saw teeth are not engaged into the material. 
If saw blade binds, it may walk up or kickback 
from the workpiece as the saw is restarted.
 d)  Support large panels to minimise 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 sawing into existing 
walls or other blind areas. The protruding 
blade may cut objects that can cause kickback.
Safety Instructions for Saws with a 
Pendulum Blade Guard
 a)  Check the lower guard for proper closing 
before each use. Do not operate the saw if 
the lower guard does not move freely and 
close instantly. Never clamp or tie the lower 
guard into the open position. If the saw is 
accidentally dropped, the 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)  The lower guard should be retracted 
manually only for special cuts such as 
“plunge cuts” and “compound cuts”. Raise 
the 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 the 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.
exposed metal parts of the power tool “live” and 
could give the operator an electric shock.
 f) When ripping always use a rip fence or 
straight edge guide. This improves the 
accuracy of cut and reduces the chance of 
blade binding.
 g)   Always use blades with correct size and 
shape (diamond versus round) of arbour 
holes. Blades that do not match the mounting 
hardware of the saw will run off-centre, causing 
loss of control.
 h)  Never use damaged or incorrect blade 
washers 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, 
jammed 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 jammed 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 incorrect 
operating procedures or conditions and can be 
avoided by taking proper precautions as given below:
 a)  Maintain a firm grip with both hands on 
the saw and position your arms to resist 
kickback 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 
controlled by the operator, if proper precautions 
are taken.
 b)  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.
  c)  When restarting a saw in the workpiece, 
centre the saw blade in the kerf so that the 
14
ENGLISH