Craftsman 320.18780 Operator's Manual page 8

• Do not reach underneath the work. The guard cannot protect you from the
blade beneath the workpiece.
_1_ DANGER: When saw!ng through a workpiece, the lower blade guar d does
not cover the blade on the underside of the workpiece. Always keep your hands
and fingers away from the cutting area. :
• Check the lower guard for proper closing=before each rise. Do not
operate the saw if the lower guard does not move freely and close instantly.
Never clamp or tie the lower guard in the open position. If the saw is
accidentally dropped, the lower guard may be bent. Raise the lower guard
with the retracting lever. The guard is operating properly when it moves
freely, does not touch the blade or any other part in all angles and depths of
cut, and readily returns to the closed position.
• Check the operation and condition of the lower guard spring. Ifthe
guard and the spring &Pe not operating properly, they must be serviced
before use. The lower guard may operate sluggishly, due to damaged parts,
gummy deposits, or a buildup of debris. Do not operate your saw until the
damage has been repaired or replaced.
• The lower guard should be retracted manually only formaking special
cuts, sucl_ as pocket or compound cuts. Always raise the lower guard t_y
retracting its lever. As soon as the blade enters the material, the lower guard,,
must be_released. For all other sawing, the lower guard should operate
automatically.
• Always make sure that the lower guard is covering the blade" before
,;_ ,placing the saw down on a work bench or floor.. An unprotected moving
_" blade Will cause the saw to Walk backwards, cuttir_g whatever fs in its path.
_,_ Make note of the timeit takes for the blade tb stopspinning a/t_r;theswitch
is released. _ ---
....Never hold the piece being cut in yotJr hahds :oP_aicPoss youP legs. It, "
iS important to support,the wdrkpiece properly in, order to minimize body
exposure, blade, binding, or loss of control,- .. _- .. .. :
• Hold tool by inSUlated gripping s_urfaces_(handles)when pet'f0rming an
opei'ation where the cutting tool may c0ntact hidden wiring or itsOwn
cord. Contact with a "live" wire will make the exposed metal parts Of the tool
"live" and shock the operator.
... : _ _ _; _ . _ _- ':;- - _.. , ..", . -
• Always clamp the workpiece securely so it will not move when making the Out.
• when ripping, always Use _i rip fence or straight ecige guide. "l-his'impro_;_
;the accuracy of thecut and reduces the bhance of the blade l:)inding. :
'. .
• Always use blades that have the correct size and shape (diamond vs.
round) arbor holes. Blades that do not match the mounting:hardware Of the
...§a w will run erratically and cause loss of controL
'T16780 ManuaLRevised_09-0513 : Page 8