General Safety

All power tools can be dangerous if both general and tool specific safety instructions are not followed carefully. General
safety instructions apply to all power tools, both corded and cordless.

Start with a Safe Work Area Rules about Extension Cords

Keep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered • When using a power tool outside, use an exten-
benches and dark areas invite accidents. sion cord marked for outdoor use with “W-A” or
Do not operate power tools in explosive atmo- “W”. These cords are made for outdoor use.
spheres, near flammable liquids, gases, or dust. • Extension cords with 3-prong grounding plugs
Power tools create sparks, which may ignite the must be plugged into 3-prong outlets when using
dust or fumes. grounded tools.
• Keep bystanders, children, and visitors away • Replace damaged or worn cords immediately.
when using a power tool. Distractions can cause
you to lose control.
The wire gauge and length of the extension cord
must be able to handle the amps of the tool.
Electricity can be Dangerous
Find the Amps (A) on the tool’s nameplate and
Grounded tools (three pronged cords) must use the chart to determine the necessary wire
be plugged into a properly grounded installed outlet. gauge for your extension cord length.
Never remove or cut off the grounding prong or modify
the plug in any way. Do not use any adapter plugs.
Double Insulated tools have a polarized plug 16
(one blade is wider than the other.) This plug will 16
16
fit into an outlet only one way. Do not change 12
the plug in any way.
Do not use AC only rated tools with a DC power
supply.
Store battery packs away from other metal ob- Good Personal Safety is a Must
jects like paper clips, coins, keys, nails, screws, Following good safety practices when using all power
or other small metal objects. These things can tools is a must. Make a habit of including safety in all of
make a connection from one terminal to the your activities.
other, shorting the battery terminals together Always read and understand the tool’s opera-
and causing burns or fire. tor’s manual, tool markings and the instructions
• When using a power tool, don’t touch grounded packaged with the accessory before starting any
surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ranges and work.
refrigerators. There is a higher risk of electric • Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use
shock if your body is grounded. common sense when using a power tool.
In damp locations, only plug your tool into a Do not use tools when you are tired or under the
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI). If the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication.
work area does not have a permanent GFCI
• Dress right. Do not wear gloves, loose clothes or
on the outlet, use a plug-in GFCI. Wear rubber
jewelry. Contain long hair. Loose clothes, gloves,
gloves and footwear.
jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving
Don’t use or leave power tools in the rain or wet parts.
conditions.
• Keep handles dry, clean and free from oil and
Do not abuse the cord, carry the tool by its cord, grease.
or pull the cord to unplug it. Keep the cord away
• Be sure the power tool’s switch is OFF before
from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts.
plugging it in or inserting a battery pack. Do not
Replace damaged cords immediately.
carry tools with your finger on the switch.
Always hold the tool by the insulated gripping
Remove adjusting keys and wrenches before
surfaces. Contact with hidden wiring or its own
turning the tool ON.
cord will make exposed metal parts of the tool
“live” and shock the operator.

