Milwaukee M12 FUEL 2531-20 - ORBITAL DETAIL SANDER Manual

GENERAL POWER TOOL SAFETY WARNINGS

Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations and specifications provided with this power tool. Failure to follow all instructions listed below may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury. Save all warnings and instructions for future reference. The term "power tool" in the warnings refers to your mains-operated (corded) power tool or battery-operated (cordless) power tool.

WORK AREA SAFETY

• Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark areas invite accidents.
• Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases or dust. Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.
• Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose control.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY

• Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way. Do not use any adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools. Unmodified plugs and matching outlets will reduce risk of electric shock.
• Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces, such as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
• Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.
• Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling or unplugging the power tool. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase the risk of electric shock.
• When operating a power tool outdoors, use an extension cord suitable for outdoor use. Use of a cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of electric shock.
• If operating a power tool in a damp location is unavoidable, use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected supply. Use of an GFCI reduces the risk of electric shock.

PERSONAL SAFETY

• Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power tool. Do not use a power tool while you are tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication. A moment of inattention while operating power tools may result in serious personal injury.
• Use personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protection. Protective equipment such as a dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat or hearing protection used for appropriate conditions will reduce personal injuries.
• Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch is in the off-position before connecting to power source and/or battery pack, picking up or carrying the tool. Carrying power tools with your finger on the switch or energizing power tools that have the switch on invites accidents.
• Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turning the power tool on. A wrench or a key left attached to a rotating part of the power tool may result in personal injury.
• Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. This enables better control of the power tool in unexpected situations.
• Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Keep your hair and clothing away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry or long hair can be caught in moving parts.
• If devices are provided for the connection of dust extraction and collection facilities, ensure these are connected and properly used. Use of dust collection can reduce dust-related hazards.
• Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use of tools allow you to become complacent and ignore tool safety principles. A careless action can cause severe injury within a fraction of a second.

POWER TOOL USE AND CARE

• Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power tool for your application. The correct power tool will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed.
• Do not use the power tool if the switch does not turn it on and off. Any power tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be repaired.
• Disconnect the plug from the power source and/ or remove the battery pack, if detachable, from the power tool before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing power tools. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.
• Store idle power tools out of the reach of children and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the power tool or these instructions to operate the power tool. Power tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
• Maintain power tools and accessories. Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts and any other condition that may affect the power tool's operation. If damaged, have the power tool repaired before use. Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained power tools.
• Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
• Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits etc. in accordance with these instructions, taking into account the working conditions and the work to be performed. Use of the power tool for operations different from those intended could result in a hazardous situation.
• Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean and free from oil and grease. Slippery handles and grasping surfaces do not allow for safe handling and control of the tool in unexpected situations.

BATTERY TOOL USE AND CARE

• Recharge only with the charger specified by the manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one type of battery pack may create a risk of fire when used with another battery pack.
• Use power tools only with specifically designated battery packs. Use of any other battery packs may create a risk of injury and fire.
• 
  When battery pack is not in use, keep it away from other metal objects, like paper clips, coins, keys, nails, screws or other small metal objects, that can make a connection from one terminal to another. Shorting the battery terminals together may cause burns or a fire.
• 
  Under abusive conditions, liquid may be ejected from the battery; avoid contact. If contact accidentally occurs, flush with water. If liquid contacts eyes, additionally seek medical help. Liquid ejected from the battery may cause irritation or burns.
• Do not use a battery pack or tool that is damaged or modified. Damaged or modified batteries may exhibit unpredictable behavior resulting in fire, explosion or risk of injury.
• Do not expose a battery pack or tool to fire or excessive temperature. Exposure to fire or temperature above 265°F (130°C) may cause explosion.
• Follow all charging instructions and do not charge the battery pack or tool outside the temperature range specified in the instructions. Charging improperly or at temperatures outside the specified range may damage the battery and increase the risk of fire.

SERVICE

• Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair person using only identical replacement parts. This will ensure that the safety of the power tool is maintained.
• Never service damaged battery packs. Service of battery packs should only be performed by the manufacturer or authorized service providers.

SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES FOR THE UNIT

• 
  To reduce the risk of injury, when working in dusty situations, wear appropriate respiratory protection or use an OSHA compliant dust extraction solution.
• Always use common sense and be cautious when using tools. It is not possible to anticipate every situation that could result in a dangerous outcome. Do not use this tool if you do not understand these operating instructions or you feel the work is beyond your capability; contact Milwaukee Tool or a trained professional for additional information or training.
• Maintain labels and nameplates. These carry important information. If unreadable or missing, contact a MILWAUKEE service facility for a free replacement.
• 
  Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction activities contains chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these chemicals are:
• lead from lead-based paint
• crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry products, and
• arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber.
  Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your exposure to these chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and work with approved safety equipment, such as those dust masks that are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.

