Ryobi JS550L - Manual (Page 12)

12
PLUNgE CUTTINg
See Figures 15, 16, and 17, pages 15 and 16.
wARNINg:
To avoid loss of control, broken blades, or damage to
the material being cut, always use extreme caution when
making plunge cuts. We do not recommend plunge cut-
ting on materials other than wood.
TO MAkE A PLUNgE CUT
 Mark the line of cut clearly on the workpiece.
 Set the orbit adjustment to “0”.
 Tilt the saw forward so that it rests on the front edge
of the base and blade will not come in contact with the
workpiece when the saw is turned on.
 Make sure the blade is inside the area to be cut.
 Using high speed, start the saw and slowly lower the
blade into the workpiece until the blade cuts through the
wood.
 Continue lowering the blade into the workpiece until the
base rests flat on the work surface, then move the saw
forward to complete the opening.
 Use only the 7 teeth per inch blade for this type of cut.
OPERATION
ADJUSTMENTS
wARNINg:
Before performing any adjustment, make sure the tool is
unplugged from the power supply and the switch is in the
OFF position. Failure to heed this warning could result in
serious personal injury.
bASE LOCkINg LEVER ADJUSTMENT
See Figures 18 and 19, page 16.
The base locking lever may need occasional adjustment. It
may be necessary to tighten the lever.

Unplug the saw.
 If attached, remove the vacuum attachment.
 Remove the base plate screws and base plate by remov-
ing the six base screws to expose the adjusting nut.
 Loosen the locking screw. It is not necessary to remove
the screw from the base.
 Release the base locking lever by pulling it forward.
METAL CUTTINg
NOTE: The jig saw has to be in the no-orbit mode to cut met-
als and conduit. Set the orbital adjustment knob to "0".
Many kinds of metals can be cut with the saw. Be careful not
to twist or bend the blades. Do not force. If the blade chat-
ters or vibrates excessively, use a finer-tooth metal-cutting
blade. If blade heats excessively, use lower speed. If blade
teeth become filled or clogged when cutting soft metals, such
as aluminum, use a coarser-tooth blade or lower speed. We
recommend use of oil when cutting metals to keep blades
cool, increase cutting action, and prolong blade life. Clamp
the work firmly and saw close to the clamping point to elimi-
nate any vibration of the work being cut.
When cutting conduit, pipe or angle iron, clamp work in a
vise if possible and saw close to the vise. To cut thin sheet
materials, "sandwich" the material between hardboard or ply-
wood and clamp the layers to eliminate vibration and material
tearing. By doing this, the material will be cut smoothly. Lay
out your pattern or line of cut on top of the "sandwich."
NOTE: When cutting metal, keep exposed portion of saw
bar clean and free of metal chips by wiping frequently with
an oily cloth. Use extreme caution in disposing of oily cloth
after completion of job to prevent potential fire hazard.
 Tighten the adjusting nut 1/4 of a turn in the clockwise
direction.
 Engage the lock lever by pushing it back under the motor
assembly and check the base for any movement.
 If the base is still loose, release the lock lever and tighten
the adjusting nut another 1/4 of a turn. Repeat until the
base is secure after engaging the lock lever.
 Securely tighten the locking screw. This will keep the
adjusting nut from coming loose.
 Install the base plate and all base plate screws.
LASER gUIDE ADJUSTMENT
See Figure 20, page 16.
NOTE: Draw a pencil line on a scrap workpiece parallel to
the long edge of the base as a straight line guide to aid in
the adjusting process.

Unplug the jig saw.