Pocket Cutting; Ripping - DeWalt DCS391 Instruction Manual

Cutting (Fig. 10)
Place the wider portion of the saw shoe on that part of the workpiece
which is solidly supported, not on the section that will fall off when the
cut is made. As an example, Figure 10 illustrates the RIGHT way to
cut off the end of a board. Always clamp work. Don't try to hold short
pieces by hand! Remember to support cantilevered and overhanging
material. Use caution when sawing material from below.
Be sure saw is up to full speed before blade contacts material to be cut.
Starting saw with blade against material to be cut or pushed forward
into kerf can result in kickback. Push the saw forward at a speed which
allows the blade to cut without laboring.
Hardness and toughness can vary even in the same piece of material,
and knotty or damp sections can put a heavy load on the saw. When
this happens, push the saw more slowly, but hard enough to keep
working without much decrease in speed. Forcing the saw can cause
rough cuts, inaccuracy, kickback, and over-heating of the motor.
Should your cut begin to go off the line, don't try to force it back on.
Release the trigger switch and allow blade to come to a complete stop.
Then you can withdraw the saw, sight anew, and start a new cut slightly
inside the wrong one. Withdraw the saw if you must shift the cut. Forcing
a correction inside the cut can stall the saw and lead to kickback.
IF SAW STALLS, RELEASE THE TRIGGER SWITCH AND BACK THE
SAW UNTIL IT IS LOOSE. BE SURE BLADE IS STRAIGHT IN THE
CUT AND CLEAR OF THE CUTTING EDGE BEFORE RESTARTING.
As you finish a cut, release the trigger switch and allow the blade
to stop before lifting the saw from the work. As you lift the saw, the
spring-tensioned lower blade guard will automatically close under the
blade. Remember the blade is exposed until this occurs. Never reach
under the work for any reason. When you have to retract the lower
blade guard manually (as is necessary for starting pocket cuts), always
use the retracting lever.
_WARNING: When cutting thin strips, be careful to ensure that
small cutoff pieces don't hang up on the inside of the lower blade
guard.
RIPPING (FIG. 13)
Ripping is the process of cutting wider boards into narrower strips -
cutting grain lengthwise. Hand guiding is more difficult for this type of
sawing and the use of a DEWALT rip fence is recommended.
FIG. 13
INSTALLRIPFENCE
IN THIS DIRECTION
POCKET CUTTING (FIG. 14)
J_WARNING: Never tie the
lower blade guard in a raised
position. Never move the saw
backwards when pocket cutting.
This may cause the saw to raise
up off the work surface, which
could cause inju_
A pocket cut is one that is
made in a floor, wall or other
flat surface.
1. Adjust the saw shoe so
the blade cuts at desired
depth.
FIG. 14
17