Inspect Your Workpiece; Whenever Machine Is Running - RIDGID CM 1400 Owner's Manual

Dress for safety.
Any power tool can throw foreign objects into the eyes.
This can result in permanent eye damage. Always wear
safety goggles, (not glasses) complying with ANSI Z87.1
(or in Canada CSA Z94.3-99) shown on package. Every-
day eyeglasses have only impact resistant lenses. They
are not safety glasses. Safety goggles are available at
many local retail stores. Glasses or goggles not in com-
pliance with ANSI or CSA could seriously hurt you when
they break.

Inspect Your Workpiece

Plan your work to reduce the risk of thrown pieces
caused when the workpiece binds on the cut-off
wheel and is torn from your hands.
Plan the way you will hold the workpiece from start to finish:
Reduce the risk of awkward operations and hand posi-
tions where a sudden slip could cause fingers or hand to
move into the cut-off wheel.
Don't Overreach. Keep good footing and balance.
Keep your face and body to one side of the abrasive
wheel, out of line with possible thrown sparks or dust.
Never cut Freehand:
• Always clamp workpiece.
• Clamp your workpiece solidly against the fence and
table top so it will not rock or twist during the cut.
• Make sure there's no debris between the workpiece
and its supports.
• Make sure no gaps between the workpiece, fence and
table will let the workpiece shift after it is cut in two.
• Keep the cut off piece free to move sideways after it's
cut off. Otherwise, it could get wedged against the cut-

Whenever Machine Is Running

WARNING: Don't allow familiarity (gained from fre-
quent use of your cut-off machine) cause a care-
less mistake. A careless fraction of a second is
enough to cause a severe injury.
• Before starting your cut, watch the cut-off machine while
it runs. If it makes an unfamiliar noise or vibrates a lot,
stop immediately. Turn the tool off. Unplug the machine.
Do not restart until finding and correcting the problem.
Keep Children Away.
• Keep all visitors a safe distance from the tool.
• Make sure bystanders are clear of the tool and workpiece.
• Never confine the piece being cut off. Never hold it,
clamp it, touch it, or use length stops against it while
the abrasive wheel is spinning. It must be free to move
sideways on its own. If confined, it could get wedged
against the cut-off wheel and be thrown violently or
cause the wheel to break.
• For dusty operations, wear a dust mask or respirator
along with safety goggles.
• Do not wear loose clothing, neckties or jewelry (rings,
wrist watches) They can get caught and draw you into
moving parts.
• To avoid contact with hot metal, wear protective gloves.
• Wear nonslip footwear.
• Tie back long hair.
• Roll long sleeves above the elbow.
• Noise levels vary widely. To reduce the risk of possible
hearing damage, wear ear plugs or muffs.
off wheel and thrown violently.
• Clear everything except the workpiece and related
support devices off the table before turning the
machine on.
• Secure Work. Use the vise to hold the work.
Use extra caution with large, very small or awkward
workpieces:
• Use extra supports (tables, saw horses, blocks, etc.)
for any workpieces large enough to tip when not held
down to the table top.
• Never use another person as a substitute for a table
extension, or as additional support for a workpiece that
is longer or wider than the basic cut-off machine table
or to help feed, support or pull the workpiece.
• Do not use this tool to cut pieces too small to let you
easily hold the work with the vise.
• When cutting irregularly shaped workpieces, plan your
work so it will not slip, pinch the cut-off wheel and be
torn from the vise.
Let the abrasive wheel reach full speed before cut-
ting. This will help reduce the risk of thrown workpieces.
Don't Force Tool.
• It will do the job better and safer at its designed rate.
Feed the abrasive wheel into the workpiece only fast
enough to let it cut without bogging down or binding.
Before freeing jammed material:
• Turn tool "OFF" by releasing trigger switch.
• Wait for all moving parts to stop.
• Unplug the machine.
WARNING: Do not use any type of cutting lubricant
with this tool.
After finishing a cut:
• Keep holding the power head down.
• Release the switch, and wait for all moving parts to
stop before moving your hands.
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