Cutting Metal; Cutting With A Straightedge - Craftsman 320.17234 Operator's Manual

CUTTING METAL
When cutting metal ALWAYS clamp down tt_emetal workpiece and ALWAYS use a
METAL cutting blade. Be extremely careful to move the saw very slowly as you cut° Use
the LOW speeds (Position 1, 2 or 3 on the variable speed dial)+ DO NOT twist, bend or
force the blade+ If the saw jumps or bounces as you cut, change to a blade with finer
teeth+ If the blade begins to clog when cutting soft metal, change to a blade with coarser
teeth+
For easier cutting, lubricate the blade with a stick of cutting wax (if available) or cutting oil
when cutting steel+ Thin metal should be sandwiched between two pieces of wood or
tightly cramped on a single piece of wood (wood on top of tile metal),, Draw the cut lines
or design on the top piece of wood.
When cutting aluminum extrusion or angle iron, clamp the work in a bench vise and saw
close to the vise jaws+
When sawing tubing with a diameter larger than the blade is deep, cut tllrough the wall of
the tubing and then insed the blade into the cut, rotating the tube as you saw+
1. When cutting metals, a suitable cooling / cutting oit must be used°
2. Spread the oi! onto the blade or workpiece at regular tntewats during cutting in order to
reduce wear or overheating of the blade.
3+ Don't make bevel cut when cutting metal,
' _ WARNING;
ALWAYS unplug saw from the power source BEFO,_E
making any adjustments or attaching accessories.
CUTTING WITH A STRAIGHTEDGE (Fig. 13)
1,, Mark the position of the side edge of the saw
base and then cramp the straightedge on the
mark and parallel to the cut.
2. As you cut, keep the saw base edge flush
against the straightedge and flat on the
workpiece.
Fig. 13 _
l Z_ WARNING:
ALWAYS clamp and support workpiece securely. ALWAYS
maintain proper control of saw. Failure to clamp and support workplace and
toss of control of saw could result in serious injury.
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