Makita GA7020R Instruction Manual page 6

your power tool. Incorrectly sized accessories
cannot be adequately guarded or controlled.
6. The arbour size of wheels, flanges, backing pads
or any other accessory must properly fit the
spindle of the power tool. Accessories with arbour
holes that do not match the mounting hardware of the
power tool will run out of balance, vibrate excessively
and may cause loss of control.
7. Do not use a damaged accessory. Before each use
inspect the accessory such as abrasive wheels for
chips and cracks, backing pad for cracks, tear or
excess wear, wire brush for loose or cracked
wires. If power tool or accessory is dropped,
inspect for damage or install an undamaged
accessory. After inspecting and installing an
accessory, position yourself and bystanders away
from the plane of the rotating accessory and run
the power tool at maximum no-load speed for one
minute. Damaged accessories will normally break
apart during this test time.
8. Wear personal protective equipment. Depending
on application, use face shield, safety goggles or
safety glasses. As appropriate, wear dust mask,
hearing protectors, gloves and workshop apron
capable of stopping small abrasive or workpiece
fragments. The eye protection must be capable of
stopping flying debris generated by various
operations. The dust mask or respirator must be
capable of filtrating particles generated by your
operation. Prolonged exposure to high intensity noise
may cause hearing loss.
9. Keep bystanders a safe distance away from work
area. Anyone entering the work area must wear
personal protective equipment. Fragments of
workpiece or of a broken accessory may fly away and
cause injury beyond immediate area of operation.
10. Hold power tool by insulated gripping surfaces
only, when performing an operation where the
cutting accessory may contact hidden wiring or its
own cord. Cutting accessory contacting a "live" wire
may make exposed metal parts of the power tool "live"
and could give the operator an electric shock.
11. Position the cord clear of the spinning accessory.
If you lose control, the cord may be cut or snagged
and your hand or arm may be pulled into the spinning
accessory.
12. Never lay the power tool down until the accessory
has come to a complete stop. The spinning
accessory may grab the surface and pull the power
tool out of your control.
13. Do not run the power tool while carrying it at your
side. Accidental contact with the spinning accessory
could snag your clothing, pulling the accessory into
your body.
14. Regularly clean the power tool's air vents. The
motor's fan will draw the dust inside the housing and
excessive accumulation of powdered metal may
cause electrical hazards.
15. Do not operate the power tool near flammable
materials. Sparks could ignite these materials.
16. Do not use accessories that require liquid
coolants. Using water or other liquid coolants may
result in electrocution or shock.
Kickback and Related Warnings
6
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched or snagged
rotating wheel, backing pad, brush or any other
accessory. Pinching or snagging causes rapid stalling of
the rotating accessory which in turn causes the
uncontrolled power tool to be forced in the direction
opposite of the accessory's rotation at the point of the
binding.
For example, if an abrasive wheel is snagged or pinched
by the workpiece, the edge of the wheel that is entering
into the pinch point can dig into the surface of the material
causing the wheel to climb out or kick out. The wheel may
either jump toward or away from the operator, depending
on direction of the wheel's movement at the point of
pinching. Abrasive wheels may also break under these
conditions.
Kickback is the result of power tool misuse and/or
incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be
avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.
a) Maintain a firm grip on the power tool and
position your body and arm to allow you to resist
kickback forces. Always use auxiliary handle, if
provided, for maximum control over kickback or
torque reaction during start-up. The operator can
control torque reactions or kickback forces, if proper
precautions are taken.
b) Never place your hand near the rotating
accessory. Accessory may kickback over your hand.
c) Do not position your body in the area where
power tool will move if kickback occurs. Kickback
will propel the tool in direction opposite to the wheel's
movement at the point of snagging.
d) Use special care when working corners, sharp
edges etc. Avoid bouncing and snagging the
accessory. Corners, sharp edges or bouncing have a
tendency to snag the rotating accessory and cause
loss of control or kickback.
e) Do not attach a saw chain woodcarving blade or
toothed saw blade. Such blades create frequent
kickback and loss of control.
Safety Warnings Specific for Grinding and Abrasive
Cutting-Off Operations:
a) Use only wheel types that are recommended for
your power tool and the specific guard designed
for the selected wheel. Wheels for which the power
tool was not designed cannot be adequately guarded
and are unsafe.
b) The guard must be securely attached to the
power tool and positioned for maximum safety, so
the least amount of wheel is exposed towards the
operator. The guard helps to protect the operator
from broken wheel fragments, accidental contact with
wheel and sparks that could ignite clothing.
c) Wheels must be used only for recommended
applications. For example: do not grind with the
side of cut-off wheel. Abrasive cut-off wheels are
intended for peripheral grinding, side forces applied to
these wheels may cause them to shatter.
d) Always use undamaged wheel flanges that are
of correct size and shape for your selected wheel.
Proper wheel flanges support the wheel thus reducing
the possibility of wheel breakage. Flanges for cut-off
wheels may be different from grinding wheel flanges.
e) Do not use worn down wheels from larger
power tools. Wheel intended for larger power tool is