Makita BSS611Z Owners Manual - Page 5

000191 • • • • 000049 • Do not support board or panel away from the cut. Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened or improperly set blades produce narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding and kickback. Keep blade sharp and clean. Gum and wood pitch hardened on blades slows saw and increases potential for kickback. Keep blade clean by first removing it from tool, then cleaning it with gum and pitch remover, hot water or kerosene. Never use gasoline. 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. 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. For plunge cuts, retract lower guard using retracting handle. ALWAYS hold the tool firmly with both hands. NEVER place your hand or fingers behind the saw. If kickback occurs, the saw could easily jump backwards over your hand, leading to serious personal injury. Never force the saw. Forcing the saw can cause uneven cuts, loss of accuracy, and possible kickback. Push the saw forward at a speed so that the blade cuts without slowing. 10. Check lower guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate the saw if lower guard does not move freely and close instantly. Never clamp or tie the lower guard into the open position. If saw is accidentally dropped, 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. To check lower guard, open lower guard by hand, then release and watch guard closure. Also check to see that retracting handle does not touch tool housing. Leaving blade exposed is VERY DANGEROUS and can lead to serious personal injury. 11. 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. 12. Lower guard should be retracted manually only for special cuts such as "plunge cuts" and "compound cuts." Raise 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. 13. Always observe that the lower guard is covering the blade before placing 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. Before setting the tool down after completing a cut, be sure that the lower guard has closed and the blade has come to a complete stop. 14. Use extra caution when cutting damp wood, pressure treated lumber, or wood containing knots. Adjust speed of cut to maintain smooth advancement of tool without decrease in blade speed. 15. Avoid Cutting Nails. Inspect for and remove all nails from lumber before cutting. 16. Place the wider portion of the saw base on that part of the workpiece which is solidly supported, not on the section that will fall off when the cut is made. As examples, Fig. 1 illustrates the RIGHT way to cut off the end of a board, and Fig. 2 the WRONG way. If the workpiece is short or small, clamp it down. DO NOT TRY TO HOLD SHORT PIECES BY HAND! 5