Bosch GKS 18 V-LI Professional Original Operating Instructions page 8

OBJ_BUCH-765-001.book Page 8 Thursday, June 5, 2008 10:27 AM
8 | English
Never hold the workpiece being cut in your
hands or across your leg. Secure the work-
piece to a stable platform. It is important to
support the work properly to minimize body
exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.
Hold the power tool only by the insulated
gripping surfaces, when performing an oper-
ation where the cutting tool may run into
hidden wiring. Contact with a "live" wire will
make exposed metal parts of the tool "live"
and shock the operator.
When ripping, always use a rip fence or
straight edge guide. This improves the accu-
racy of cut and reduces the chance of blade
binding.
Always use blades with correct size and
shape (diamond versus round) of arbor
holes. Blades that do not match the mounting
hardware of the saw will run eccentrically,
causing loss of control.
Never use damaged or incorrect blade wash-
ers or bolt. The blade washers and bolt were
specially designed for your saw, for optimum
performance and safety of operation.
Causes and operator prevention of kickback:
– Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched,
bound or misaligned saw blade, causing an
uncontrolled saw to lift up and out of the
workpiece toward the operator.
– 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
toward the operator.
– 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, causing the blade to climb out of the
kerf and jump back toward the operator.
Kickback is the result of saw misuse and/or in-
correct operating procedures or conditions,
and can be avoided by taking proper precau-
tions as given below.
2 609 932 630 | (5.6.08)
Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the
saw and position your arms to resist kick-
back forces. Position your body to either
side of the blade, but not in line with the
blade. Kickback could cause the saw to jump
backwards, but kickback forces can be con-
trolled by the operator, if proper precautions
are taken.
When blade is binding, or when interrupting
a cut for any reason, 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. Investigate
and take corrective actions to eliminate the
cause of blade binding.
When restarting a saw in the workpiece, cen-
ter the saw blade in the kerf and check that
saw teeth are not engaged into the material.
If the saw blade is binding, it may walk up or
kickback from the workpiece as the saw is re-
started.
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.
Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharp-
ened or improperly set blades produce nar-
row kerf, causing excessive friction, blade
binding and kickback.
Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking le-
vers must be tight and secure before making
cuts. If blade adjustment shifts while cutting,
it may cause binding and kickback.
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.
Check lower guard for proper closing before
each use. Do not operate the saw if lower
guard does not move freely and close in-
stantly. Never clamp or tie the lower guard
into the open position. If saw is accidentally
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