Skil PR0601B-00 Owner's Manual page 6

Use extreme caution when cutting brush and saplings . The slender material may catch the
saw chain and be whipped toward you or pull you off balance.
Carry the pruning saw by the handle with the pruning saw switched off and away from
your body. When transporting or storing the pruning saw always fit the guide bar cover.
Proper handling of the pruning saw will reduce the likelihood of accidental contact with the
moving saw chain.
Follow instructions for lubricating, chain tensioning and changing accessories .
Improperly tensioned or lubricated chain may either break or increase the chance of kickback.
Keep handles dry, clean, and free from oil and grease . Slippery handles and grasping
surfaces may lead to unsafe handling and/or loss of control of the machine.
Cut wood only . Do not use pruning saw for purposes not intended . For example: do not
use pruning saw for cutting plastic, masonry, or non-wood building materials . Use of the
pruning saw for operations different than intended could result in a hazardous situation.
Causes and operator prevention
of kickback (Fig. 1, 2, 3):
Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of the
guide bar touches an object, or when the wood
closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut.
Tip contact in some cases may cause a sud-
den reverse reaction, kicking the guide bar up
and back towards the operator.
Pinching the saw chain along the top of the
guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly back
towards the operator.
Either of these reactions may cause you to
lose control of the saw, which could result in
serious personal injury. Do not rely exclusively
upon the safety devices built into your saw. As
a pruning saw user, you should take several
steps to keep your cutting jobs free from acci-
dent or injury.
Kickback is the result of machine misuse and/
or incorrect operating procedures or conditions
and can be avoided by taking proper precau-
tions as given below:
6
Fig . 1
Fig . 2
Rotational
kickback
Kickback
danger zone