against the upper guard. Check the
operation of the lower guard before
each use and remove any imbedded
chips.
WARNING: The lower blade guard is
a safety feature which reduces the
risk of serious personal injury. Never
use the saw if the lower guard is
missing, damaged, misassembled
or not working properly. Do not rely
on the lower blade guard to protect
you under all circumstances. Your
safety depends on following all
warnings and precautions as well
as proper operation of the saw.
Check lower guard for proper
closing before each use as outlined
in Additional Safety Rules for Circular
Saws. If the lower blade guard is
missing or not working properly,
have the saw serviced before
using. To assure product safety and
reliability, repair, maintenance and
adjustment should be performed
by an authorised service centre or
other qualified service organization,
always using identical replacement
parts.
Blades
WARNING: To minimise the risk of
eye injury, always use eye protection.
Carbide is a hard but brittle material.
Foreign objects in the workpiece such
as wire or nails can cause tips to crack
or break. Only operate saw when proper
saw blade guard is in place. Mount
blade securely in proper rotation before
using, and always use a clean, sharp
blade.
Blade Diameter
DT1212-QZ 140 mm
(5-1/2")
If you need assistance regarding blades, please
contact your local D WALT dealer.
e
Teeth Application
30 General purpose
ferrous metal
cutting
kiCkBaCk
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 material
causing the blade to climb out of the kerf and jump
back toward the operator.
Kickback is more likely to occur when any of the
following conditions exists.
1. IMPROPER WORKPIECE SUPPORT
A. Sagging or improper lifting of the cut off
piece can cause pinching of the blade and
lead to kickback (fig. 9).
B. Cutting through material supported at the
outer ends only can cause kickback. As the
material weakens it sags, closing down the
kerf and pinching the blade (fig. 9).
C. Cutting off a cantilevered or overhanging
piece of material from the bottom up in a
vertical direction can cause kickback. The
falling cut off piece can pinch the blade.
D. Cutting off long narrow strips can cause
kickback. The cut off strip can sag or twist
closing the kerf and pinching the blade.
E. Snagging the lower guard on a surface
below the material being cut momentarily
reduces operator control. The saw can lift
partially out of the cut increasing the chance
of blade twist.
2. IMPROPER DEPTH OF CUT SETTING ON
SAW
To make the most efficient cut, the blade should
protrude only far enough to expose a tooth
as shown in Figure 8. This allows the shoe to
support the blade and minimises twisting and
pinching in the material. See the section titled
Depth Adjustment.
3. BLADE TWISTING (MISALIGNMENT IN
CUT)
A. Pushing harder to cut can cause the blade to
twist.
B. Trying to turn the saw in the cut (trying to get
back on the marked line) can cause blade
twist.
E ng l i s h
15