OPERATION
Turn the saw on.
Position the workpiece flat on the table with the edge
flush against the rip fence. Let the blade build up to full
speed before feeding the workpiece into the blade.
Using a push stick and/or push blocks, slowly feed the
workpiece toward the blade. Stand slightly to the side
of the workpiece as it contacts the blade to reduce the
chance of injury should kickback occur.
Once the blade has made contact with the workpiece, use
the hand closest to the rip fence to guide it. Make sure
the edge of the workpiece remains in solid contact with
both the rip fence and the surface of the table. If ripping
a narrow piece, use a push stick and/or push blocks to
move the piece through the cut and past the blade.
When the cut is made, turn the saw off. Wait for the
blade to come to a complete stop before removing the
workpiece.
To make rip cuts narrower than 2 inches:
If a narrow ripping jig is not used, the rip fence included with
your saw has a low fence to allow narrow ripping operations.
NOTE: For cuts narrower than 2 inches, measure the distance
from the blade to the fence using a tape measure. Do not
use the rip scale when using the low fence.
WARNING:
When making narrow rip cuts always ensure that
the piece being cut cannot fall into the throat
plate of the saw. If this piece falls into the throat
plate it may damage the under table guarding
and create a hazardous condition to the operator.
Move the low fence so it faces the blade and install the
rip fence.
NOTE: The rip fence included with your saw has an
adjustable low fence that can be positioned to face towards
or face away from the blade. The low fence should face
away from the blade when cutting material greater than
3/4 inches thick. The low fence should only face the blade
when cutting narrow material that is 3/4 inches thick or
less.
Lift the blade guard's left or right side barrier and lower
it onto either the workpiece or the narrow rip fence to
ensure coverage of the cutting zone during this operation.
Secure the rip fence.
Position the workpiece flat on the table with the edge
flush against the low fence.
Using a push block and/or push stick make the rip cut,
see Making a Rip Cut earlier in this section.
NOTE: This technique is for making narrow rip cuts on
workpieces with a thickness of 3/4 inches or less. To make
narrow rip cuts on thicker material use a narrow ripping
jig, refer to How To Make A Jig (For Rip Cutting Narrow
Workpiece) earlier in this section.
NOTE: The cutting operation illustrated in figure 56 will result
in the saved piece being between the rip fence and the right
side of the blade. Alternatively, you could place the rip fence
and the wide portion of the workpiece on the right side of the
blade, which would result in the saved piece being on the left.
BLADE
38 − English
NARROW RIP CUT
RIP FENCE
LOW
FENCE
PUSH
STICK
Fig. 56