DeWalt DCS391-XE Instruction Manual page 6

d) 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.
e) Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened or improperly set blades
produce narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.
f) Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must be tight and secure
before making cut. If blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause binding
and kickback.
g) Use extra caution when making a "plunge cut" into existing walls or other
blind areas. The protruding blade may cut objects that can cause kickback.
LOWER GUARD SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
a) Check lower guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate the 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.
b) Check the operation 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 damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a build-up of
debris.
c) Lower guard should be retracted manually only for special cuts such as
"plunge cuts" and "compound cuts." Raise lower guard by retracting handle
and as soon as blade enters the material, the lower guard must be released.
For all other sawing, the lower guard should operate automatically.
d) 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.
Additional Specific Safety Instructions for Circular Saws
WARNING: Do not use abrasive wheels or blades.
WARNING: Do not use water feed attachments.
• Use clamps or another practical way to secure and support the workpiece
to a stable platform. Holding the work by hand or against your body leaves it
unstable and may lead to loss of control.
• Keep your body positioned to either side of the blade, but not in line with the
saw blade. KICKBACK could cause the saw to jump backwards (see Causes and
Operator Prevention of Kickback and KICKBACK).
• Air vents often cover moving parts and should be avoided. Loose clothes,
jewelry or long hair can be caught in moving parts.
• Avoid cutting nails. Inspect for and remove all nails from lumber before cutting.
WARNING: We recommend the use of a residual current device with a residual
current rating of 30mA or less.
WARNING: ALWAYS wear approved protective safety equipment complying with
the following standards:
• Eye protection: AS/NZS1337 Eye Protectors for Industrial Applications;
• Hearing protection: AS/NZS1270 Acoustics – Hearing Protection;
• Respiratory protection: AS/NZS1716 Respiratory Protective Devices.
WARNING: Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and
other construction activities contains chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects
or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these chemicals are:
• lead from lead-based paints,
• crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other masonry products, and
• arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated lumber.
Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on how often you do this type of
work. To reduce your exposure to these chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and
work with approved safety equipment, such as those dust masks that are specially
designed to filter out microscopic particles.
• Avoid prolonged contact with dust from power sanding, sawing, grinding,
drilling, and other construction activities. Wear protective clothing and wash
exposed areas with soap and water. Allowing dust to get into your mouth, eyes,
or lay on the skin may promote absorption of harmful chemicals.
WARNING: Use of this tool can generate and/or disburse dust, which may cause
serious and permanent respiratory or other injury. Always use NIOSH/OSHA approved
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