RIDGID MS1250 User manual

OWNERS MANUAL
For Your Safety:
Read all instructions carefully
Save this manual for future
referenece
12 INCH COMPO UND
MITER SA W
WITH LEGSET
Part No. SP6449 Printed in Taiwan
MS1250

2
Table of Contents
Section Page
Table of Contents .......................................... 2
Safety Instructions For Miter Saw .................2
Safety Signal Words ................................... 2
Before Using The Saw ............................... 3
When Installing Or Moving The Miter Saw .3
Before Each Use ........................................ 4
To Reduce the Risk of Injury From Jams,
Slips Or Thrown Pieces ............................ 4
Plan Ahead To Protect Your Eyes, Hands,
Face and Ears .......................................... 5
Dress For Safety ........................................ 5
Preparing to Make Cut ............................... 6
Whenever Saw Is Running ......................... 7
Before Leaving The Saw ............................ 7
Glossary of Terms for Woodworking ............. 8
Motor Specifications and Electrical
Requirements ........................................... 8
Power Supply and Motor Specifications ..... 8
General Electrical Connections .................. 9
110-120 Volt, 60 Hz. Tool Information......... 9
Motor Safety Protection .............................. 9
Wire Sizes ................................................ 10
Unpacking and Checking Contents ............. 10
Tools Needed ........................................... 10
Unpacking ................................................ 10
List of Loose Parts ................................... 10
Assembly .....................................................12
Assembling and Aligning the
Table Extension ...................................... 12
Attaching Dust Elbow and Dust Bag ......... 12
Installing or Removing the Blade ............. 13
Getting to Know Your Miter Saw ................. 14
Alignment (Adjustments) ............................... 16
Step One: Blade Square to Table
(Bevel Alignment) ..................................... 16
Assembling Leg Set .................................... 18
Attaching Feet .......................................... 18
Mounting The Miter Saw ............................. 19
Mounting Saw on Supplied Legset ...........19
Mounting Saw on Other Legsets or Work
Benches .................................................19
Portable Applications ............................... 19
Section Page
Safety Instructions for Basic Saw
Operations ..............................................20
Before Each Use ........................................20
To Reduce the Risk of Injury From Jams,
Slips Or Thrown Pieces ..........................20
Plan Ahead To Protect Your Eyes, Hands,
Face and Ears ........................................21
Dress For Safety ......................................21
Preparing to Make the Cut .......................21
Whenever Saw Is Running .......................23
Before Leaving The Saw: .........................23
Basic Saw Operations .................................24
Body and Hand Position ...........................24
Miter Scale Usage ....................................24
Sliding Fence ...........................................25
Miter Cut ...................................................25
Bevel Cut ..................................................25
Compound Cut .........................................26
Cutting Compound Miters on
Picture Frames and Boxes .....................26
Cutting Bowed Material ............................26
Workpiece Support ..................................27
Auxiliary Fence .........................................27
Cutting Base Moldings .............................27
Cutting Crown Moldings ...........................28
Two Methods of Cutting Crown Molding ..28
Maintenance and Lubrication ......................30
Maintenance .............................................30
Lubrication ................................................30
Accessories .................................................31
Prohibited Accessories .............................. 31
Basic Blade Requirements .......................31
Using Carbide Tipped Blades ......................31
Troubleshooting Guide ................................32
General ....................................................32
Motor ........................................................33
Wiring Diagram ............................................33
Trouble Shooting of Brake by Qualified
Service Person Only ...............................33
Repair Parts ................................................34
Notes ...........................................................42
Safety Instructions For Miter Saw
Safety is a combination of common sense, staying alert and knowing how
your miter saw works. Read this manual to understand this miter saw.
Safety Signal Words
DANGER: means if the safety infor-
mation is not followed someone will
be seriously injured or killed.
WARNING: means if the safety infor-
mation is not followed someone
could be seriously injured or killed.
CAUTION: means if the safety infor-
mation is not followed someone may
be injured.

