Craftsman 172.10856 Owner's Manual page 7

SAFETY RULES FOR CIRCULAR SAWS cont.
11. ALWAYS BE SURE that all adjusting screws and the blade holder are
fastened tightly BEFORE making a cut. Loose adjusting screws and holders
can cause the tool or blade to slip and loss of control may result.
12. When removing the blade from the tool, ALWAYS avoid contact with skin
and ALWAYS wear protective gloves when grasping the blade or accessory.
Accessories may be hot after prolonged use.
KICKBACK...WHAT CAUSES IT AND WAYS TO PREVENT IT
The Causes of Kickback
1. Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound or misaligned saw blade,
which causes the uncontrolled saw to lift up and out of the workpiece and
towards the operator.
2. When the blade is pinched or bound tightly by the kerf closing down, the
blade stalls and the motor reaction drives the unit rapidly back towards
the operator.
3. If the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in the cut, the teeth at the back
edge of the blade can dig into the top surface of the wood. This causes the
blade to climb out of the kerf and jump back towards the operator.
4. Kickback is a result of tool misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or
conditions. It can be avoided by taking the proper precautions, as listed below.
Ways to Prevent Kickback
1. ALWAYS maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position
your body and arms to allow you to resist KICKBACK forces.
KICKBACK forces can be controlled by the operator, if the proper
precautions are taken.
2. If the blade is binding, or when you are interrupting a cut for any
reason, ALWAYS 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. ALWAYS check and be
ready to take corrective action to eliminate the cause of blade binding.
3. When restarting the saw in the workpiece, ALWAYS center the blade
in the kerf and check to be sure that the saw teeth are not engaged
into the material. If the saw blade is binding, it may walk up or KICKBACK
from the workpiece when the saw is restarted.
4. ALWAYS 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.
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