Makita LCT208W Owners Manual - Page 5

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. 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. 14. 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. grasping cut material. CAUTION: Blades coast after turn off. 18. Avoid Cutting Nails. Inspect for and remove all nails from lumber before cutting. 19. 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! Fig. 1 011402 Fig. 2 011400 15. Never force the saw. Push the saw forward at a speed so that the blade cuts without slowing. Forcing the saw can cause uneven cuts, loss of accuracy, and possible kickback. 16. 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. 17. Do not attempt to remove cut material when blade is moving. Wait until blade stops before 011403 20. 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. 21. Never attempt to saw with the circular saw held upside down in a vise. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to serious accidents. 5