3
Before Using The Saw
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-bases paints,
• Crystalline silica from bricks
and cement and other masonry
products, and
• Arsenic and chromium from
chemically-treated lumber.
Your risk from these exposures
varies, depending on how often
youdothistypeofwork.To
reduce your exposure to these
chemicals: work in a well venti-
lated area, and work with
approvedsafety equipment, such
as those dust masks that are
specially designed to filter out
microscopic particles.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
mistakes that could cause seri-
ous, permanent injury, do not
plug the miter saw in until the fol-
lowing steps have been satisfac-
torily completed.
• Completely assemble and align saw.
(See “Assembly” and “Alignment”
sections within.)
• Learn the use and function of the
ON-OFF switch, upper and lower
blade guards, handle latch, bevel
clamp, cover plate stop screw, and
fence clamps. (See “Getting to
Know Your Miter Saw” section
within.)
• Review and understand all safety
instructions and operating proce-
dures in this manual.
• Review the maintenance methods
for this miter saw. (See “Mainte-
nance” section within).
Find and read the following labels on
the miter saw:
When Installing Or Moving The Miter Saw
Before moving the saw, lock the miter,
bevel and power head positions.
Unplug the power cord.
To reduce the risk of back injury, get
help when you need to lift the saw.
Never carry the tool by the cord or
power head trigger handle. Damage
to insulation could cause an electric
shock. Damage to wire connections
couldcauseafire.
ReducetheRiskofDangerous
Environment. Use the miter saw in a
dry, indoor place protected from rain.
Keep work area well lighted.
Place the saw so neither the user nor
bystanders are forced to stand in line
with the blade. Thrown debris could
injure people in its path.

4
Safety Instructions for Miter Saws (continued)
To reduce the risk of injury from
unexpected saw movement:
• Place the miter saw on a firm level
surface where there is plenty of
room for handling and properly sup-
porting the workpiece.
• Support the miter saw so the table is
level and the saw does not rock.
• Bolt, screw or clamp the saw to its
support.
•Never Stand On Tool. Serious
injury could occur if the tool tips or
you accidentally hit the cutting tool.
Do not store anything above or near
the tool where anyone might stand
on the tool to reach them.
To reduce the risk of injury or
death from electrical shock:
• Make sure your fingers do not touch
the plug’s metal prongs when plug-
ging or unplugging the miter saw.
Before Each Use
Inspect your miter saw.
Disconnect The Miter Saw.To
reduce the risk of injury from acciden-
tal starting, unplug the saw, before
changing the setup, changing the
blade or adjusting anything.
Compare the direction of rotation
arrow on the guard to the direction
arrow on the blade. The blade teeth
should always point downward at the
front of the saw.
Tighten the arbor screw.
Tighten the cover plate stop screw.
Check For Damaged Parts. Check
for:
• Proper Alignment of moving parts,
• Damaged electric cords,
• Binding of moving parts,
• Broken parts,
• Stable mounting,
• Function of arm return spring and
lower guard: Push the arm all the
way down, then let it rise up until it
stops by itself. Check the lower
guard to see if it closed fully. If it did
not, follow the instructions in the
Trouble Shooting section.
• Other conditions that may affect the
way the miter saw works.
If any part of this miter saw is miss-
ing, bent, or broken in any way, or any
electrical parts don't work, turn the
saw off and unplug it. Replace dam-
aged, missing, or failed parts before
using the saw again.
Keep Guards In Place,inworking
order, and in proper adjustment.
Maintain Tools With Care. Keep the
miter saw clean for best and safest
performance. Follow instructions for
lubricating. DON’T put lubricants on
the blade while it’s spinning.
Remove Adjusting Keys And
Wrenches from tool before turning it on.
To Reduce the Risk of Injury From Jams, Slips Or Thrown Pieces
• Use Only Recommended Accesso-
ries. (See “Accessory” section
within.) Consult this Owner’smanual
for recommended accessories. Fol-
low the instructions that come with
the accessories. The use of
improper accessories may cause
risk of injury to persons.
• Choose the right 12-inch diameter
blade for the material and the type
of cutting you plan to do.

