Quality Of Cut - DeWalt DCS361 Instruction Manual


CAUTION: Never operate this saw unless the dust bag or D
place. Wood dust may create a breathing hazard.
Fig. J
Cutting with your Saw (Fig. A, K)
If the slide feature is not used, ensure the saw head
and the rail lock knob 20 is tightened. This will prevent the saw head from sliding along its rails
as the workpiece is engaged.
nOTE: DO nOT CUT METAls OR MAsOnRY WiTh This sAW. Do not use any abrasive blades.
nOTE: Refer to guard Actuation and Visibility in the Adjustments section for important
information about the lower guard before cutting.
Crosscuts (Fig. A, K, L)
A crosscut is made by cutting wood across the grain at any angle. A straight crosscut is made
with the miter arm at the zero degree position. Set and lock the miter arm at zero, hold the wood
firmly on the table and against the fence. With the rail lock knob
by squeezing the trigger switch shown in Figure A.
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When the saw comes up to speed (about 1 second) lower the saw head
slowly to cut through the wood. Let the blade come to a full stop before raising saw head .
When cutting anything larger than a 2 x 4 (51 x 102), use an out-down-back motion with the rail
lock knob 20 loosened. Pull the saw head out, toward you, lower the saw head down toward the
workpiece, and slowly push the saw head back to complete the cut. Do not allow the saw blade
to contact the top of the workpiece while pulling out. The saw may run toward you, possibly
causing personal injury or damage to the workpiece.
Fig. K

WARNING: Always use a work clamp to maintain control and reduce the risk of workpiece
damage and personal injury, if your hands are required to be within 4" (100 mm) of the blade
during the cut.
nOTE: The rail lock knob 20 shown in Figure A must be loose to allow the saw head
along its rails.
Miter crosscuts are made with the miter arm at some angle other than zero. This angle is often
45º for making corners, but can be set anywhere from zero to 48º left or 48° right. Make the cut as
described above.
When performing a miter cut on workpieces wider than a 2 x 6 that are shorter in length, always
place the longer side against the fence
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To cut through an existing pencil line on a piece of wood, match the angle as close as possible.
Cut the wood a little too long and measure from the pencil line to the cut edge to determine
which direction to adjust the miter angle and recut. This will take some practice, but it is a
commonly used technique.
WALT dust extractor is in
e
43
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48 (Fig. K) is pushed back as far as possible
tightened, turn on the saw
20
(Fig. K) smoothly and
48
48
48
(Fig. L).
Fig. L
Bevel Cuts (Fig. A)
A bevel cut is a crosscut made with the saw blade leaning at an angle to the wood. In order to
set the bevel, loosen the bevel lock knob
the desired bevel angle has been set, tighten the bevel lock firmly. Refer to the Features and
Controls section for detailed instructions on the bevel system.
Bevel angles can be set from 3º right to 48º left.

Quality of Cut

The smoothness of any cut depends on a number of variables. Things like material being cut,
blade type, blade sharpness and rate of cut all contribute to the quality of the cut.
When smoothest cuts are desired for molding and other precision work, a sharp (60 tooth carbide
tip) blade and a slower, even cutting rate will produce the desired results.
Ensure that the material does not move or creep while cutting; clamp it securely in place. Always
let the blade come to a full stop before raising saw head
If small fibers of wood still split out at the rear of the workpiece, stick a piece of masking tape
on the wood where the cut will be made. Saw through the tape and carefully remove tape
when finished.
For varied cutting applications, refer to the list of recommended saw blades for your saw and
select the one that best fits your needs. Refer to saw Blades under Optional Accessories.
Body and Hand Position (Fig. M1–M4)
Proper positioning of your body and hands when operating the miter saw will make cutting
easier, more accurate and safer. Never place hands near cutting area. Place hands no closer than
4" (100 mm) from the blade. Hold the workpiece tightly to the table and the fence when cutting.
Keep hands in position until the trigger has been released and the blade has completely stopped.
ALWAYS MAKE DRY RUNS (UNPOWERED) BEFORE FINISH CUTS SO THAT YOU CAN CHECK THE
PATH OF THE BLADE. DO NOT CROSS HANDS, AS SHOWN IN Figure M3 and M4.
Keep both feet firmly on the floor and maintain proper balance. As you move the miter arm
left and right, follow it and stand slightly to the side of the saw blade. Sight through the guard
louvers when following a pencil line.
Fig. M1
to slide
Fig. M3
12 , and move the saw to the left as desired. Once
48 .
Fig. M2
Fig. M4
English
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