As a pruning saw user, you should take several steps to keep your
cutting jobs free from accident or injury.
Kickback is the result of pruning saw misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking
proper precautions as given below:
a) Maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers encircling
the pruning saw handles, with both hands on the saw and
position your body and arm to allow you to resist kickback
forces. Kickback forces can be controlled by the operator, if proper
precautions are taken. Do not let go of the pruning saw.
b) Do not overreach and do not cut above shoulder height. This
helps prevent unintended tip contact and enables better control of
the pruning saw in unexpected situations.
c) Only use replacement guide bars and chains specified by the
manufacturer. Incorrect replacement guide bars and chains may
cause chain breakage and/or kickback.
d) Follow the manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance
instructions for the saw chain. Decreasing the depth gauge height
can lead to increased kickback.
ADDITIONAL SAFETY AND WORKING INSTRUCTIONS
It is recommended to cut logs on a saw-horse or cradle when
operating the machine for the first time.
Tethering
Tethering with energy absorbing lanyards only. Only attach the tether
to lanyard loop.
Do not attach the tether to handle, guide bar cover, or any other
point on the tool.
Ensure all guards, handles, and spiked bumper are properly fitted
and are in good condition.
Persons using the pruning saw should be in good health. The
pruning saw is heavy, so the operator must be physically fit.
The operator should be alert, have a good vision, mobility, balance,
and manual dexterity. If there is any doubt, do not operate the
pruning saw.
Do not start using the pruning saw until you have a clear work area,
secure footing, and a planned retreat path away from a falling tree.
Beware of the emission of lubricant mist and saw dust. Wear a mask
or respirator, if required.
Do not cut vines and/or small undergrowth.
Always hold the pruning saw with both hands during operation.
Use a firm grip with thumbs and fingers encircling the pruning saw
handles. Right hand must be on the rear handle and left hand on the
front handle.
Before starting the pruning saw, make sure the saw chain is not
contacting any object.
Do not modify the pruning saw in any way or use it to power any
attachments or devices not recommended by the manufacturer for
your pruning saw.
There should be a first-aid kit containing large wound dressings and
a means to summon attention (e.g., whistle) close to the operator. A
larger more comprehensive kit should be reasonably nearby.
An incorrectly tensioned chain can jump off the guide bar and could
result in serious injury or fatality. The length of the chain depends on
the temperature. Check the tension frequently.
You should get used to your new pruning saw by making simple
cuts on securely supported wood. Do this whenever you have
not operated the saw for some time. To reduce the risk of injury
associated with contacting moving parts, always stop the motor,
remove the battery pack and make sure all moving parts have come
to a stop before:
• cleaning or clearing a blockage
• leaving the machine unattended
• installing or removing attachments
• checking, conducting maintenance or working on the machine
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The size of the work area depends on the job being performed as
well as the size of the tree or work piece involved. For example,
felling a tree requires a larger work area than making other cuts, i.e.,
bucking cuts, etc. The operator needs to be aware and in control of
everything happening in the work area.
Do not cut with your body in line with the guide bar and chain. If you
experience kickback, this will help prevent the chain coming into
contact with your head or body.
Do not use a back-and-forward sawing motion, let the chain do the
work. Keep the chain sharp and do not try to push the chain through
the cut.
Do not put pressure on the saw at the end of the cut. Be ready to
take on the weight of the saw as it cuts free from the wood. Failure
to do so could result in possible serious personal injury.
Do not stop the saw in the middle of a cutting operation.
Keep the saw running until it is already removed from the cut. Do
not fix the on/off switch in the ˝on˝ position when using the saw
hand-held.
Remove the battery pack before starting any work on the appliance.
WARNING!
To reduce the risk of fire, personal injury, and
product damage due to a short circuit, never immerse your tool,
battery pack or charger in fluid or allow a fluid to flow inside them.
Corrosive or conductive fluids, such as seawater, certain industrial
chemicals, and bleach or bleach containing products, etc., Can
cause a short circuit.
Use only System M18 chargers for charging System M18 battery
packs. Do not use battery packs from other systems.
Never break open battery packs and chargers and store only in dry
rooms. Keep dry at all times.
Push and pull
The reaction force is always opposite to the direction the chain is
moving. Thus, the operator must be ready to control the tendency
for the machine to pull away (forward motion) when cutting on
the bottom edge of the bar and the push backwards (towards the
operator) when cutting along the top edge.
Saw jammed in the cut
Stop the pruning saw and make it safe. Do not try to force the chain
and bar out of the cut as this is likely to break the chain, which may
swing back and strike the operator. This situation normally occurs
because the wood is incorrectly supported which forces the cut to
close under compression, thereby pinching the blade. If adjusting
the support does not release the bar and chain, use wooden wedges
or a lever to open the cut and release the saw. Never try to start the
pruning saw when the guide bar is already in a cut or kerf.
