Delta 36-540 Instruction Manual page 17

OPERATION
Common sawing operations include ripping and cross-cutting plus a few other standard opera-
tions of a fundamental nature. As with all power tools, there is a certain amount of hazard involved
with the operation and use of the tool. Using the tool with the respect and caution demanded as
far as safety precautions are concerned, will considerably lessen the possibility of personal injury.
However, if normal safety precautions are overlooked or completely ignored, personal injury to the
operator can result. The following information describes the safe and proper method for per-
forming the most common sawing operations. Additional information on table saw operations can
be obtained from the Delta "Getting the Most Out of Your Table Saw" How-To-Book, Catalog No.
11-400.
CROSS-CUTTING
Cross-cutting requires the use of the miter gage to position and guide the work. Place the work
against the miter gage and advance both the gage and work toward the saw blade, as shown in
Fig. 36. The miter gage may be used in either table slot. When bevel cross-cutting (blade tilted)
only use the miter gage in the right table slot where the blade is tilted away from the miter gage
and your hands. The saw guard must always be used.
Start the cut slowly and hold the work firmly against the miter gage and the table. One of the rules
in running a saw is that you never hang onto or touch a free piece of work. Hold the supported
piece, not the free piece that is cut off. The feed in cross-cutting continues until the work is cut
in two, and the miter gage and work are pulled back to the starting point. Before pulling the work
back it is good practice to give the work a little sideways shift to move the work slightly away from
the saw blade. Never pick up any short length of free work from the table while the saw is run-
ning. A smart operator never touches a cut-off piece unless it is at least a foot long.
WARNING: NEVER USE THE FENCE AS A CUT-OFF GAGE WHEN CROSS-CUTTING.
For added safety and convenience the miter gage can be fitted with an auxiliary wood-facing. This
auxiliary wood-facing can be fastened to the front of the miter gage by using two wood screws
through the slots provided in the miter gage body and into the wood-facing.
Fig. 36
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