SYMBOLOGY

	Volts
	Direct Current
	Orbits per Minute (OPM)

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION

1. LED
2. Speed selector
3. Lock-on button
4. Fuel gauge
5. Handle
6. Trigger
7. Backing Pad

SPECIFICATIONS

ASSEMBLY

Recharge only with the charger specified for the battery. For specific charging instructions, read the operator's manual supplied with your charger and battery.

Removing/Inserting the Battery

To remove the battery, push in the release buttons and pull the battery pack away from the tool.

Always remove battery pack before changing or removing accessories.

To insert the battery, slide the pack into the body of the tool. Make sure it latches securely into place.

Only use accessories specifically recommended for this tool. Others may be hazardous.

Selecting Sandpaper and Grits

Sandpaper can be made from various grit materials and these should be selected according the material to be sanded. The guidelines below list materials and grit materials that should be used with them.

• Fine woodwork – garnet or aluminum oxide
• Rough woodwork – aluminum zirconia or ceramic aluminum oxide
• Manufactured wood products (particleboard, medium density fiber board, etc.) – silicon carbide or aluminum oxide
• Solid surface materials (Corian, quartz, granite, etc.) – silicon carbide or aluminum oxide
• Metals – emery or aluminum oxide

Sandpaper is also graded by coarseness. Start your work with an abrasive grit just coarse enough to remove high spots and excessive roughness. Follow with a second sanding using a grit one or two grades finer. Continue with successively finer grits until you obtain the desired finish.
Do not switch from a coarse grit to a very fine grit in one step because it may be difficult to remove the marks made by the coarse grit abrasive. Use the finest grits practical for the roughing operation, and finish by using successively finer grits.

Attaching Hook-and-Loop Sanding Sheets

1. Remove the battery pack.
2. Align sanding sheet with backing pad, then carefully press fuzzy side of sanding sheet against backing pad as tightly as possible.
   NOTE: Hook-and-loop type sanding sheets can be reused for the life of the sanding abrasive. It is recommended that you keep the backing pad clean to provide for best adhesion. Clean occasionally by brushing lightly with a small brush.

OPERATION

To reduce the risk of injury, always wear proper eye protection marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1.
When working in dusty situations, wear appropriate respiratory protection or use an OSHA compliant dust extraction solution.

Fuel Gauge

To determine the amount of charge left in the battery, turn the tool ON. The Fuel Gauge will light up for 2-3 seconds. When less than 10% of charge is left, 1 light on the fuel gauge will flash 4 times.
To signal the end of charge, 1 light on the fuel gauge will flash 8 times and the tool will not run. Charge the battery pack.
If the battery becomes too hot, the fuel gauge lights will flash and the tool will not run. Allow the battery to cool down.

Using the Speed Selector

The speed selector button is used to adjust the oscillating speed (OPM) for the application. Press the speed selector button to cycle through the 4 speeds. When the desired speed indicator number is lit, begin work. Allow the tool to come to a complete stop before changing speeds.

Starting/Stopping and Controlling Speed

1. To start the tool, grasp the handle firmly and pull the trigger.
   NOTE: An LED is turned on when the trigger is pulled and will go off shortly after the trigger is released.
2. To vary the speed, increase or decrease the pressure on the trigger. The further the trigger is pulled, the greater the speed.
3. To stop the tool, release the trigger. Ensure the tool has come to a complete stop before laying the tool down.

Trigger Lock-On

Use trigger lock-on when sanding for an extended period of time or when covering a large area.

1. To lock-on, pull the trigger and push in the lockon button.
2. To release the lock-on, pull and release the trigger.

Finish sanding can produce clouds of fine dust that could ignite in the presence of sparks or open flame. Always wear a suitable dust mask or respirator and use your sander in a well-ventilated area.
To reduce the risk of injury, inspect for and remove all raised nails and fasteners from workpiece before sanding. Striking a fastener while sanding could cause loss of control.

General Sanding with the Unit

When using random orbit sanders there are a few things to keep in mind:

• Unlike most sanders, random orbit sanders should be placed on the workpiece BEFORE the tool is started. If the sander is started before it is placed on the workpiece, the free floating pad may be spinning at a speed that can cause scratches when it is finally placed on workpiece.
• Unlike most sanders, random orbit sanders can be moved across the workpiece in any direction (in the case of wood, regardless of the direction of the grain).
• Varying pressure applied to the sander will affect its rotating speed. A light pressure is recommended for fine work, moderate pressure for rough work. Excessive pressure does not allow the pad to rotate enough.
• Keep sanding pad flat on the workpiece. Tipping the sander or using the edges of the pad may produce an uneven finish, and reduce pad life.
• Keep sander moving in broad even strokes across the workpiece. Sanding in one spot too long can cause gouging and uneven results.
• Check the workpiece frequently, random orbit sanders work more aggressively than simple orbital sanders.

