Dewalt DCS512B Instruction Manual - Page 14

English Do not use abrasive wheels or blades. A dull blade will cause slow inefficient cutting, overload on the saw motor, excessive splintering, and could increase the possibility of kickback. Please refer to the table below to determine the correct size replacement blade for your model saw. Blade Diameter Teeth Application 5-3/8" (136 mm) 16 General purpose cutting 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 more likely to occur when any of the following conditions exists. 1. IMPROPER WORKPIECE SUPPORT a. Sagging or improper lifting of the cut off piece can cause pinching of the blade and lead to kickback. b. Cutting through material supported at the outer ends only can cause kickback. As the material weakens it sags, closing down the kerf and pinching the blade. c. Cutting off a cantilevered or overhanging piece of material from the bottom up in a vertical direction can cause kickback. The falling cut off piece can pinch the blade. d. Cutting off long narrow strips (as in ripping) can cause kickback. The cut off strip can sag or twist closing the kerf and pinching the blade. e. Snagging the lower guard on a surface below the material being cut momentarily reduces operator control. The saw can lift partially out of the cut increasing the chance of blade twist. 2. IMPROPER DEPTH OF CUT SETTING ON SAW a. To make the most efficient cut, the blade should protrude only far enough to expose one-half of a tooth. This allows the shoe to support the blade and minimizes twisting and pinching in the material. See the section titled Cutting Depth Adjustment. 3. BLADE TWISTING (MISALIGNMENT IN CUT) a. Pushing harder to cut through a knot, a nail or a hard grain area can cause the blade to twist. b. Trying to turn the saw in the cut (trying to get back on the marked line) can cause blade twist. c. Overreaching or operating the saw with poor body control (out of balance), can result in twisting the blade. d. Changing hand grip or body position while cutting can result in blade twist. e. Backing up the saw to clear blade can lead to twist. 4. MATERIALS THAT REQUIRE EXTRA ATTENTION a. Wet lumber b. Green lumber (material freshly cut or not kiln dried) c. Pressure treated lumber (material treated with preservatives or anti-rot chemicals) 5. USE OF DULL OR DIRTY BLADES a. Dull blades cause increased loading of the saw. To compensate, an operator will usually push harder which further loads the unit and promotes twisting of the blade in the kerf. Worn blades may also have insufficient body clearance which increases the chance of binding and increased loading. 6. LIFTING THE SAW WHEN MAKING A BEVEL CUT a. Bevel cuts require special operator attention to proper cutting techniques - especially guidance of the saw. Both blade angle to the shoe and greater blade surface in the material increase the chance for binding and misalignment (twist) to occur. 7. RESTARTING A CUT WITH THE BLADE TEETH JAMMED AGAINST THE MATERIAL a. The saw should be brought up to full operating speed before starting a cut or restarting a cut after the unit has been stopped with the blade in the kerf. Failure to do so can cause stalling and kickback. Any other conditions which could result in pinching, binding, twisting, or misalignment of the blade could cause kickback. Refer to the sections Further Safety Instructions for All Saws and Blades for procedures and techniques that will minimize the occurrence of kickback. Cutting Depth Adjustment (Fig. A, J) 1. Hold the saw firmly and loosen (clockwise) the depth adjustment lever 4 and move shoe ( 5 , Fig. A) to obtain the desired depth of cut. 2. Make sure the depth adjustment lever has been retightened (counterclockwise) before operating saw. For the most efficient cutting action, set the depth adjustment so that one-half tooth of the blade will project below the material to be cut. This distance is from the tip of the tooth to the bottom of the gullet in front of it. This keeps blade friction at a minimum, removes sawdust from the cut, results in cooler, faster sawing and reduces the chance of kickback. A method for checking for correct cutting depth is shown in Figure J. Lay a piece of the material you plan to cut along the side of the blade, as shown, and observe how much tooth projects beyond the material. Bevel Angle Adjustment (Fig. A, K) The full range of the bevel adjustment is from 0° to 50°. The quadrant is graduated in increments of 1°. On the front of the saw is a bevel angle adjustment mechanism consisting of a calibrated quadrant and a bevel adjustment lever 10 . To Set the Saw for a Bevel Cut 1. Loosen (counterclockwise) the bevel adjustment lever 10 and tilt shoe ( 5 , Fig. A) to the desired angle by aligning the pointer with the desired angle mark. 2. Retighten lever firmly (clockwise). 12