Kickback Causes And Related Warnings - Skil 1340 Original Instructions Manual

• Do not perform any operation "freehand". Always
use either the rip fence or the mitre gauge to
position and guide the workpiece. "Freehand" means
using your hands to support or guide the workpiece, in
lieu of a rip fence or mitre gauge. Freehand sawing leads
to misalignment, binding and kickback.
• Never reach around or over a rotating saw blade.
Reaching for a workpiece may lead to accidental contact
with the moving saw blade.
• Provide auxiliary workpiece support to the rear
and/or sides of the saw table for long and/or wide
workpieces to keep them level. A long and/or wide
workpiece has a tendency to pivot on the table's edge,
causing loss of control, saw blade binding and kickback.
• Feed workpiece at an even pace. Do not bend or
twist the workpiece. If jamming occurs, turn the tool
off immediately, unplug the tool then clear the jam.
Jamming the saw blade by the workpiece can cause
kickback or stall the motor.
• Do not remove pieces of cut-off material while the
saw is running. The material may become trapped
between the fence or inside the saw blade guard and the
saw blade pulling your fingers into the saw blade. Turn
the saw off and wait until the saw blade stops before
removing material.
• Use an auxiliary fence in contact with the table top
when ripping workpieces less than 2 mm thick. A
thin workpiece may wedge under the rip fence and create
a kickback.

KICKBACK CAUSES AND RELATED WARNINGS

Kickback is a sudden reaction of the workpiece due to a
pinched, jammed saw blade or misaligned line of cut in the
workpiece with respect to the saw blade or when a part of the
workpiece binds between the saw blade and the rip fence or
other fixed object.
Most frequently during kickback, the workpiece is lifted from
the table by the rear portion of the saw blade and is propelled
towards the operator.
Kickback is the result of saw misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by
taking proper precautions as given below.
• Never stand directly in line with the saw blade.
Always position your body on the same side of
the saw blade as the fence. Kickback may propel the
workpiece at high velocity towards anyone standing in
front and in line with the saw blade.
• Never reach over or in back of the saw blade to pull
or to support the workpiece. Accidental contact with
the saw blade may occur or kickback may drag your
fingers into the saw blade.
• Never hold and press the workpiece that is being
cut off against the rotating saw blade. Pressing the
workpiece being cut off against the saw blade will create
a binding condition and kickback.
• Align the fence to be parallel with the saw blade. A
misaligned fence will pinch the workpiece against the
saw blade and create kickback.
• Use a featherboard to guide the workpiece against
the table and fence when making non-through cuts
such as rabbeting. A featherboard helps to control the
workpiece in the event of a kickback.
• Support large panels to minimise the risk of saw
blade pinching and kickback. Large panels tend to sag
under their own weight. Support(s) must be placed under
all portions of the panel overhanging the table top.
• Use extra caution when cutting a workpiece that
is twisted, knotted, warped or does not have a
straight edge to guide it with a mitre gauge or along
the fence. A warped, knotted, or twisted workpiece is
unstable and causes misalignment of the kerf with the
saw blade, binding and kickback.
• Never cut more than one workpiece, stacked
vertically or horizontally. The saw blade could pick up
one or more pieces and cause kickback.
• When restarting the saw with the saw blade in the
workpiece, centre the saw blade in the kerf so that
the saw teeth are not engaged in the material. If the
saw blade binds, it may lift up the workpiece and cause
kickback when the saw is restarted.
• Keep saw blades clean, sharp, and with sufficient
set. Never use warped saw blades or saw blades
with cracked or broken teeth. Sharp and properly set
saw blades minimise binding, stalling and kickback.
TABLE SAW OPERATING PROCEDURE WARNINGS
• Turn off the table saw and disconnect the power
cord when removing the table insert, changing
the saw blade or making adjustments to the riving
knife, or saw blade guard, and when the machine
is left unattended. Precautionary measures will avoid
accidents.
• Never leave the table saw running unattended.
Turn it off and don't leave the tool until it comes
to a complete stop. An unattended running saw is an
uncontrolled hazard.
• Locate the table saw in a well-lit and level area
where you can maintain good footing and balance. It
should be installed in an area that provides enough
room to easily handle the size of your workpiece.
Cramped, dark areas, and uneven slippery floors invite
accidents.
• Frequently clean and remove sawdust from under
the saw table and/or the dust collection device.
Accumulated sawdust is combustible and may self-ignite.
• The table saw must be secured. A table saw that is not
properly secured may move or tip over.
• Remove tools, wood scraps, etc. from the table
before the table saw is turned on. Distraction or a
potential jam can be dangerous.
• Always use saw blades with correct size and shape
(diamond versus round) of arbour holes. Saw blades
that do not match the mounting hardware of the saw will
run off-centre, causing loss of control.
• Never use damaged or incorrect saw blade
mounting means such as flanges, saw blade
washers, bolts or nuts. These mounting means were
specially designed for your saw, for safe operation and
optimum performance.
• Never stand on the table saw, do not use it as a
stepping stool. Serious injury could occur if the tool is
tipped or if the cutting tool is accidentally contacted.
• Make sure that the saw blade is installed to rotate
in the proper direction. Do not use grinding wheels,
wire brushes, or abrasive wheels on a table saw.
Improper saw blade installation or use of accessories not
recommended may cause serious injury.
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