Makita 5704R Instruction Manual page 6

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.
19. Check the operation of the lower guard spring.
If the guard and the spring are not operating
properly, they must be serviced before use.
Lower guard may operate sluggishly due to
damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a build-up of
debris.
20. Lower guard may be retracted manually only
for special cuts such as "plunge cuts" and
"compound cuts". Raise lower guard by
retracting handle and as soon as blade enters
the material, the lower guard must be released.
For all other sawing, the lower guard should
operate automatically.
21. Always observe that the lower 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.
22. To check lower guard, open lower guard by
hand, then release and watch guard closure.
Also check to see that retracting handle does
not touch tool housing. Leaving blade exposed
is VERY DANGEROUS and can lead to serious
personal injury.
Riving knife function
23. Use the appropriate saw blade for the riving
knife. For the riving knife to function, the body of
the blade must be thinner than the riving knife and
the cutting width of the blade must be wider than
the thickness of the riving knife.
24. Adjust the riving knife as described in this
instruction manual.
positioning and alignment can make the riving
knife ineffective in preventing kickback.
25. Always use the riving knife except when
plunge cutting. Riving knife must be replaced
after plunge
interference during plunge cutting and can create
kickback.
26. For the riving knife to work, it must be
engaged in the workpiece. The riving knife is
ineffective in preventing kickback during short
cuts.
27. Do not operate the saw if riving knife is bent.
Even a light interference can slow the closing rate
of a guard.
Additional safety warnings
28. Use extra caution when cutting damp wood,
pressure treated lumber, or wood containing
knots. Maintain smooth advancement of tool
Incorrect
cutting. Riving knife
without decrease in blade speed to avoid
overheating the blade tips.
29. Do not attempt to remove cut material when
blade is moving. Wait until blade stops before
grasping cut material.Blades coast after turn off.
30. Avoid cutting nails. Inspect for and remove all
nails from lumber before cutting.
31. Place the wider portion of the saw base on
that part of the workpiece which is solidly
supported, not on the section that will fall off
when the cut is made. As examples, Fig. 1
illustrates the RIGHT way to cut off the end of
a board, and Fig. 2 the WRONG way. If the
workpiece is short or small, clamp it down. DO
NOT TRY TO HOLD SHORT PIECES BY HAND!
Fig. 1
000147
Fig. 2
spacing,
causes
000150
32. Before setting the tool down after completing
a cut, be sure that the lower guard has closed
and the blade has come to a complete stop.
33. Never attempt to saw with the circular saw
held upside down in a vise. This is extremely
dangerous and can lead to serious accidents.
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