How To Avoid Kickbacks - Craftsman 137.415030 Operator's Manual

SAW BLADE GUARD ASSEMBLY,
ANTI-KICKBACK ASSEMBLY AND
RIVING KNIFE
Your table saw is equipped with a
blade guard assembly, anti-kickback
assembly and riving knife that covers
the blade and reduces the possibility
of accidental blade contact. The riving
knife is a flat plate that fits into the cut
made by the saw blade and effectively
fights kickback by lessening the
tendency of the blade to bind in the cut.
The blade guard assembly and anti-
kickback assembly can only be used
when making through cuts that sever
the wood. When making rabbets and
other cuts that make non through cuts,
the blade guard assembly and anti-
kickback assembly must be removed
and riving knife lowered to the
non through cut position marked on the
riving knife. Two anti-kickback pawls are
located on the sides of the riving knife
that allow the wood to pass through the
blade in the cutting direction but reduce
the possibility of the material being
thrown backwards toward the operator.
Use all components of the guarding
system (blade guard assembly, riving
knife and anti-kickback assembly) for
every operation for which they can
be used including all through cutting.
If you elect not to use any of these
components for a particular application
exercise additional caution regarding
control of the workpiece, the use of
push sticks, the position of your hands
relative to the blade, the use of safety
TABLE SAW SAFETY
glasses, the means to avoid kickback
and all other warnings contained in this
manual and on the saw itself. Replace
the guarding systems as soon as you
return to thru-cutting operations. Keep
the guard assembly in working order.
KICKBACKS
KICKBACKS: Kickbacks can cause
serious injury. A kickback occurs when
a part of the workpiece binds between
the saw blade and the rip fence, or
other fixed object, and rises from the
table and is thrown toward the operator.
Kickbacks can be avoided by attention
to the following conditions.
How to Avoid Kickbacks and Protect
Yourself from Possible Injury:
a. Be certain that the rip fence is
parallel to the saw blade.
b. Do not rip by applying the feed force
to the section of the workpiece that
will become the cut-off (free) piece.
Feed force when ripping should
always be applied between the saw
blade and the fence; use a push
stick for narrow work, 6 in. (152
mm) wide or less.
c. Keep saw blade guard assembly,
riving knife and anti-kickback
assembly in place and operating
properly. If anti-kickback assembly
is not operational, return your unit
to the nearest authorized service
center for repair. The riving knife
must be in alignment with the saw
blade and the anti-kickback pawls
assembly must stop a kickback
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