SAW BLADE GUARD ASSEMBLY, ANTI-
KICKBACK ASSEMBLY AND RIVING
KNIFE
Your table saw is equipped with a blade
guard assembly, anti-kickback assembly
and riving knife that covers the blade and
reduces the possibility of accidental blade
contact. The riving knife is a flat plate that
fits into the cut made by the saw blade and
effectively fights kickback by lessening the
tendency of the blade to bind in the cut.
The blade guard assembly and anti-
kickback assembly can only be used when
making through cuts that sever the wood.
When making rabbets and other cuts that
make non through cuts, the blade guard
assembly and anti-kickback assembly must
be removed and riving knife lowered to the
non through cut position marked on the
riving knife. Two anti-kickback pawls are
located on the sides of the riving knife
that allow the wood to pass through the
blade in the cutting direction but reduce
the possibility of the material being thrown
backwards toward the operator. Use all
components of the guarding system (blade
guard assembly, riving knife and anti-
kickback assembly) for every operation
for which they can be used including all
through cutting. If you elect not to use
any of these components for a particular
application exercise additional caution
regarding control of the workpiece, the use
of push sticks, the position of your hands
relative to the blade, the use of safety
glasses, the means to avoid kickback
and all other warnings contained in this
manual and on the saw itself. Replace the
guarding systems as soon as you return
to thru-cutting operations. Keep the guard
assembly in working order.
KICKBACKS
KICKBACKS: Kickbacks can cause serious
injury. A kickback occurs when a part of the
workpiece binds between the saw blade
and the rip fence, or other fixed object, and
rises from the table and is thrown toward
the operator. Kickbacks can be avoided by
attention to the following conditions.
How to Avoid Kickbacks and Protect
Yourself from Possible Injury:
a. Be certain that the rip fence is parallel to
the saw blade.
b. Do not rip by applying the feed force to
the section of the workpiece that will
become the cut-off (free) piece. Feed
force when ripping should always be
applied between the saw blade and the
fence; use a push stick for narrow work,
6 in. (152 mm) wide or tess.
c. Keep saw blade guard assembly, riving
knife and anti-kickback assembly in place
and operating properly. If anti-kickback
assembly is not operational, return your
unit to the nearest authorized service
center for repair. The riving knife must be
in alignment with the saw blade and the
anti-kickback assembly must stop a
kickback once it has started. Check their
action before ripping by pushing the wood
under the anti-kickback assembly. The
teeth must prevent the wood from being
pulled toward the front of the saw.
d. Plastic and composite (like hardboard)
materials may be cut on your saw.
However, since these are usually quite
hard and slippery, the anti-kickback pawls
may not stop a kickback. Therefore, be
especially attentive to following proper
set up and cutting procedures for ripping.
e. Use saw blade guard assembly, anti-
kickback assembly and riving knife for
every operation for which it can be used,
including all through-sawing.
f. Push the workpiece past the saw blade
prior to release.
g. Never rip aworkpiece that is twisted or
warped, or does not have a straight edge
to guide along the fence.
h. Never saw a large workpiece that cannot
be controlled.
i. Never use the fence as a guide or length
stop when crosscutting.
j. Never saw a workpiece with loose knots,
flaws, nails or other foreign objects.
k. Never rip a workpiece shorter than 10 in.
(254 mm).
1. NEVER use a dull blade - replace or
have resharpened.
m.NEVER use a rip fence and miter
gauge together.
n. Keep hands out of saw blade.
