Specific Safety Rules - Craftsman 315.108470 Operator's Manual

Specific Safety Rules for Circular Saws
(continued)
■ Always observe that the lower guard is
covering the blade before placing saw
down on bench or floor. An unprotected,
coasting blade will cause the saw to walk
backwards, cutting whatever is in its path. Be
aware of the time it takes for the blade to stop
after switch is released.
■ NEVER hold piece being cut in your hands
or across your leg. It is important to support
the work properly to minimize body exposure,
blade binding, or loss of control.
■ Hold tool by insulated gripping surface
when performing an operation where the
cutting tool may contact hidden wiring or
its 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 the
accuracy of the cut and reduces the chance
for blade binding.
■ Always use blades with correct size and
shape (diamond vs. round) 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
bolts were specially designed for your saw for
optimum performance and safety of
operation.
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

SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES

■ Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or
■ Maintain a firm grip with both hands on
■ When blade is binding, or when
■ When restarting a saw in the workpiece,
■ Support large panels to minimize the risk
■ Do not use dull or damaged blade.
■ Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking
■ Use extra caution when making a "Pocket
4
causing the blade to climb out of the kerf and
jump back toward the operator.
incorrect operating procedures or conditions
and can be avoided by taking proper
precautions, as given below:
the saw and position your body and arm
to allow you to resist KICKBACK forces.
KICKBACK forces can be controlled by the
operator, if proper precautions are taken.
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. Investigate and take
corrective actions to eliminate the cause of
blade binding.
center the saw blade in the kerf and check
that saw teeth are not engaged into the
material. If saw blade is binding, it may walk
up or KICKBACK from the workpiece as the
saw is restarted.
of blade pinching and KICKBACK. Large
panels tend to sag under their own weight.
Supports must be placed under the panel on
both sides, near the line of cut and near the
edge of the panel.
Unsharpened or improperly set blades
produce narrow kerf which causes excessive
friction, blade binding and KICKBACK.
levers must be tight and secure before
making cut. If blade adjustment shifts while
cutting, it may cause binding and KICKBACK.
Cut" into existing walls or other blind
areas. The protruding blade may cut objects
that can cause KICKBACK.