Safety Rules For Circular Saws; Cutting Procedures; Kickback And Related Warnings - Skil SHD77 Operating Instructions Manual

SM 1619X03173 11-08:SM 1619X03173 11-08 12/2/08 11:21 AM Page 4

Cutting procedures

Keep hands away from
cutting area and blade. Keep
your second hand on auxiliary handle, or
motor housing. If hands are holding the saw,
they cannot be cut by the blade.
Do not reach underneath the workpiece.
The guard cannot protect you from the blade
below the workpiece.
Adjust the cutting depth to the thickness of
the workpiece. Less than a full tooth of the
blade teeth should be visible below the
workpiece.
NEVER hold piece being cut in your hands
or across your leg. Secure the workpiece to
stable platform. It is important to support the
work properly to minimize body exposure,
blade binding, or loss of control.
Hold power tool by the insulated gripping
surfaces when performing an operation
where the cutting tool may contact hidden
wiring or it own cord. Contact with a "live" wire
will also make exposed metal parts of the tool
"live" and shock the operator.
When ripping always use a rip fence or
straight edge guide. This improves accuracy
of cut and reduces the chance for blade
binding.
Always use blades with correct size and
shape (diamond vs. round) of arbor holes.
Blades that do not match the mounting
hardware of the saw will run eccentrically,
causing loss of control.
Never use damaged or incorrect blade
washers or bolts. The blade washers and bolt
were specially designed for your saw, for
optimum performance and safety of operation.
Inspect the condition and quality of the
wood and remove all nails from lumber
before cutting. Wet lumber, green lumber or
pressure treated lumber require special
attention during cutting operation to prevent
kickback.
Hold the saw firmly to prevent loss of
control. Figures in this manual illustrate
typical hand support of the saw.

Safety Rules for Circular Saws

Read all safety warnings and all instructions.
Depending upon use, the switch may not
last the life of the saw. If the switch should
fail in the "OFF" position, the saw may not
start. If it should fail while the saw is
running, the saw may not shut off. If either
occurs, unplug the saw immediately and do
not use until repaired.
This circular saw should not be mounted to
a table and converted to a table saw.
Circular saws are not designed or intended to
be used as table saws.

Kickback and related warnings

Causes and operator prevention of
kickback:
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched,
bound or misaligned saw blade, causing an
uncontrolled saw to lift up and out of the
workpiece toward the operator.
When the blade is pinched or bound tightly by
the kerf closing down, the blade stalls and the
motor reaction drives the unit rapidly back
toward the operator.
If the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in
the cut, the teeth at the back edge of the blade
can dig into the top surface of the wood
causing the blade to climb out of the kerf and
jump back toward the operator.
Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or
incorrect operating procedures or conditions
and can be avoided by taking proper
precautions as given below:
Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the
saw and position your body and arm to
allow you to resist kickback forces.
Position your body to either 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
precautions are taken.
When blade is binding, or when interrupting
a cut for any reason, release the trigger and
hold the saw motionless in the material
until the blade comes to a complete stop.
Never attempt to remove the saw from the
work or pull the saw backward while the
blade is in motion or kickback may occur.