DeWalt DC300K Instruction Manual page 17

FIG. 10
Figure 10 shows proper sawing position. Note that hands are kept
away from cutting area. To avoid kickback, DO support board or
panel NEAR the cut (Fig. 11). DON'T support board or panel away from
the cut (Fig. 12).
Place the work with its "good" side – the one on which appearance is
most important – down. The saw cuts upward, so any splintering will
be on the work face that is up when you cut it.
FIG. 11
DO support board or
panel NEAR the cut.
SUPPORT
Cutting
Place the wider portion of the saw shoe on that part of the workpiece
which is solidly supported, not on the section that will fall off when
the cut is made. As examples, Figure 11 illustrates the RIGHT way to
FIG. 12
DON'T support board or
panel AWAY from the cut.
cut off the end of a board. Always clamp work. Don't try to hold short
pieces by hand! Remember to support cantilevered and overhanging
material. Use caution when sawing material from below.
Be sure saw is up to full speed before blade contacts material to be cut.
Starting saw with blade against material to be cut or pushed forward
into kerf can result in kickback. Push the saw forward at a speed which
allows the blade to cut without laboring. Hardness and toughness can
vary even in the same piece of material, and knotty or damp sections
can put a heavy load on the saw. When this happens, push the saw
more slowly, but hard enough to keep working without much decrease
in speed. Forcing the saw can cause rough cuts, inaccuracy, kickback,
and over-heating of the motor. Should your cut begin to go off the
line, don't try to force it back on. Release the switch and allow blade
to come to a complete stop. Then you can withdraw the saw, sight
anew, and start a new cut slightly inside the wrong one. In any event,
withdraw the saw if you must shift the cut. Forcing a correction inside
the cut can stall the saw and lead to kickback.
IF SAW STALLS, RELEASE THE TRIGGER AND BACK THE SAW
UNTIL IT IS LOOSE. BE SURE BLADE IS STRAIGHT IN THE CUT
AND CLEAR OF THE CUTTING EDGE BEFORE RESTARTING.
As you fi nish a cut, release the trigger and allow the blade to stop
before lifting the saw from the work. As you lift the saw, the spring-
tensioned telescoping guard will automatically close under the blade.
Remember the blade is exposed until this occurs. Never reach under
the work for any reason. When you have to retract the telescoping
guard manually (as is necessary for starting pocket cuts) always use
the retracting lever.
NOTE: When cutting thin strips, be careful to ensure that small cutoff
pieces don't hang up on inside of lower guard.
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