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 • Always keep a firm footing when using power Maintenance Keeps Tools Working Safely and
tools. Be sure you have balance and control Effectively
before you start the job.
• Do not use a tool if the switch does not turn it on
Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protec- and off. It must be repaired.
tion. A dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard
Look at the tool before using it. Are moving parts
hat, or hearing protection must be used when
misaligned or binding? Is anything broken?
needed. The reference to “safety goggles” or
Damaged tools must be fixed before using them.
“safety glasses” in product specific sections
Develop a maintenance schedule for your tool.
provides potential options - always refer to the
tool’s operator’s manual for the specific eye pro- • Maintain accessories carefully. Keep blades and
tection recommended, which should be marked bits sharp and clean.
as complying with current national standards. • Take your tool to be serviced by qualified repair
people. Service or maintenance performed by
• Unplug tool/remove battery before changing
unqualified personnel could result in a risk of
accessories.
injury. For example: internal wires may be mis-
Keep hands away from rotating or moving parts. placed or pinched, safety guard return springs
may be improperly mounted.
Do the Job Safely • When servicing a tool, use only identical re-
• Use the power tool accessories only for the jobs placement parts. Follow instructions regarding
for which they were designed. maintenance in the tool’s operator’s manual.
Secure and support the workpiece. Use clamps Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow the
and a stable work surface. Do not hold the work maintenance instructions may create a risk of
by hand or against your body. electric shock or injury.
• Keep guards in place and working properly. • Clean and lubricate a tool only as directed in
its operator’s manuals. Certain cleaning agents
• Do not force the tool. Use the right tool for your
such as gasoline, carbon tetrachloride, ammo-
job. It will do the job better and safer.
nia, etc. may damage plastic parts.
• Use only accessories recommended by the tool
• Maintain labels and nameplates. These carry
manufacturer. Accessories that may be suitable
important information. If unreadable or missing,
for one tool may become hazardous when used
contact the manufacturer for a replacement.
on another tool.
Do not touch the drill bit, blade, cutter or the When Done, Store the Tools out of Harm’s Way
workpiece immediately after operation; they may
To avoid accidental starting, unplug the cord,
be very hot and may burn you.
remove batteries or lock off the switch when the
• If a method of dust collection is available with tool is not being used, when changing accesso-
the power tool, it should be used to reduce the ries, and when adjusting or cleaning tools.
risk of dust-related hazards.
• Keep tools out of the reach of children and
people unfamiliar with the tools.

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 Radial Arm Saws
Radial arm saws, because of their versatility, are widely used in home, professional, and vocational work shops. They
demand a thorough understanding by the operator of all procedures.

Good Personal Safety is a Must Make sure the speed marked on the blade is at
least as high as the no load RPM marked on the
Following good safety practices when using a radial arm
tool.
saw is a must. Make a habit of including safety in all your
activities. • Some accessories, such as a dado or molding
head, require special safety precautions and
Always read and understand the tool’s opera-
equipment. Refer to the tool’s operator’s manual
tor’s manual, tool markings and the instructions
and instructions that come with the accessory.
packaged with the accessory before starting any
work. Do not use grinding or wire brush wheels on
your radial arm saw. Radial arm saws are not
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses
equipped with the proper guards to use grinding
with side shields complying with current national
wheels or wire brush wheels.
standards, and a full face shield when needed.
Use the appropriate mask or respirator in dusty Know your Workpiece
work conditions.
Radial arm saws are used to cut a variety of materials,
Wear proper hearing protection, as needed. each having its own specific setup requirements. Take
• Dress right. Do not wear gloves, loose clothes or the time to review your work and make sure that all
jewelry. Contain long hair. Loose clothes, gloves, necessary precautions have been taken before making
jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving a cut.
parts. • Do not cut wet wood. It produces higher friction
• Crowded, cluttered work areas that can cause against the blade. The blade will also tend to
tripping or loss of balance are particularly dan- load up with wet sawdust increasing the risk of
gerous. kickback.
• Do not use the tool until it is completely as- • Cut only wood, wood-like, or plastic materials.
sembled and installed according to the manufac- Do not cut metal.
turer’s instructions. Check adjustments often. • Do not cut more than one piece at a time.
• Never operate a radial arm saw with tools, de- Be very cautious of stock which is pitchy, knotty
bris or loose objects on the table. or warped. These are most likely to create pinch-
• Never alter a guard or use the tool with a guard ing conditions and possible kickback.
missing. Be sure all guards are in place and
working properly before each use. Do not defeat Before Cutting...
guards. Before using a radial arm saw, make sure the tool and
its accessories are in proper working order. Failure to
Choose the Right Tool and Accessory do so may increase your risk of injury and may result in
Choosing the correct tool and the proper accessory kickback, blade pinching, binding or stalling, and loss of
for your application can help to reduce the risk of seri- control. These situations may cause the workpiece and/
ous injury. When used according to the manufacturer’s or the motor and carriage to jump and can result in an
instructions, the proper tool and accessory will do the job injury.
safer and faster. Always unplug the tool before installing, adjust-
Use sharp, clean blades. A sharp blade will ing, and changing any accessory.
tend to cut its way out of a pinching condition. A Do not set up the work with the blade rotating.
buildup of pitch or sap on the surface of the saw Turn off and unplug the tool before making ad-
blade increases blade thickness and friction. justments.
• Use the correct blade for your tool. The saw • Check blades carefully before each use for
blade should never extend beyond the saw table proper alignment and possible defects. Never
in any operation you perform. use a bent, broken or warped saw blade.
• Never use a bent, broken or warped saw blade. Make sure the blade is installed to rotate in the
Throw it away immediately and get a new one. correct direction.
• Only use accessories specifically recommended
in the tool operator’s manual.

