Use and Care Manual

2120
OPERATION
5. Draw a guideline along the desired path of the cut
before starting your saw or the cut. Set up the track to
meet the needs of your particular guide line (see “Set-
ting Up the Track” on page 15).
6. Keep the cord away from the cutting area. Position the
cord to prevent it from hanging up on the workpiece and
stop you from standing or tripping on the cord during
operation. Start the saw and make your cut.
CAUTION: To make sawing easier and safer, be sure to
move the tool forward gently in a straight line. Never
force or twist the saw during operation. Forcing or twist-
ing the tool will result in overheating the motor and will
increase the chances of dangerous kickback, possibly
causing severe personal injury. Do not pull the saw to-
wards you, or move the saw backwards, while cutting.
CROSS-CUTTING AND RIP CUTTING
Cutting directly across the grain of a piece of wood is
called crosscutting. Cutting wood lengthwise, or with the
grain, is referred to as rip cutting (or simply “ripping”).
Both types of cuts are performed in the same manner
with the exception of the methods used to support and
secure the workpiece for cutting. After you have secured
the workpiece in position, positioned the cord so it won’t
be cut or hung up, performed the saw set-up adjust-
ments, made the necessary measurements, drawn a
straight guide line, and put on your personal protection,
you can begin the cutting operation.
1. Hold the tool firmly with both hands, using both the
front grip and the rear handle. Avoid placing your hand
on the workpiece while making a cut.
2. Set the front portion of the saw’s base on the work-
piece to be cut without the blade making any contact.
Align the line-of-cut indicator notch on the right side of
the base with your guideline. Turn the saw on and wait
until it reaches full speed.
3. Ease the tool forward over the workpiece surface,
keeping it flat and advancing smoothly while following
your guideline until sawing is completed.
4. Once the cut is complete, release the power trigger.
Wait for the blade to completely stop. Raise the saw.
Now you can safely remove the saw from the workpiece
and set it out of the way.
5. To achieve clean cuts, keep your sawing line straight
while smoothly advancing forward. Do not force the saw
forward too quickly in order to try and hurry up the pro-
cess. Let the tool work at its own pace.
6. If the cut fails to properly follow your intended cut
line, do not attempt to turn or force the tool back to the
cut line. Doing so may bind the blade and lead to dan-
gerous kickback and possible serious injury. Do not pull
the saw towards you, or move the saw backwards, while
cutting. Instead, release the switch trigger, wait for the
blade to stop, and then remove the tool. Realign saw on
a new cut guide line and start the cut again.
7. Position yourself in a way that allows you to avoid the
wooden chips and dust being ejected from the saw.
BEVEL CUTTING
For instructions on how to bevel the saw blade, see “Ad-
justing the Bevel Angle” on page 14.
Bevel cuts are made using the same technique as cross-
cuts and ripping described in the previous section. The
difference is that the blade is set at a tilted angle be-
tween 0° - 45°. A bevel cut made at an angle to the edge
of a board is called a compound miter.
There are tools better suited for bevel and compound
cuts than the track saw. Although the inner line-of-cut
indicator notch aids the operator in following the cut’s
guideline, the tilted motor housing sometimes obstructs
the operator’s ability to see the blade, making accurate
cuts difficult. Before taking on a project with numerous
compound or bevel cuts, it is suggested that inexpe-
rienced saw users spend time making practice cuts in
scrap material to become familiar with and overcome
difficulties associated with compound/bevel cutting.
NOTE: Keep in mind that bevel cutting may cause mis-
alignment or alter the rubber strip along the edge of your
track.
WARNING: Always let the blade reach full speed
before guiding the saw into the workpiece. The blade
coming into contact with the workpiece before reach-
ing full speed, could cause your saw to KICKBACK
towards you resulting in serious personal injury.