Harbor Freight Tools 68298 - Manual (Page 5)

Page 5 For technical questions, please call 1-800-444-3353. SKU 68298
16. 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.
17. Lower guard should 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.
18. 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.
19. DO NOT USE THIS SAW WITH THE SAW
HELD UPSIDE DOWN IN A VISE. The saw
is not designed for such use and cannot
be used safely in that position.
20. Do not use blades made from high-speed steel,
metal-cutting blades or toothed circular saw
blades. The guards of this saw are not designed
to protect against the failure of such blades.
21. Place the larger portion of the saw base
on the larger, supported part of the
workpiece. This will help maintain balance
and control while the cut is completed.
22. Blades must be rated to at least the
maximum speed marked on the tool.
23. Maintain labels and nameplates on the tool. These
carry important safety information. If unreadable or
missing, contact Harbor Freight Tools for
a replacement.
24. Avoid unintentional starting. Prepare to
begin work before turning on the tool.
25. Do not lay the tool down until it has come to
a complete stop. Moving parts can grab the
surface and pull the tool out of your control.
26. When using a handheld power tool, maintain a firm grip
on the tool with both hands to resist starting torque.
27. Do not leave the tool unattended when it is plugged
into an electrical outlet. Turn off the tool, and
unplug it from its electrical outlet before leaving.
28. Use clamps (not included) or other practical ways
to secure and support the workpiece to a stable
platform. Holding the work by hand or against your
body is unstable and may lead to loss of control.
29. This product is not a toy. Keep it
out of reach of children.
30. Verify that there are no utility lines or
hardware in or near the workpiece. This
is especially critical for plunge cuts.
31. People with pacemakers should consult their
physician(s) before use. Electromagnetic fields in close
proximity to heart pacemaker could cause pacemaker
interference or pacemaker failure. In addition, people
with pacemakers should:
• Avoid operating alone.
• Do not use tool with power switch locked on.
• Properly maintain and inspect to avoid electrical
shock.
• Any power cord must be properly grounded. Ground
Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) should also be
implemented – it prevents sustained electrical shock.
32. WARNING: Some dust created by power sanding,
sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction
activities, contains chemicals known [to the State
of California] to cause cancer, birth defects or other
reproductive harm. Some examples of these
chemicals are:
• Lead from lead-based paints
• Crystalline silica from bricks and cement or other
masonry products
• Arsenic and chromium from chemically treated lumber
Your risk from these exposures varies, depending
on how often you do this type of work. To reduce
your exposure to these chemicals: work in a well
ventilated area, and work with approved safety
equipment, such as those dust masks that are
specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.
(California Health & Safety Code § 25249.5, et seq.)
33. WARNING: Handling the cord on this product will
expose you to lead, a chemical known to the State
of California to cause cancer, and birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Wash hands after handling.
(California Health & Safety Code § 25249.5, et seq.)
34. The warnings, precautions, and instructions discussed
in this instruction manual cannot cover all possible
conditions and situations that may occur. It must
be understood by the operator that common sense
and caution are factors which cannot be built into
this product, but must be supplied by the operator.
Vibration Safety
This tool vibrates during use. Repeated or
long-term exposure to vibration may cause
temporary or permanent physical injury,
particularly to the hands, arms and shoulders. To
reduce the risk of vibration-related injury: