Ryobi JS651L Operation Manual - Page 11

OPERATION PLUNGE CUTTING See Figures 14 - 16, page 15 - 16. Depending on the thickness of the material being cut, you may need to drill a pilot hole before making plunge cuts. WARNING: To avoid loss of control, broken blades, or damage to the material being cut, always use extreme caution when making plunge cuts. We do not recommend plunge cutting on materials other than wood. To make plunge cuts using pilot holes:  Mark the line of cut clearly on the workpiece.  Drill a pilot hole inside the area marked by the line of cut. The pilot hole should be large enough to slide the blade through the material.  Slowly lower the blade through the pilot hole in the workpiece until the base contacts the work piece. Fully squeeze the switch trigger to start the saw.  Do not move the base forward until the blade is entirely through the workpiece and the base is in complete contact with the workpiece.  Move the saw forward to complete the opening. To make plunge cuts without using pilot holes:  Mark the line of cut clearly on the workpiece.  Tilt the jig saw forward so that it rests on the front edge of the base and blade will not come in contact with the workpiece when the tool is turned on.  Make sure the blade is aligned with the area to be cut.  Fully squeeze the switch trigger and slowly lower the blade into the workpiece until the blade cuts through the workpiece.  Continue lowering the blade into the workpiece until the base rests flat on the work surface, then move the jig saw forward to complete the opening.  Use only the 7 teeth per inch blade for this type of cut. METAL CUTTING See Figure 17, page 16. NOTE: The jig saw has to be in the no-orbit mode to cut metals and conduit. Set the orbital adjustment knob to "0." Refer to the Orbital Motion section earlier in this manual for more details. Many kinds of metals can be cut with the saw using a metal blade. Be careful not to twist or bend the blades. Do not force. If the blade chatters or vibrates excessively, use a finer-tooth metal-cutting blade. If blade heats excessively, use lower speed. If blade teeth become filled or clogged when cutting soft metals, such as aluminum, use a coarsertooth blade or lower speed. We recommend use of lubricant when cutting metals to keep blades cool, increase cutting action, and prolong blade life. Clamp the work firmly and saw close to the clamping point to eliminate any vibration of the work being cut. When cutting conduit, pipe, or angle iron, clamp work in a vise if possible and saw close to the vise. To cut thin sheet materials, "sandwich" the material between hardboard or plywood and clamp the layers to eliminate vibration and material tearing. By doing this, the material will be cut smoothly. Lay out your pattern or line of cut on top of the "sandwich." NOTE: When cutting metal, keep exposed portion of saw bar clean and free of metal chips by wiping frequently with an oily cloth. Use extreme caution in disposing of oily cloth after completion of job to prevent potential fire hazard. 11 - English