Skating / Bouncing
When the pruning saw fails to dig in during a cut, the guide bar can
begin hopping or dangerously skidding along the surface of the log
or branch, possibly resulting in the loss of control of the pruning
saw. To prevent or reduce skating or bouncing, always use the saw
with both hands make sure the saw chain establishes a groove
for cutting. Never cut small, flexible branches or brushes with your
pruning saw. Their size and flexibility can easily cause the saw
to bounce towards you or bind up with enough force to cause a
kickback. The best tool for that kind of work is a hand saw, pruning
shears, an axe or other hand tools.
ENGLISH
Personal protective equipment
Wear a helmet at all times when operating the machine. A helmet,
equipped with mesh visor, can help reduce the risk of injury to the
face and the head if kickback occurs. Wear ear protectors!
Good quality personal protective equipment, as used by
professionals, will help reduce the risk of injury to the operator. The
following items should be used when operating the machine:
Safety helmet
should comply with EN 397 and be CE marked
Hearing protection
should comply with EN 352-1 and be CE marked
Eye and face protection
should be CE marked and comply with EN 166 (for safety glasses)
or EN 1731 (for mesh visors)
Gloves
should comply with EN381-7 and be CE marked
Leg protection (chaps)
should comply with EN 381-5, be CE marked and provide allround
protectionshould comply with EN 381-5, be CE marked and provide
allround protection
Pruning saw safety boots
should comply with EN ISO 20345:2004 and be marked with a
shield depicting a pruning saw to show compliance with EN 381-3.
(Occasional users may use steel toe-cap safety boots with protective
gaiters which conform to EN 381-9 if the ground is even and there is
little risk of tripping or catching on undergrowth)
Pruning saw jackets for upper body protection
should comply with EN 381-11 and be CE marked
KNOW YOUR PRUNING SAW
1
11
Front handle
Spiked Bumper
2
12
Front Hand Guard
Saw Chain
3
13
Lock-Off Device
Guide Bar
4
14
Power switch
Bar Groove
5
15
Rear Handle
Chain Drive
6
16
Chain Lubricant Cap
Drive Sprocket Cover
7
17
Chain Oil Tank
Chain Tension Screw
8
18
Rear Hand Guard
Bar mounting nut
9
19
Combination Wrench
Guide Bar Cover
10
Battery
WARNING!
Consequences of improper maintenance, removal or
modification of safety features, ignition switch, hand guard
(front and back), spiked bumper, chain catcher, guide bar,
low kick-back saw chain may cause the safety features to not
function correctly, thus increasing the potential for serious
injury.
Spiked Bumper
The integral bumper spike may be used as a pivot when making
a cut. It helps to keep the body of the pruning saw steady while
cutting. When cutting, push the machine forward until the spikes
dig into the edge of the wood, then by moving the rear handle up or
down in the direction of the cutting line it can help ease the physical
strain of cutting.
Guide Bar
Generally, guide bars with small radius tips have somewhat lower
potential for kick-back. You should use a guide bar and matching
chain which is just long enough for the job. Longer bars increase
the risk of loss of control during sawing. Regularly check the chain
tension. When cutting smaller branches (less than the full length of
the guide bar) the chain is more likely to be thrown off if the tension
is not correct.
INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING THE PROPER TECHNIQUES
FOR BASIC FELLING, LIMBING AND CROSS-CUTTING
Understanding the forces within the wood
When you understand the directional pressures and stresses inside
the wood you can reduce the "pinches" or at least expect them
during your cutting. Tension in the wood means the fibers are being
pulled apart and if you cut in this area, the "kerf" or cut will tend to
open as the saw goes through. If a log is being supported on a saw
horse and the end is hanging unsupported over the end, tension is
created on the upper surface due to the weight of the overhanging
log stretching the fibers. Likewise, the underside of the log will be
in compression and the fibers are being pushed together. If a cut is
made in this area, the kerf will have the tendency to close up during
the cut. This would pinch the blade.
Limbing a tree
Limbing is removing the branches from a fallen tree. When limbing,
leave larger lower limbs to support the log off the ground. Remove
the small limbs in one cut. Branches under tension should be cut
from the bottom up to avoid binding the pruning saw.
Cutting springpoles
A springpole is any log, branch, rooted stump, or sapling which is
bent under tension by other wood so that it springs back if the wood
holding it is cut or removed.
On a fallen tree, a rooted stump has a high potential of springing
back to the upright position during the bucking cut to separate the
log from the stump. Watch out for springpoles, they are dangerous.
WARNING!
Springpoles are dangerous and could strike
the operator, causing the operator to lose control of the pruning
saw. This could result in severe or fatal injury to the operator.
This should be done by trained users.
SPECIFIED CONDITIONS OF USE
The cordless pruning saw is only intended for use outdoors.
For safety reasons, the pruning saw must be adequately controlled
by using two-handed operation at all times.
The pruning saw is designed for cutting branches, trunks, logs,
and beams of a diameter determined by the cutting length of the
guide bar. It is only designed to cut wood. It is only to be used by
adults who have received adequate training on the hazards and
preventative measures/actions to be taken while using the pruning
saw.
Do not use the pruning saw for any purpose not listed in the
specified conditions of use. It is not to be used for professional
tree services. The pruning saw is not to be used by children or by
persons not wearing adequate personal protective equipment and
clothing.
ENGLISH
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