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 • Make sure the blade has adequate • Position the workpiece so the cut off piece falls
blade set. Blade set provides clear- away from the table.
ance between the sides of the blade • Anti-kickback devices may not work when cut-
and the workpiece, thus minimizing ting smooth, hard
the probability of binding. Some saw surfaces. Always
blades have hollow ground sides cut with the smooth,
instead of blade set to provide clear- hard surface down,
ance. on the table.
• Check for proper blade guard opera- • A spreader should
tion before each cut. The guards should always be used
return to their normal position quickly. If a guard when rip cutting. The
seems slow to return or “hangs up”, repair or spreader must be
adjust it immediately. precisely lined up
• Be sure the tool switch works properly. Do not with the blade.
use a tool if the switch does not turn it off when • For ripping short or narrow stock, always use a
returned to the off position. pushstick between the blade and the fence. Do
• When ripping, make sure the blade is exactly not rip a workpiece that is shorter than the diam-
parallel to the fence. If the fence closes in to- eter of the saw blade.
ward the rear of the blade, it will tend to wedge • Do not cut free-
the wood against the blade and may cause hand (failing to use
kickback. the fence to stabi-
• Anti-kickback devices should be positioned to lize the workpiece.)
just clear the workpiece. Free-handing a
• When ripping, the upper guard must be posi- workpiece can cause
tioned to hold down the workpiece on the table. crooked cuts and
Make certain that the anti-kickback device potential kick-
fingers are sharp, free-moving and adjusted to back.
stop kickback and assure proper operation. • Always hold the
See your operator’s manual. workpiece firmly
• Keep your radial arm saw in correct adjustment against the fence when crosscutting. Pull the
and alignment. Use only sharp accessories saw toward you and through the workpiece just
that were designed for your saw. Follow your far enough to complete the cut.
operator’s manual carefully. • When you start your saw allow the blade to
reach full speed before contacting the work-
While Cutting … piece.
Concentrate on what you are doing and be • Avoid standing or permitting others to stand
aware of kickback (a sudden reaction when a directly behind the workpiece when making a
workpiece binds between the saw blade and the ripping cut.
fence during a ripping operation). Kickback can cause • Never reach near, along side, or around the saw
the workpiece to be thrown back toward the operator. blade. This is particularly dangerous.
Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions. Take these specific Never place arms, hands or fingers in the path
precautions to help prevent kickback when using any of the blade. This is especially dangerous during
type of radial arm saw: a crosscutting job.
• Feeding a workpiece in the wrong direction • Hold onto the saw handle until the blade comes
when ripping is extremely dangerous. Follow the to a complete stop.
instructions provided with and on the saw very
carefully. When Done...
• Do not release your feed pressure on a work- • When a crosscut job is complete, return the car-
piece when ripping until it clears the blade. riage to the full rear position behind the fence.

• If a guard jams, shut off tool power and allow the Unplug, clean and store the tool in a safe, dry
blade to stop before freeing the guard. place after use.

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