Ridgid MS255SR Operation Manual - Page 4

specific safety instructions � WARNING: for your own safety, read the operator's manual before operating the miter saw. • Always wear eye protection. • Do not operate the saw without the guards in place. • Be sure to turn the tool off and wait for the saw blade to stop before moving the work piece or changing the settings. • Be sure that the power is disconnected before changing the blade or servicing the saw. • Do not expose to rain or use in a damp location. • When servicing, use only identical replacement parts. • Never reach around the saw blade. • Do not perform any operation freehand. Always place the work piece to be cut on the miter saw table, and position it firmly against the fence as a backstop. Always use the fence. • Always keep hands out of the path of the saw blade. Do not reach under the material being cut or into the blade's cutting path with your fingers or hand for any reason. • To reduce the risk of injury, return the saw arm to the full rear position after each crosscut operation. • Always make sure that the miter table and saw arm (bevel function) are locked in position before operating your saw. Lock the miter table by securely tightening the miter-lock lever. Lock the saw arm (bevel function) by securely tightening the bevel locking lever. • Be sure that the blade path is free of nails. Always carefully inspect lumber and remove all nails before cutting. • Always be sure that the blade clears the work piece. Never start the saw with the blade touching the work piece. Always allow the motor to come to full speed before starting a cut. • Support long work pieces when cutting to minimize the risk of blade pinching or kickback. The saw may slip, walk or slide while cutting long or heavy boards. • Never use a length-stop on the free (scrap) end of a clamped work piece; never hold onto or bind the free (scrap) end of the work piece in any operation. If a clamp and a length-stop are used together, they must both be installed on the same side of the saw table to prevent the saw from catching the loose end and kicking up. • Never cut more than one piece at a time. Do not stack more than one work piece on the worktable at a time. • Avoid awkward operations and hand positions where a sudden slip could cause your hand to move into the blade. Always make sure that you have good balance. Never operate your saw on the floor or in a crouched position. • Only use the correct blades. Use the correct blade size, style and cutting speed for the material and the type of cut. Do not use blades with incorrect size holes. Never use blade washers or blade bolts that are defective or incorrect. • Always keep blades clean, sharp and with sufficient set. Sharp blades minimize stalling and kickback. • Do not use dull or damaged blades. Bent blades can break easily or cause kickback. • Never hold a work piece by hand if it is too small to be clamped. Always keep your hands clear of the "no hands" zone. • Never apply lubricants to the blade when it is running. • Never use solvents to clean plastic parts. Solvents could dissolve or otherwise damage the material. • Do not turn the motor switch on and off rapidly. This could cause the blade to loosen, which could create a hazard. Should this ever occur, stand clear and allow the saw blade to come to a complete stop. Disconnect the saw from the power source and securely tighten the blade bolt. • Never leave the saw unattended while it is connected to a power supply. • Keep the motor air slots clean and free of chips or dust. To avoid motor damage, the motor should be blown out or vacuumed frequently to keep sawdust from interfering with the motor ventilation. • Never lift this tool by gripping the cutting handle or the miter fence. This may cause misalignment. Always lock the saw arm in the "DOWN" position and then carry the saw by holding the base or lift it using the carrying handle/support bracket. �WARNING: Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling and other construction activities contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these chemicals are: • Lead from lead-based paints. • Crystalline silica from bricks, cement, and other masonry products. • Arsenic and chromium from chemically treated lumber. Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your exposure to these chemicals: • Work in a well-ventilated area. • Work with approved safety equipment, such as dust masks that are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles. Avoid prolonged contact with dust from power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction activities. Wear protective clothing and wash exposed areas with soap and water. Allowing dust to get into your mouth or eyes or to lie on the skin may promote absorption of harmful chemicals. 3