Festool HK 55 EQ Original Instructions Manual page 9

Maintain a firm grip with both hands on
–
the saw and position your arms to resist
kickback forces. Position your body to ei­
ther 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 pre­
cautions are taken.
When blade is binding, or when interrupt­
–
ing a cut for any reason, release the trig­
ger and hold the saw motionless in the
material until the blade comes to a com­
plete stop. Never attempt to remove the
saw from the work or pull the saw back­
ward while the blade is in motion or kick­
back may occur. Investigate and take cor­
rective actions to eliminate the cause of
blade binding.
When restarting a saw in the workpiece,
–
centre the saw blade in the kerf so that
the saw teeth are not engaged into the
material. If a saw blade binds, 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 pan­
els 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 dull or damaged blades. Un­
–
sharpened or improperly set blades pro­
duce narrow kerf causing excessive fric­
tion, blade binding and kickback.
– Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking
levers must be tight and secure before
making the cut. If blade adjustment shifts
while cutting, it may cause binding and
kickback.
Use extra caution when sawing into exist­
–
ing walls or other blind areas. The pro­
truding blade may cut objects that can
cause kickback.
Lower guard function
Check the lower guard for proper closing
a.
before each use. Do not operate the saw if
the lower guard does not move freely and
close instantly. Never clamp or tie the
lower guard into the open position. If the
saw is accidentally dropped, the 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
b.
spring. If the guard and the spring are not
operating properly, they must be serviced
before use. Lower guard may operate slug­
gishly due to damaged parts, gummy de­
posits, or a build-up of debris.
The lower guard may be retracted man­
c.
ually only for special cuts such as "plunge
cuts" and "compound cuts". Raise the low­
er guard by the retracting handle and as
soon as the blade enters the material, the
lower guard must be released. For all oth­
er sawing, the lower guard should operate
automatically.
Always observe that the lower guard is
d.
covering the blade before placing the 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.
Function of the guide wedge [1-5]
a. Use the correct saw blade for the guide
wedge, where possible. The function of the
guide wedge is restricted if using saw
blades with a thicker blade core. To en­
sure that the guide wedge functions prop­
erly, make sure the blade core of the saw
blade is thinner than the guide wedge and
that the tooth width is greater than the
thickness of the guide wedge. Expect in­
creased risk of kickback when using a
thicker saw blade.
b. Do not operate the saw if the guide wedge
is bent. Even the slightest problem can
cause the guard to close more slowly.
Further safety instructions
This electric power tool cannot be instal­
–
led in a work bench. The electric power
tool may become unsafe and cause serious
accidents if installed in benches from other
manufacturers or self-manufactured work
benches.
Never place your hands into the chip ejec­
–
tor. You may injure yourself on rotating
parts.
Use suitable detectors to determine if util­
–
ity lines are hidden in the work area or
call the local utility company for assis­
tance. Aontact with electric lines can lead
to fire and electric shock. Damaging a gas
line can lead to explosion. Penetrating a
water line causes property damage or may
cause an electric shock.
English
9