Properly secure workpiece before sanding. Unsecured work could be thrown towards the operator causing injury.
Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry when operating sander. They could get caught in moving parts causing serious injury. Keep head away from sander and sanding area. Hair could be drawn into sander causing serious injury.

1. Place sander on the workpiece and turn on the sander.
2. Keep the sanding sheet flat against the workpiece, keep the sander moving across the workpiece, and use long, sweeping strokes.
3. Begin sanding with a coarse grit sandpaper and gradually use finer and finer grits of sandpaper until the desired finish is reached. For example when using the sander on wood, begin with an 80 grit followed by a 120 grit, then a 180 grit and so on.

Removing Paint or Varnish

1. When removing several layers of paint or varnish, remove as much as possible with a paint solvent or varnish remover.
2. Scrape away the residue with a putty knife or other scraping tool and allow the surface to cool and dry before applying sander to the workpiece.

To reduce the risk of fire and explosion, paint solvents and varnish removers must be removed from the workpiece and the workpiece must be completely dry before sanding.

3. Select a coarse grit sandpaper sheet to help prevent the sandpaper from clogging.
4. Keep the sander moving over new areas to avoid heating and softening the old coating (paint or varnish).
5. Work in wide, overlapping strokes to produce a uniform finish.
6. As the workpiece begins to show through the old coating, switch to a medium grit sandpaper sheet to avoid scratching the surface of the workpiece. Gradually switch to a fine grit sandpaper until you achieve the desired finish.

MAINTENANCE

To reduce the risk of injury, always unplug the charger and remove the battery pack from the charger or tool before performing any maintenance. Never disassemble the tool, battery pack or charger. Contact a MILWAUKEE service facility for ALL repairs.

Replacing the Backing Pad

The hook-and-loop backing pad can be rotated in 8 positions for ease of use. Replace backing pad if broken or defective.

1. Remove the battery pack and any sanding sheets.
2. Remove the screw that holds the backing pad in place.
3. Remove the backing pad.
4. Clean dust and debris from the sander.
5. Install the new backing pad in the desired position with the screw securely.
   NOTICE: Do not overtighten.

Maintaining Tool

Keep your tool, battery pack and charger in good repair by adopting a regular maintenance program. Inspect your tool for issues such as undue noise, misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, or any other condition that may affect the tool operation. Return the tool, battery pack, and charger to a MILWAUKEE service facility for repair. After six months to one year, depending on use, return the tool, battery pack and charger to a MILWAUKEE service facility for inspection.
If the tool does not start or operate at full power with a fully charged battery pack, clean the contacts on the battery pack. If the tool still does not work properly, return the tool, charger and battery pack, to a MILWAUKEE service facility for repairs.

To reduce the risk of personal injury and damage, never immerse your tool, battery pack or charger in liquid or allow a liquid to flow inside them.

Cleaning

Clean dust and debris from vents. Keep handles clean, dry and free of oil or grease. Use only mild soap and a damp cloth to clean, since certain cleaning agents and solvents are harmful to plastics and other insulated parts. Some of these include gasoline, turpentine, lacquer thinner, paint thinner, chlorinated cleaning solvents, ammonia and household detergents containing ammonia. Never use flammable or combustible solvents around tools.

Repairs

For repairs, return the tool, battery pack and charger to the nearest authorized service center.

ACCESSORIES

Use only recommended accessories. Others may be hazardous.
For a complete listing of accessories, go online to www.milwaukeetool.com or contact a distributor.

SERVICE

UNITED STATES

1-800-SAWDUST (1.800.729.3878)
Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 6:30 PM CST or visit www.milwaukeetool.com

Contact Corporate After Sales Service Technical Support with technical, service/repair, or warranty questions.
Email: metproductsupport@milwaukeetool.com
Become a Heavy Duty Club Member at www.milwaukeetool.com to receive important notifications regarding your tool purchases.

CANADA

Milwaukee Tool (Canada) Ltd 1.800.268.4015
Monday-Friday, 7:00 AM - 4:30 PM CST or visit www.milwaukeetool.ca

LIMITED WARRANTY USA & CANADA

This warranty applies to product sold in the U.S.A. and Canada only. Please consult the 'Service Center Search' in the Parts & Service section of MILWAUKEE's website www.milwaukeetool.com or call 1.800. SAWDUST (1.800.729.3878) to locate your nearest service facility for warranty and non-warranty service on a Milwaukee electric power tool.

Documents / Resources

References

• Milwaukee® Tool Official Site | Nothing but HEAVY DUTY®
• Milwaukee® Tool Official Site | Nothing but HEAVY DUTY®

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