DeWalt DC390 Instruction Manual page 14

injury. Figure 8 illustrates proper hand support of the saw. Maintain a
firm grip with both hands on the saw and position your body and arm
to allow you to resist kickback if it occurs. ALWAYS TURN OFF TOOL
AND REMOVE BATTERY BEFORE MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS!
FIG. 8
Figure 8 shows proper sawing position. Note that hands are kept away
from cutting area. To avoid kickback, DO support board or panel
NEAR the cut (Fig. 9). DON'T support board or panel away from the
cut (Fig. 10).
Place the work with its "good" side – the one on which appearance is
most important – down. The saw cuts upward, so any splintering will
be on the work face that is up when you cut it.
FIG. 9
DO support board or
panel NEAR the cut.
SUPPORT
FIG. 10
DON'T support board or
panel AWAY from the cut.
Cutting
Place the wider portion of the saw shoe on that part of the work piece
which is solidly supported, not on the section that will fall off when the
cut is made. As examples, Figure 8 illustrates the RIGHT way to cut
off the end of a board. Always clamp work. Don't try to hold short
pieces by hand! Remember to support cantilevered and overhanging
material. Use caution when sawing material from below.
Be sure saw is up to full speed before blade contacts material to be cut.
Starting saw with blade against material to be cut or pushed forward
into kerf can result in kickback. Push the saw forward at a speed which
allows the blade to cut without laboring. Hardness and toughness can
vary even in the same piece of material, and knotty or damp sections
can put a heavy load on the saw. When this happens, push the saw
more slowly, but hard enough to keep working without much decrease
in speed. Forcing the saw can cause rough cuts, inaccuracy, kickback,
and over-heating of the motor. Should your cut begin to go off the line,
don't try to force it back on. Release the switch and allow blade to come
to a complete stop. Then you can withdraw the saw, sight anew, and
start a new cut slightly inside the wrong one. In any event, withdraw the
saw if you must shift the cut. Forcing a correction inside the cut can stall
the saw and lead to kickback.
IF SAW STALLS, RELEASE THE TRIGGER AND BACK THE SAW
UNTIL IT IS LOOSE. BE SURE BLADE IS STRAIGHT IN THE CUT
AND CLEAR OF THE CUTTING EDGE BEFORE RESTARTING.
As you finish a cut, release the trigger and allow the blade to stop
before lifting the saw from the work. As you lift the saw, the spring-ten-
sioned telescoping guard will automatically close under the blade.
Remember the blade is exposed until this occurs. Never reach under
the work for any reason. When you have to retract the telescoping
guard manually (as is necessary for starting pocket cuts) always use
the retracting lever.
NOTE: When cutting thin strips, be careful to ensure that small cutoff
pieces don't hang up on inside of lower guard.
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