Makita 5104 Instruction Manual page 5

– 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 oper-
ator.
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 kick-
back 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 so that the saw teeth
are not engaged into the material. If a saw blade
binds, 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.
000154
000156
5. Do not use dull or damaged blades. Unsharpened
or improperly set blades produce narrow kerf caus-
ing excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.
6. Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers
must be tight and secure before making the cut.
If blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause
binding and kickback.
7. Use extra caution when sawing into existing
walls or other blind areas. The protruding blade
may cut objects that can cause kickback.
8. ALWAYS hold the tool firmly with both hands.
NEVER place your hand, leg or any part of your
body under the tool base or behind the saw,
especially when making cross-cuts. If kickback
occurs, the saw could easily jump backwards over
your hand, leading to serious personal injury.
000194
9. Never force the saw. Push the saw forward at a
speed so that the blade cuts without slowing.
Forcing the saw can cause uneven cuts, loss of
accuracy, and possible kickback.
Lower guard function
1. Check the lower guard for proper closing before
each use. Do not operate the saw if the lower
guard does not move freely and close instantly.
Never clamp or tie the lower guard into the open
position. If the saw is accidentally dropped, the
lower guard may be bent. Raise the lower guard with
the retracting handle and make sure it moves freely
and does not touch the blade or any other part, in all
angles and depths of cut.
2. Check the operation of the lower guard spring. If
the guard and the spring are not operating prop-
erly, they must be serviced before use. Lower
guard may operate sluggishly due to damaged
parts, gummy deposits, or a build-up of debris.
3. The lower guard may be retracted manually only
for special cuts such as "plunge cuts" and
"compound cuts". Raise the lower guard by the
retracting handle and as soon as the blade
enters the material, the lower guard must be
released. For all other sawing, the lower guard
should operate automatically.
4. Always observe that the lower guard is covering
the blade before placing the 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.
5