Ryobi P825 Operation Manual 1 - Page 8

OPERATION To guard against kickback, avoid dangerous practices such as the following:  Setting blade depth incorrectly.  Sawing into knots or nails in workpiece.  Twisting the blade while making a cut.  Making a cut with a dull, gummed up, or improperly set blade.  Supporting the workpiece incorrectly.  Forcing a cut.  Cutting warped or wet lumber.  Operating the tool incorrectly or misusing the tool. To lessen the chance of kickback, follow these safety practices:  Keep the blade at the correct depth setting. The depth setting should not exceed 1/4 in. below the material being cut.  Inspect the workpiece for knots or nails before cutting. Never saw into a knot or nail.  Make straight cuts. Always use a straight edge guide when rip cutting. This helps prevent twisting the blade.  Use clean, sharp, and properly set blades. Never make cuts with dull blades.  Support the workpiece properly before beginning a cut.  Use steady, even pressure when making a cut. Never force a cut.  Do not cut warped or wet lumber.  Hold the saw firmly with both hands and keep your body in a balanced position so as to resist the forces if kickback should occur. WARNING: When using the saw, always stay alert and exercise control. Do not remove the saw from the workpiece while the blade is moving. SAW BLADES The best of saw blades will not cut efficiently if they are not kept clean, sharp, and properly set. Using a dull blade will place a heavy load on the saw and increase the danger of kickback. Keep extra blades on hand, so that sharp blades are always available. Gum and wood pitch hardened on blades will slow the saw down. Remove saw blade from the saw and use gum and pitch remover, hot water, or kerosene to remove these accumulations. DO NOT USE GASOLINE. BLADE GUARD SYSTEM See Figure 8, page 13. The lower blade guard attached to your circular saw is there for your protection and safety. Do not alter it for any reason. If it becomes damaged, do not operate the saw until you have the guard repaired or replaced. Always leave guard in operating position when using the saw. DANGER: When sawing through work, lower blade guard does not cover blade on the underside of work. Since blade is exposed on underside of work, keep hands and fingers away from cutting area. Any part of your body coming in contact with moving blade will result in serious injury. CAUTION: Never use saw when guard is not operating correctly. Check the guard for correct operation before each use. The guard is operating correctly when it moves freely and readily returns to the closed position. If you drop the saw, check the lower blade guard and bumper for damage at all depth settings before reuse. STARTING/STOPPING THE SAW See Figure 9, page 13. To start the saw:  Depress the lock-off button.  Squeeze the switch trigger. Always let the blade reach full speed, then guide the saw into the workpiece. WARNING: The blade coming in contact with the workpiece before it reaches full speed could cause the saw to "kickback" towards you resulting in serious injury. To stop the saw: Release the switch trigger. After you release the switch trigger, allow the blade to come to a complete stop. Do not remove the saw from the workpiece while the blade is moving. LOCK-OFF BUTTON See Figure 9, page 13. The lock-off button reduces the possibility of accidental starting. The lock-off button is located on the handle above the switch trigger. The lock-off button must be depressed before you pull the switch trigger. The lock resets each time the trigger is released. NOTE: You can depress the lock-off button from either the left or right side. 8 - English