DeWalt XR LI-ION DCS373 Original Instructions Manual page 52

EN GLI SH
Kickback is more likely to occur when any of the
following conditions exists.
1. IMPROPER WORKPIECE SUPPORT
A. Sagging or improper lifting of the cut off
piece can cause pinching of the blade and
lead to kickback (fig. 9).
B. Cutting through material supported at the
outer ends only can cause kickback. As the
material weakens it sags, closing down the
kerf and pinching the blade (fig. 9).
C. Cutting off a cantilevered or overhanging
piece of material from the bottom up in a
vertical direction can cause kickback. The
falling cut off piece can pinch the blade.
D. Cutting off long narrow strips can cause
kickback. The cut off strip can sag or twist
closing the kerf and pinching the blade.
E. Snagging the lower guard on a surface
below the material being cut momentarily
reduces operator control. The saw can lift
partially out of the cut increasing the chance
of blade twist.
2. IMPROPER DEPTH OF CUT SETTING ON
SAW
To make the most efficient cut, the blade should
protrude only far enough to expose a tooth
as shown in Figure 8. This allows the shoe to
support the blade and minimises twisting and
pinching in the material. See the section titled
Depth Adjustment.
3. BLADE TWISTING (MISALIGNMENT IN
CUT)
A. Pushing harder to cut can cause the blade to
twist.
B. Trying to turn the saw in the cut (trying to get
back on the marked line) can cause blade
twist.
C. Overreaching or operating the saw with poor
body control (out of balance), can result in
twisting the blade.
D. Changing hand grip or body position while
cutting can result in blade twist.
E. Backing up the saw to clear blade can lead
to twist.
4. 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 insufficient body
50
clearance which increases the chance of
binding and increased loading.
5. 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 the sections Further
Safety Instructions for All Saws and Blades for
procedures and techniques that will minimise the
occurrence of kickback.
Depth Adjustment (fi g. 8)
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
serious personal injury, turn tool
off and disconnect battery pack
before making any adjustments or
removing/installing attachments or
accessories. An accidental start-up
can cause injury.
The metal-cutting saw is equipped with a pivoting
shoe that allows the operator to set the depth of cut.
For the most efficient cutting action, set the depth
adjustment so that one tooth of the blade projects
below the material to be cut. This distance is from
the tip of the tooth to the bottom of the gullet in front
of the tooth. This keeps blade friction at a minimum,
removes metal chips from the cut, results in cooler,
faster sawing and reduces the chance of kickback.
TO SET THE DEPTH OF CUT
1. Lay the piece of material you plan to cut along
the blade as shown.
2. Note how much tooth projects beyond the
material.
3. Loosen the depth adjustment lever (c) and
move the shoe to change the depth of cut.
4. Retighten the depth adjustment lever securely.
Workpiece Support (fi g. 9)
CUTTING SHEETS OF METAL
Figure 9 shows the correct and incorrect way to
support a large sheet. To avoid kickback, support
material near the cut. Do not support it away
from the cut. If material is supported away from
the cut, it will bind the blade and cause kickback.
When cutting thin strips, keep the blade at least
1/2" (approximately 13 mm) from the edge of the
material. Thin strips may bind, causing kickback and
increasing the risk of personal injury.