Stihl TSA 230 Instruction Manual page 16

English
WARNING
Be particularly alert when cutting a
workpiece such as a pipe with a belled
end or when cutting out a section of pipe
in a trench that, if not properly
supported, can sag or drop upon
completion of the cut, creating a pinch
not where you are actually cutting but,
rather, at or near the top of the
workpiece. If the pinch is in the upper
quadrant of the abrasive wheel,
kickback can result.
WARNING
Use wet-cutting whenever feasible,
since the water can act as a lubricant in
a pinch situation and thus reduce both
the likelihood of reactive forces
occurring and the energy of any such
forces that do occur, making it easier to
maintain control of the machine.
WARNING
Only STIHL branded cutting
attachments are recommended. Use of
certain non-STIHL branded wheels may
be extremely dangerous. Many
substandard diamond wheels, for
instance, are available in the market. If
they are not manufactured with the
proper quality steel in their core, if they
are not properly tensioned, or if other
design or manufacturing defects exist,
they may, e.g., begin to wobble during
use, lose segments or exhibit other
operational problems that can
substantially increase the risk of
personal injury or death. If a diamond
wheel begins or ceases to wobble within
the kerf, the change in the behavior of
the wheel may cause a severe binding
14
that can lead to loss of control and/or
kickback. If the wheel you are using
begins to wobble or has ever wobbled,
discard it immediately. Although such a
wheel may temporarily cease to wobble,
e.g., if run without load, it will always be
prone to wobble again under certain
conditions.
WARNING
Some other non-STIHL branded
diamond wheels are manufactured with
abrasive material on their sides. Do not
use such wheels, since the abrasive
material may lead to substantially
increased reactive forces in a pinch or
sideloading situation.
WARNING
Never use chipped abrasive wheels or
circular saw blades, carbide-tipped
blades, rescue blades or wood-cutting or
toothed blades of any nature on a cut-off
machine. The use of such wheels or
blades will greatly increase the risk of
loss of control and severe personal
injury or death from reactive forces,
since the chipped section of an abrasive
wheel or the teeth of a saw blade may
catch in the material being cut and
generate substantially greater reactive
forces, including rotational kickback.
Cut-off machines are designed for use
with abrasive wheels in good condition
only. Machines designed for use with
wood-cutting or other toothed blades
use different types of guarding systems
that provide the protection necessary for
those types of blades. Machines, such
as a cut-off machine, that are designed
for use with abrasive wheels require a
different guarding system, which is not
designed to provide protection against
all dangers presented by circular saw
blades, carbide-tipped blades, rescue
blades or wood-cutting or toothed
blades of any nature.
WARNING
To reduce the risk of injury from loss of
control from reactive forces, including
kickback, when cutting:
1. Hold the cut-off machine firmly with
both hands.
2. Maintain good balance and footing
at all times. Never cut while
standing on a ladder.
3. Position the cut-off machine in such
a way that your body is clear of the
cutting attachment. Avoid standing
in direct line with the wheel (See
illustration.) Never bend over the
cutting attachment, especially when
there is a risk of reactive forces.
Ensure sufficient freedom of
movement, especially in trenches.
Make sure there is sufficient space
for the user and the fall of the
severed part.
4. Never work with a diamond wheel
that wobbles or that has ever
wobbled or that is manufactured
with abrasive material on its sides.
TSA 230