Table of Contents Table of Contents ........2 Before Each Use ........ 21 Safety Instructions For Miter Saw ..3 To Reduce the Risk of Injury From Safety Signal Words ......3 Jams, Slips Or Thrown Pieces ..21 Plan Ahead To Protect Your Eyes, Before Using The Saw ......3 When Installing Or Moving The Miter Hands, Face and Ears ....
Safety Instructions For Miter Saw Safety is a combination of common sense, staying alert and knowing how your miter saw works. Read this manual to understand this miter saw. Safety Signal Words mation is not followed someone could be seriously injured or killed. DANGER: means if the safety infor- CAUTION: means if the safety infor- mation is not followed someone will...
Safety Instructions for Miter Saws (continued) Find and read the following labels on the miter saw: When Installing Or Moving The Miter Saw Before moving the saw, lock the • Place the miter saw on a firm level miter, bevel and power head posi- surface where there is plenty of tions.
Check For Damaged Parts. Check way the miter saw works. for: If any part of this miter saw is missing, • Proper Alignment of moving parts, bent, or broken in any way, or any electrical parts don't work, turn the •...
Safety Instructions for Miter Saws (continued) Plan your work. CAUTION: When cutting any met- als, sparks or hot fragments Use The Right Tool. Don’t force tool could cause a fire. To reduce the or attachment to do a job it was not risk of this, disconnect any dust designed to do.
Inspect Your Workpiece. Make sure off the table before turning the miter there are no nails or foreign objects in saw on. the part of the workpiece to be cut. • Secure Work. Use clamps or a vise Plan your work to reduce the risk to help hold the work when it’s prac- of thrown pieces caused when the tical.
Safety Instructions for Miter Saws (continued) Keep Children Away. Keep all visi- out bogging down or binding. tors a safe distance from the miter Before freeing jammed material: saw. Make sure bystanders are clear • Turn miter saw “OFF” by releasing of the miter saw and workpiece.
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM) Workpiece The number of turns completed by a spin- The item on which the cutting operation is ning object in one minute. being performed. The surfaces of a work- piece are commonly referred to as faces, Sawblade Path ends, and edges.
Motor Specifications and Electrical Requirements (con’t.) 110-120 Volt, 60 Hz. Tool Information Double Insulated ting wood, release the trigger switch, unplug the tool, and free the blade from The miter saw is double insulated to pro- the wood. The motor may now be vide a double thickness of insulation restarted and the cut finished.
WARNING: Although compact, Check packaging for missing parts before this saw is heavy. To reduce the contacting RIDGID. A complete parts list risk of back injury, get help (Repair Parts) is at the end of the manual. whenever you have to lift the Use the list to identify the number of the saw.
Unpacking and Checking Contents The following parts are included: Part or Assembly Qty. Part or Assembly Qty. A Basic Saw Assembly......1 J Short Upper Stiffeners ......2 B Table Extension........1 K Long Lower Stiffeners ......2 C Dust Bag ..........1 L Short Lower Stiffeners ......
Assembly WARNING: For your own safety, never connect plug to power Lock Pin source outlet until all assembly steps are complete, and you have read and understood the safety and operational instruc- tions. Assembling and Aligning the Table Extension Table Extension 1.
Assembly (continued) Installing or Removing the Blade See cautions in “Using Carbide Tipped Blades” section concerning inspection, WARNING: To reduce the risk of use, and selection of carbide tipped and injury from a thrown workpiece other sawblades. or thrown pieces of blade, do not use a blade larger or smaller than 12"...
8. Install the outer blade collar, blade 10. Be sure the arbor lock is released so washer and arbor screw. Press the the blade turns freely. arbor lock and turn the combination NOTE: The arbor lock can be damaged wrench or the 1/2" wrench counter by improper use.
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Getting to Know Your Miter Saw (continued) 11. Arbor lock - Allows the user to keep blade from rotating while tightening or loosening arbor screw during blade replacement or removal. 12. Switch Interlock Button - Prevents trigger switch from being accidentally engaged.
