Hychika’s newest cordless mini circular saw is a powerful tool. It is capable of cutting wood, pvc pipe, tile and other materials, without being bound by wires. But before using it, we still need to know some safety knowledge to avoid accidents

Indications:

1. For optimal result when sawing wood, the cutting depth should be set slightly greater than the thickness of the chosen material.
2. When cutting plastic, the cutting depth should also be greater than the thickness of the material. If the material begins to melt, then setting a greater depth of cut usually resolves the problem.
3. When cutting metal, the cutting depth should be at least 1.0 mm larger than the thickness of the material.
4. When sawing wood or plastic, the depth of cut can also be set exactly on the thickness of the material to prevent that the underlying surface gets damaged. However, this does lead to an impure saw cut at the bottom of the workpiece

Danger:

1. Keep hands away from cutting area and the blade. Keep your second hand on auxiliary handle, or motor housing. If both hands are holding the saw, they cannot be cut by the blade.
2. Do not reach underneath the workpiece. The guard cannot protect you from the blade below the workpiece.
3. Adjust the cutting depth to the thickness of the workpiece. Less than a full tooth of the blade teeth should be visible below the workpiece.
4. Never hold piece being cut in your hands or across your leg. Secure the workpiece to a stable platform. It is important to support the work properly to minimize body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.
5. When ripping always use a rip fence or straight edge guide. This improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the chance of blade binding.
6. Always use blades with correct size and shape (diamond versus round) of arbour holes. Blades that do not match the mounting hardware of the saw will run eccentrically, causing loss of control.
7. Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolt. The blade washers and bolt were specially designed for your saw, for optimum performance and safety of operation.

Causes and operator prevention of kickback:

• Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound or misaligned saw blade, causing an uncontrolled saw to lift up and out of the workpiece toward the operator;
• When the blade is pinched or bound tightly by the kerf closing down, the blade stalls and the motor reaction drives the unit rapidly back toward the operator;
• If the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in the cut, the teeth at the back edge of the blade can dig into the top surface of the wood causing the blade to climb out of the kerf and jump back toward the operator.
• Kickback is the result of saw misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper precautions as given below.

1. Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position your arms to resist kickback forces. Position your body to either side of the blade, but not in line with the blade. Kickback could cause the saw to jump backwards, but kickback forces can be controlled by the operator, if proper precautions are taken.
2. When blade is binding, or when interrupting a cut for any reason, release the trigger and hold the saw motionless in the material until the blade comes to a complete stop. Never attempt to remove the saw from the work or pull the saw backward while the blade is in motion or kickback may occur. Investigate and take corrective actions to eliminate the cause of blade binding.
3. When restarting a saw in the workpiece, centre the saw blade in the kerf and check that saw teeth are not engaged into the material. If saw blade is binding, it may walk up or kickback from the workpiece as the saw is restarted.
4. Support large panels to minimise the risk of blade pinching and kickback. Large panels tend to sag under their own weight. Supports must be placed under the panel on both sides, near the line of cut and near the edge of the panel.
5. Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened or improperly set blades produce narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.
6. Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must be tight and secure before making cut. If blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause binding and kickback.
7. Use extra caution when making a “plunge cut” into existing walls or other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut objects that can cause kickback.

Safety instructions guard:

1. Check guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate the saw if guard does not move freely and enclose the blade instantly. Never clamp or tie the guard with the blade exposed. If saw is accidentally dropped, guard may be bent. Check to make sure that guard moves freely and does not touch the blade or any other part, in all angles and depths of cut.
2. Check the operation and condition of the guard return spring. If the guard and the spring are not operating properly, they must be serviced before use. Guard may operate sluggishly due to damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a build-up of debris.
3. Assure that the guide plate of the saw will not shift while performing the “plunge cut” when the blade bevel setting is not at 90°. Blade shifting sideways will cause binding and likely kick back.
4. Always observe that the 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.

Specific safety instructions:

• Do not use misshaped or cracked blades.
• Regularly check the blades for damage. If necessary, replace them.
• Never use a saw that has components missing or a saw that is fitted with accessories which were not supplied with the saw or which are not recommended for use with the saw.
• Never exert sideways pressure on the blade to bring it to a stop.
• Do not lock or clamp the protective cover.
• Do not use the saw without the protective cover.
• Before using the saw, check whether the protective cover has been fitted.
• After use, the saw must be stored in such a way that the blade cannot become damaged.
• Do not use abbrasive discs.
• Always wear a dust mask.
• Only use saw blades recommended (e.g saw blades intended for wood shall have EN 847-1 approval).
• Always wear hearing protection.
• Only use blade diameter in accordance with the marking label.
• Have a suitable, tested vacuum removal device attached to the saw when working with woods or materials that create dusts that may be hazardous to health.
• When cutting plastics, avoid to overheat the blade, avoid to melt the plastic!
• Be careful when handling the saw blades as they are sharp and can cause injury. It is recommended to wear protective gloves when handling the saw blades.
• Beware when changing blades as they can become hot during use. Allow the blade time to cool before replacing.
• Always store the saw blades in a safe place.