DeWalt DCS378 - Blade Selection; Operation; Installing and Removing the Battery Pack

11
ENGLISH
Proper Hand Position (Fig. L)

WARNING: To reduce the risk of serious personal injury,
ALWAYS use proper hand position as shown.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of serious personal
injury, ALWAYS hold securely in anticipation of a
suddenreaction.
Hold the saw firmly with one hand on the main handle
4
and one hand on the auxiliary handle
18
.
Installing and Removing the Battery Pack
(Fig. K)

WARNING: Ensure the tool/appliance is in the off
position before inserting the batterypack.
NOTE: For best results, make sure your battery pack is
fullycharged.
1. To install the battery pack
14
into the tool handle, align
the battery pack with the rails inside the tool’s handle
and slide it into the handle until the battery pack is firmly
seated in the tool and ensure that it does notdisengage.
2. To remove the battery pack from the tool, press the
battery pack release button
15
and firmly pull the
battery pack out of the tool handle. Insert it into
the charger as described in the charger section of
thismanual.
OPERATION

WARNING: To reduce the risk of serious personal
injury, turn unit off and remove the battery pack
before making any adjustments or removing/
installing attachments or accessories. An
accidental start‑up can causeinjury.
LED Worklight (Fig. A)

CAUTION: Do not stare into worklight. Serious eye
injury couldresult.
There is a worklight
17
located above the blade. The
worklight is activated when the trigger switch is depressed,
and will automatically turn off 20seconds after the trigger
switch is released. If the trigger switch remains depressed,
the worklight will remainon.
NOTE: The worklight is for lighting the immediate work
surface and is not intended to be used as aflashlight.
Variable Speed Control (Fig. I, J)
A variable speed dial
3
is located near the trigger of the
saw. The speed increases as the wheel is turned from a
low speed setting of 1(220SFPM) to a high speed setting
of5(570SFPM).
Variable Speed Trigger Switch (Fig. A, I)
DCS378
Release switch lock‑off button
1
by pressing button. Pull the
variable speed trigger switch
2
to turn the motor ON. The
variable speed trigger switch will give you added versatility.
The further the trigger is depressed the higher the speed of
thesaw. Releasing the trigger switch turns the motor OFF.
Releasing the trigger switch also automatically actuates
lock-offbutton.
Dual Trigger Switch (Fig. A, J)
DCS379
Release the lock and un‑lock button
1
by pressing button.
Pull the variable speed trigger switch
2
and then pull the
front trigger switch
27
for at least five seconds to turn the
motor ON. The variable speed trigger switch will give you
added versatility. The further the trigger is depressed the
higher the speed of thesaw. Releasing the front trigger
switch or the variable speed trigger switch turns the
motorOFF.
Blade Selection
In general, first consider the size and shape of the work,
and the type of material to be cut. Remember, for the most
efficient cutting, the coarsest tooth blade possible should be
used in a given application, because the coarser the tooth,
the faster the cut. In selecting the appropriate number of
teeth per inch of the band saw blade, at least two teeth
should contact the work surface when the blade is rested
against the workpiece. As a rule of thumb, soft materials
usually require coarse tooth blades, while hard materials
require fine tooth blades. Where a smoother finish is
important, select one of the finer toothblades.
Select the appropriate band saw blade according to the
material type, dimensions, and number of teeth. Refer to the
Bi‑Metal Band Saw Blade Descriptionchart.
The following table is intended as a general guide only.
Determine the type of material and dimension of the
workpiece and select the most appropriate band sawblade.
NOTICE: Never use the band saw to cut resin materials
which are subject to melting. Melting of resin material
caused by high heat generated during cutting may
cause the band saw blade to become bound to the
material, possibly resulting in overload and burn‑out
of themotor.
BI-METAL BAND SAW BLADE DESCRIPTION
Number of Teeth
Workpiece Thickness 24 18 14 14/18
1/8" (3.2 mm) and under
 
1/8"–1/4" (3.2–6.4 mm)
 

WARNING: The use of any other blade or accessory
might be hazardous. DO NOT use any other type
of accessory with your band saw. Blades used on
stationary band saws are of different thickness. Do not
attempt to use them on your portableunit.

WARNING: This tool has no provision to lock the
switch in the ON position, and should never be locked
ON by any othermeans.
Cutting (Fig. A, I, J, L)
Refer to Recommended Cutting Positions for
recommended cutting positions for variousmaterials.