Craftsman 315.115780 Operator's Manual page 4

SERVICE
[] When servicing a tool, use only identical replace-
[] Tool service must be performed only by qualified ment parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance
repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or
by unqualified personnel may result in a risk of injury, failure to follow Maintenance Instructions may create a
risk of shock or injury.
[] DANGER! Keep hands away from cutting area and
blade. Keep your second hand on auxiliary handle
or motor housing. If both hands are holding the saw,
they cannot be cut by the blade.
[] Keep your body positioned to either side of the saw
blade, but not in line with the saw blade. KICKBACK
could cause the saw to jump backwards. (see KICK-
BACK)
[] Do not reach underneath the work. The guard can-
not protect you from the blade below the work.
[] Check the lower guard for proper closing before
each use. Do not operate saw if lower guard does
not move freely and close instantly. Never clamp or
tie the lower guard into the open position, if saw is
accidentally dropped, lower guard may be bent. Raise
the lower guard with the retracting handle and make
sure it moves freely and does not touch the blade or
any other part, in all angles and depths of cut.
[] Check the operation and condition of the lower
guard spring, if the guard and the spring are not
operating properly, they must be serviced before
use. Lower guard may operate sluggishly due to dam-
aged parts, gummy deposits, or a buildup of debris.
[] Lower guard should be retracted manually only
for special cuts such as "Pocket Cuts" and "Com-
pound Cuts". Raise lower guard by Retracting
Handle. As soon as blade enters the material, lower
guard must be released. For all other sawing, the
lower guard should operate automatically.
[] Always observe that the lower guard is covering the
blade before placing saw down on bench or floor.
An unprotected, coasting blade will cause the saw to
walk backwards, cutting whatever is in its path. Be
aware of the time it takes for the blade to stop after
switch is released.
[] NEVER hold piece being cut in your hands or
across your leg. It is important to support the work
properly to minimize body exposure, blade binding, or
loss of control.
[] Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when
performing an operation where the cutting tool may
contact hidden wiring. Contact with a "live" wire will
also make exposed metal parts of the tool "live" and
shock the operator.
[] When ripping always use a rip fence or straight
edge guide. This improves the accuracy of cut and
reduces the chance of blade binding.
[] Always use blades with correct size and shape
(diamond vs. round) arbor holes. Blades that do not
match the mounting hardware of the saw will run ec-
centrically, causing loss of control.
[] Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers
or bolts. The blade washers and bolt were specially
designed for your saw, for optimum performance and
safety of operation.
Causes and Operator Prevention of Kickback:
Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound, or
misaligned saw blade, causing an uncontrolled saw to
lift up and out of the workpiece toward the operator.
When the blade is pinched or bound tightly by the kerr
closing down, the blade stalls and the motor reaction
drives the unit rapidly back toward the operator.
If the blade becomes twisted or misallgned in the cut,
the teeth at the back edge of the blade can dig into the
top surface of the wood causing the blade to climb out
of the kerr and jump back toward the operator.
Kickback is a result of tool misuse and/or incorrect op-
erating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by
taking proper precautions as given below:
[] Maintain a firm grip on the saw and position your
body and arm in a way that allows you to resist
KICKBACK forces. KICKBACK forces can be con-
trolled by the operator, if proper precautions are taken.
[] When blade is binding, or when interrupting a cut
for any reason, release the trigger and hold the saw
motionless in the material until the blade comes to
a complete stop. Never attempt to remove the saw
from the work or pull the saw backward while the
blade is in motion or KICKBACK may occur. Investi-
gate and take corrective actions to eliminate the cause
of blade binding.
[] When restarting a saw in the workpiece, center the
saw blade in the kerf and check that teeth are not
engaged into the material. If saw blade is binding, it
may walk up or KICKBACK from the workpiece as the
saw is restarted.
[] Support large panels to minimize the risk of blade
pinching and KICKBACK. Large panels tend to sag
under their own weight. Supports must be placed
under the panel on both sides, near the line of cut and
near the edge of the panel.