Ryobi P553 Operation Manual - Page 4

MITER SAW SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES  The workpiece must be stationary and clamped or held against both the fence and the table. Do not feed the workpiece into the blade or cut "freehand" in any way. Unrestrained or moving workpieces could be thrown at high speeds, causing injury.  Never cross your hand over the intended line of cutting either in front or behind the saw blade. Supporting the workpiece "cross handed" i.e. holding the workpiece to the right of the saw blade with your left hand or vice versa is very dangerous.  Do not reach behind the fence with either hand closer than 100 mm from either side of the saw blade, to remove wood scraps, or for any other reason while the blade is spinning. The proximity of the spinning saw blade to your hand may not be obvious and you may be seriously injured.  Inspect your workpiece before cutting. If the workpiece is bowed or warped, clamp it with the outside bowed face toward the fence. Always make certain that there is no gap between the workpiece, fence and table along the line of the cut. Bent or warped workpieces can twist or shift and may cause binding on the spinning saw blade while cutting. There should be no nails or foreign objects in the workpiece.  Do not use the saw until the table is clear of all tools, wood scraps, etc., except for the workpiece. Small debris or loose pieces of wood or other objects that contact the revolving blade can be thrown with high speed.  Cut only one workpiece at a time. Stacked multiple workpieces cannot be adequately clamped or braced and may bind on the blade or shift during cutting.  Ensure the miter saw is mounted or placed on a level, firm work surface before use. A level and firm work surface reduces the risk of the miter saw becoming unstable.  Plan your work. Every time you change the bevel or miter angle setting, make sure the adjustable fence is set correctly to support the workpiece and will not interfere with the blade or the guarding system. Without turning the tool " ON" and with no workpiece on the table, move the saw blade through a complete simulated cut to assure there will be no interference or danger of cutting the fence.  Provide adequate support such as table extensions, saw horses, etc. for a workpiece that is wider or longer than the table top. Workpieces longer or wider than the miter saw table can tip if not securely supported. If the cutoff piece or workpiece tips, it can lift the lower guard or be thrown by the spinning blade.  Do not use another person as a substitute for a table extension or as additional support. Unstable support for the workpiece can cause the blade to bind or the workpiece to shift during the cutting operation pulling you and the helper into the spinning blade.  The cut-off piece must not be jammed or pressed by any means against the spinning saw blade. If confined, i.e. using length stops, the cut-off piece could get wedged against the blade and thrown violently.  Always use a clamp or a fixture designed to properly support round material such as rods or tubing. Rods have a tendency to roll while being cut, causing the blade to b ite and pull the work with your hand into the blade.  Let the blade reach full speed before contacting the workpiece. This will reduce the risk of the workpiece being thrown.  If the workpiece or blade becomes jammed, turn the miter saw off. Wait for all moving parts to stop and disconnect the plug from the power source and/or remove the battery pack. Then work to free the jammed material. Continued sawing with a jammed workpiece could cause loss of control or damage to the miter saw.  After finishing the cut, release the switch, hold the saw head down and wait for the blade to stop before removing the cut-off piece. Reaching with your hand near the coasting blade is dangerous.  Hold the handle firmly when making an incomplete cut or when releasing the switch before the saw head is completely in the down position. The braking action of the saw may to be suddenly pulled downward, causing a risk of injury.  Save these instructions. Refer to them frequently and use to instruct other users. If you loan someone this tool, loan them these instructions also. ADDITIONAL SAFETY RULES  Use the proper extension cord. Make sure your extension cord is in good condition. Use only a cord heavy enough to carry the current your product will draw. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating. A wire gauge size (A.W.G.) of at least 14 is recommended for an extension cord 25 feet or less in length. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge. The smaller the gauge number, the heavier the cord.  Inspect tool cords periodically. If damaged, have repaired by a qualified service technician at an authorized service facility. Repair or replace a damaged or worn cord immediately. Stay constantly aware of cord location and keep it well away from the rotating blade.  Inspect extension cords periodically and replace if damaged. 4 - English