Milwaukee M12 2525-20 Operator's Manual page 4

• When using rotary files, cut-off wheels, high-
speed cutters or tungsten carbide cutters, always
have the work securely clamped. These wheels will
grab if they become slightly canted in the groove, and
can kickback. When a cut-off wheel grabs, the wheel
itself usually breaks. When a rotary file, high-speed
cutter or tungsten carbide cutter grabs, it may jump
from the groove and you could lose control of the
tool.
Kickback and Related Warnings
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched or
snagged rotating wheel, backing pad, brush or
any other accessory. Pinching or snagging causes
rapid stalling of the rotating accessory which in turn
causes the uncontrolled power tool to be forced in
the direction opposite of the accessory's rotation at
the point of the binding.
For example, if an abrasive wheel is snagged or
pinched by the workpiece, the edge of the wheel that
is entering into the pinch point can dig into the surface
of the material causing the wheel to climb out or kick
out. The wheel may either jump toward or away from
the operator, depending on direction of the wheel's
movement at the point of pinching. Abrasive wheels
may also break under these conditions.
Kickback is the result of power tool misuse and/or
incorrect operating procedures or conditions and
can be avoided by taking proper precautions as
given below.
• Maintain a firm grip on the power tool and posi-
tion your body and arm to allow you to resist
kickback forces. Always use auxiliary handle, if
provided, for maximum control over kickback
or torque reaction during start-up. The operator
can control torque reactions or kickback forces, if
proper precautions are taken.
• Never place your hand near the rotating acces-
sory. Accessory may kickback over your hand.
• Do not position your body in the area where power
tool will move if kickback occurs. Kickback will
propel the tool in direction opposite to the wheel's
movement at the point of snagging.
• Use special care when working corners, sharp
edges etc. Avoid bouncing and snagging the
accessory. Corners, sharp edges or bouncing have
a tendency to snag the rotating accessory and cause
loss of control or kickback.
• Do not attach a saw chain woodcarving blade or
toothed saw blade. Such blades create frequent
kickback and loss of control.
Safety Warnings Specific for Grinding and Abra-
sive Cutting-Off Operations:
• Use only wheel types that are recommended for
your power tool and the specific guard designed
for the selected wheel. Wheels for which the power
tool was not designed cannot be adequately guarded
and are unsafe.
• Wheels must be used only for recommended
applications. For example: do not grind with the
side of cut-off wheel. Abrasive cut-off wheels are
intended for peripheral grinding, side forces applied
to these wheels may cause them to shatter.
• Always use undamaged wheel flanges that are of
correct size and shape for your selected wheel.
Proper wheel flanges support the wheel thus reducing
the possibility of wheel breakage. Flanges for cut-off
wheels may be different from grinding wheel flanges.
• Do not use worn down wheels from larger power
tools. Wheel intended for larger power tool is not
suitable for the higher speed of a smaller tool and
may burst.
Additional Safety Warnings Specific for Abrasive
Cutting-Off Operations:
• Do not "jam" the cut-off wheel or apply excessive
pressure. Do not attempt to make an excessive
depth of cut. Overstressing the wheel increases the
loading and susceptibility to twisting or binding of
the wheel in the cut and the possibility of kickback
or wheel breakage.
• Do not position your body in line with and behind
the rotating wheel. When the wheel, at the point
of operation, is moving away from your body, the
possible kickback may propel the spinning wheel
and the power tool directly at you.
• When wheel is binding or when interrupting a cut
for any reason, switch off the power tool and hold
the power tool motionless until the wheel comes
to a complete stop. Never attempt to remove the
cut-off wheel from the cut while the wheel is in
motion otherwise kickback may occur. Investigate
and take corrective action to eliminate the cause of
wheel binding.
• Do not restart the cutting operation in the
workpiece. Let the wheel reach full speed and
carefully reenter the cut. The wheel may bind,
walk up or kickback if the power tool is restarted in
the workpiece.
• Support panels or any oversized workpiece to
minimize the risk of wheel pinching and kickback.
Large workpieces tend to sag under their own weight.
Supports must be placed under the workpiece near
the line of cut and near the edge of the workpiece
on both sides of the wheel.
• Use extra caution when making a "pocket cut" into
existing walls or other blind areas. The protruding
wheel may cut gas or water pipes, electrical wiring
or objects that can cause kickback.
Safety Warnings Specific for Sanding Operations:
• Do not use excessively oversized sanding disc
paper. Follow manufacturers recommendations,
when selecting sanding paper. Larger sanding
paper extending beyond the sanding pad presents a
laceration hazard and may cause snagging, tearing
of the disc or kickback.
Safety Warnings Specific for Polishing Opera-
tions:
• Do not allow any loose portion of the polishing
bonnet or its attachment strings to spin freely.
Tuck away or trim any loose attachment strings.
Loose and spinning attachment strings can entangle
your fingers or snag on the workpiece.
Safety Warnings Specific for Wire Brushing
Operations:
• Be aware that wire bristles are thrown by the
brush even during ordinary operation. Do not
overstress the wires by applying excessive load
to the brush. The wire bristles can easily penetrate
light clothing and/or skin.
• If the use of a guard is recommended for wire
brushing, do not allow any interference of the
wire wheel or brush with the guard. Wire wheel
or brush may expand in diameter due to work load
and centrifugal forces.
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