Alignment (Adjustments) WARNING: Cut material can be 6. Unplug the power cord before starting alignment procedure. thrown. Eyes can be permanently damaged. Wear your safety goggles. NOTE: Before this saw is aligned or used, Spring a kerf must be cut into the table insert at 0°...
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Alignment (Adjustments) (continued) Step Two: Blade Square to Fence d. Use the miter saw knob to move the table so that the blade contacts the (Miter Alignment) full length of the square. Watch out WARNING: To reduce the risk of for tooth set.
Step Three: Pivot Adjustment ness in the pivot, do the following adjustment procedure: NOTE: This adjustment was made at the a. Loosen the bevel lock handle. factory and normally does not require b. Turn the hex lock nut with a 3/4" or readjustment.
Mounting The Miter Saw WARNING: To reduce the risk of Mounting Saw on Other Legsets or injury from unexpected saw Work Benches movement: a.Before moving the saw, lock the miter and bevel knobs and lock the power head in the lower position.
Safety Instructions for Basic Saw Operations way down, then let it rise up until it Before Each Use stops by itself. Check the lower Inspect your saw. guard to see if it closed fully. If it did Disconnect The Miter Saw. To not, follow the instructions in the reduce the risk of injury from acciden- Trouble Shooting section.
Safety Instructions for Basic Saw Operations (con’t.) Plan Ahead To Protect Your Eyes, Hands, Face and Ears Know your miter saw. Read and for any workpiece that can’t be held in understand the owner’s manual and a solidly braced, fixed position. labels affixed to the tool.
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Don’t Overreach. Keep good footing • Do not use this saw to cut pieces and balance. too small to let you easily hold the work while you keep the thumb side Keep your face and body to one side of your index (pointer) finger against of sawblade, out of line with a possi- the outside edge of the fence.
Safety Instructions for Basic Saw Operations (con’t.) Whenever Saw Is Running WARNING: Don't allow familiarity Let the blade reach full speed (gained from frequent use of before cutting. This will help reduce your miter saw) cause a careless the risk of a thrown workpiece. mistake.
Basic Saw Operations WARNING: For your convenient use, your saw has a blade brake. The brake is not a safety device. Never rely on it to replace proper use of the guard on your saw. If the blade does not stop within 6 seconds, unplug the saw and fol- low the instructions in the Trou- ble Shooting section for fixing...
Basic Saw Operations (continued) Sliding Fence When beveling the blade to the left the fence may have to be repositioned. Loosen the fence locking knob and slide the fence to the left. Adjust the fence as close to the guard and link as possible to provide maximum support for the work- piece.
Compound Cut When a compound cut is required, select the desired bevel and miter positions. Move with the handle to the miter angle to make the cut. Cutting Compound Miters on Picture Frames and Boxes A compound miter is a cut requiring both obtain the desired angle, it is advisable to a miter setting and bevel setting.
Basic Saw Operations (continued) Workpiece Support Long pieces need extra supports. The supports should be placed along the workpiece so the workpiece does not sag and your hand holding the workpiece is positioned 4” or more from the blade path. The support should let the workpiece lay flat on the base and work table during the cutting operation.
Cutting Crown Moldings Your compound miter saw does an excel- lent job of cutting crown molding. How- ever, in order to fit properly, crown 38° molding must be cut with extreme accu- 52° racy. Miter Saw Table Miter Saw Table 1.
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Basic Saw Operations (continued) Cutting Crown Molding Angled to the 4. Remove the wood fence and cut to this Table and Fence width. The advantage of cutting crown molding 5. Use small nails and glue to attach a top in this position is that no bevel setting is piece (typically 1/2 inch thick by 1-1/2 required.
Laser System Mounting the Laser System Coverplate WARNING: To reduce the risk of Stop injury from unexpected starting, Screw unplug the saw whenever you Arbor are removing or installing the Screw blade. Blade NOTE: See “Installing or Removing Blade” section of this manual for more information.
