DeWalt DWS520 Instruction Manual page 16

5. USE OF DULL OR DIRTY BLADES
Dull blades cause increased loading of the saw. To compensate,
an operator will usually push harder which further loads the unit
and promotes twisting of the blade in the kerf. Worn blades may
also have insuffi cient body clearance which increases the chance
of binding and increased loading.
6. LIFTING THE SAW WHEN MAKING BEVEL CUT
Bevel cuts require special operator attention to proper cutting
techniques - especially guidance of the saw. Both blade angle
to the shoe and greater blade surface in the material increase the
chance for binding and misalignment (twist) to occur.
7. RESTARTING A CUT WITH THE BLADE TEETH JAMMED
AGAINST THE MATERIAL
The saw should be brought up to full operating speed before
starting a cut or restarting a cut after the unit has been stopped
with the blade in the kerf. Failure to do so can cause stalling and
kickback.
Any other conditions which could result in pinching, binding,
twisting, or misalignment of the blade could cause kickback. Refer
to Adjustments And Set-Up and Operation for procedures and
techniques that will minimize the occurrence of kickback.
Blades
WARNING: To minimize the risk of eye injury, always wear ANSI
Z87.1 approved eye protection. Carbide is a hard but brittle material.
Foreign objects in the work piece such as wire or nails can cause tips
to crack or break. Only operate saw when proper saw blade guard is
in place. Mount blade securely in proper rotation before using, and
always use a clean, sharp blade.
WARNING: Do not cut metal, masonry, glass, masonry-type
planking, cement board, tile or plastic with this saw.
A dull blade will cause ineffi cient cutting, overload on the saw motor,
excessive splintering and increase the possibility of kickback. Change
blades when it is no longer easy to push the saw through the cut,
when the motor is straining, or when excessive heat is built up in the
blade. It is a good practice to keep extra blades on hand so that
sharp blades are available for immediate use. Dull blades can be
sharpened in most areas; see SAWS-SHARPENING in the yellow
pages. Hardened gum on the blade can be removed with kerosene,
turpentine, or oven cleaner. Anti-stick coated blades can be used
in applications where excessive build-up is encountered, such as
pressure treated and green lumber.
BLADE SELECTION
WARNING: To minimize the risk of kickback and to ensure proper
cutting, the blade selected must be appropriate for the thickness of
the riving knife provided.
The blade supplied with this circular saw is the correct size for the
riving knife supplied with the saw.
If a different blade is used, check the blade body (plate) thickness and
the blade kerf (cutting) width marked on the blade or on the blade
packaging. The riving knife thickness must be greater than the body
thickness and less than the kerf width as shown in Figure 11.
The riving knife provided with this saw is marked with its thickness;
.067" (1.7 mm). This riving knife should only be used for blades with a
0.087" (2.2 mm) minimum kerf width and 0.063" (1.6 mm) maximum
body thickness.
Your D WALT track saw is designed for use with 6-1/2" (165 mm)
E
diameter blades that have a 0.79" (20 mm) diameter bore. Blades must
be rated for 6000 RPM operation (or higher). DO NOT use any abrasive
wheels.
14