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Laser System (continued) 6. Remove the arbor screw, arbor washer, NOTE: The arbor lock can be damaged and outer blade collar. by improper use. If the arbor lock will not hold, lower the blade down on to a scrap NOTE: The Exactline™ Laser System piece of wood positioned against the will replace the outer blade collar.
Operation DANGER: Laser radiation. Avoid 5. Turn the saw “OFF” and allow the blade to come to a complete stop direct eye exposure. before raising. When the saw is “ON” and the blade is in Practice cuts will let you become familiar its highest position, the laser system will with correctly lining the laser mark up with show up on your workpiece as a red col-...
Laser System (continued) Changing Batteries WARNING: To reduce the risk of Screws injury from unexpected starting, unplug the saw whenever you are removing or installing the blade. 1. Remove the Exactline™ Laser System from the saw. 2. Remove the two Phillips screws on the Aperature Laser Guide back side of the laser system and take...
Maintenance and Lubrication Lower Blade Guard Maintenance Do not use the saw without the lower DANGER: Never put lubricants guard. The lower blade guard is attached on the blade while it is spinning. to the saw for your protection. Should the WARNING: To reduce the risk of lower guard become damaged, do not use the saw until damaged guard has...
Maintenance and Lubrication (continued) 4. Use a small amount of general purpose grease on the miter index indents that are located below the miter scale on the front of the unit. See Illustration. Grease Accessories WARNING: To reduce the risk of Basic Blade Requirements injury from unsafe accessories, 12"...
Troubleshooting Guide General Problem Probable Cause Suggested Corrective Action Blade hits table. 1. Misalignment 1. Get authorized Service. Angle of cut not 1. Misalignment 1. See “Alignment” section. accurate. Can’t move miter 1. Sawdust under 1. Vacuum or blow out dust. adjustment table Wear Eye Protection.
Troubleshooting Guide (continued) Motor Problem Probable Cause Suggested Corrective Action Brake does not stop 1. Brushes not seated 1. Inspect/clean/replace blade within 6 sec- or lightly sticking. brushes. See “Maintenance” onds. section. 2. Motor brake winding 2. Use only recommended overheated from blades/accessories.
Repair Parts Parts List For RIDGID 12" Compound Miter Saw Model No. MS12502LZ 0 RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.ridgidparts.com Figure 1...
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Repair Parts Parts List For RIDGID 12" Compound Miter Saw Model No. MS12502LZ 0 RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.ridgidparts.com Figure 1 Always order by part number - not by key number Part No. Description Part No. Description 828102...
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Repair Parts Parts List For RIDGID 12" Compound Miter Saw Model No. MS12502LZ 0 RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.ridgidparts.com Figure 2 Upper and Lower Guards Without Exactline™ Laser System 13 14 With Exactline™Laser System To remove this item use a...
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Repair Parts Parts List For RIDGID 12" Compound Miter Saw Model No. MS12502LZ 0 RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.ridgidparts.com Figure 2 Upper and Lower Guards ‡ Always order by part number - Not by key number Part No.
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Repair Parts Parts List For RIDGID 12" Compound Miter Saw Model No. MS12502LZ 0 RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.ridgidparts.com Figure 3 - Handle and Motor Assembly 26 19...
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Repair Parts Parts List For RIDGID 12" Compound Miter Saw Model No. MS12502LZ 0 RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.ridgidparts.com Figure 3 - Handle and Motor Assembly Always order by Part Number - Not by Key Number Part No.
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Repair Parts Parts List For RIDGID 12" Compound Miter Saw Model No. MS12502LZ 0 RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.ridgidparts.com Figure 4 - Pivot Assembly Always order by Part Number - Not by Key Number Part No. Description Part No.
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Repair Parts Parts List For RIDGID 12" Compound Miter Saw Model No. MS12502LZ 0 RIDGID parts are available on-line at www.ridgidparts.com Figure 5 - Legset Always order by Part Number - Not by Key Number Part No. Description Part No.
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What is covered under the Limited Three Year Warranty This warranty covers all defects in workmanship or materials in this RIDGID® tool for the three year period from the date of purchase. This war- ranty is specific to this tool. Warranties for other RIDGID® products may vary.
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