5
• Make sure the blade is sharp,
undamaged and properly aligned.
With the saw unplugged, push the
power-head all the way down. Hand
spin the blade and check for clear-
ance.
• Make sure the blade and arbor col-
lars are clean.
• Make sure the collars' recessed
sides are facing the blade.
• Using the 1/4” hex end of combina-
tion wrench (supplied) or a 1/2-inch
box end wrench, make sure the left
hand thread arbor screw is firmly
tightened counterclockwise.
• Make sure all clamps and locks are
tight and there is no excessive play
in any parts.
•Keep Work Area Clean. Cluttered
areas and benches invite accidents.
Floor must not be slippery.
To reduce the risk of burns or other
fire damage, never use the saw near
flammable liquids, vapors or gases.
Plan Ahead To Protect Your Eyes, Hands, Face and Ears
Know Your Miter Saw. Read and
understand the owner’s manual and
labels affixed to the tool. Learn its
applications and limitations as well as
the specific potential hazards peculiar
to this tool.
To reduce the risk of injury from acci-
dental contact with moving parts,
don’t do layout, assembly, or setup
work on the miter saw while any parts
are moving.
To Reduce the Risk of Accidental
Starting. Make sure switch is “OFF”
before plugging miter saw into a
power outlet.
Plan your work.
Use The Right Tool. Don’t force tool
or attachment to do a job it was not
designed to do. Use a different tool
for any workpiece that can’t be held in
a solidly braced, fixed position.
CAUTION: This machine is not
designed for cutting ferrous met-
als (steel, iron and iron based
metals). Use this miter saw to cut
only wood, wood like products or
soft metals like aluminum. Other
material may shatter, bind on the
blade, or create other dangers.
CAUTION: When cutting any met-
als, sparks or hot fragments
could cause a fire. To reduce the
risk of this, disconnect any dust
collecting bag or hose from the
miter saw, and remove all traces
of wood dust from inside dust
traps in the miter saw.
Dress For Safety
Any power tool can throw foreign
objects into the eyes. This can result
in permanent eye damage. Wear
safety goggles (not glasses) that
comply with ANSI Z87.1 (or in Can-
ada CSA Z94.3-99) shown on pack-
age. Everyday eyeglasses have only
impact resistant lenses. They are not
safety glasses. Safety goggles are
available at many local retail stores.
Glasses or goggles not in compliance
with ANSI or CSA could seriously
hurt you when they break.
Do not wear loose clothing, gloves,
neckties or jewelry (rings, wrist
watches) They can get caught and
draw you into moving parts.

6
Safety Instructions for Miter Saws (continued)
• Wear nonslip footwear.
• Tie back long hair.
• Roll long sleeves above the elbow.
• Noise levels vary widely. To reduce
the risk of possible hearing damage,
wear ear plugs or muffs when using
miter saw for hours at a time.
• For dusty operations, wear a dust
mask along with safety goggles.
Preparing to Make Cut
WARNING: If planning to cut alu-
minum or other non-ferrous met-
als: Under adverse conditions,
the blade can grab and throw the
workpiece suddenly and unex-
pectedly. To reduce the risk of
injury, follow all applicable safety
instructions, as you normally
would, and:
• Use only sawblades specifi-
cally recommended for non-fer-
rous metal cutting.
• Do not cut metal workpieces
that must be hand held. Use
auxiliary clamps or other
equipment as needed.
• Cut non-ferrous metals only if
you are experienced or under
the supervision of an experi-
enced person.
Inspect Your Workpiece. Make sure
there are no nails or foreign objects in
the part of the workpiece to be cut.
Plan your work to reduce the risk
of thrown pieces caused when the
workpiece binds on the blade and
is torn from your hands.
Plan the way you will hold the work-
piece from start to finish.
Avoid awkward operations and hand
positions where a sudden slip could
cause fingers or hand to move into
the blade.
Don’t Overreach. Keep good footing
and balance.
Keep your face and body to one side
of sawblade, out of line with a possi-
blethrownpiece.
Cut only one workpiece at a time.
Never cut Freehand:
• Brace your workpiece solidly
against the fence and table top so it
will not rock or twist during the cut.
• Make sure there’s no debris
between the workpiece and its sup-
ports.
• Make sure no gaps between the
workpiece, fence and table will let
the workpiece shift after it is cut in
two.
• Keep the cut off piece free to move
sideways after it's cut off. Otherwise,
it could get wedged against the
blade and thrown violently.
• Clear everything except the work-
piece and related support devices
off the table before turning the miter
saw on.
•Secure Work. Use clamps or a vise
to help hold the work when it’s prac-
tical.
Use extra caution with large, very
small or awkward workpieces:
• Use extra supports (tables, saw
horses, blocks, etc.) for any work-
pieces large enough to tip when not
held down to the table top.

7
•Never use another person as a sub-
stitute for a table extension, or as
additional support for a workpiece
that is longer or wider than the basic
miter saw table or to help feed, sup-
port or pull the workpiece.
• Do not use this saw to cut pieces
too small to let you easily hold the
workwhileyoukeepthethumbside
of your index (pointer) finger against
the outside edge of the fence.
• When cutting irregularly shaped
workpieces, plan your work so it will
not slip and pinch the blade and be
torn from your hands. A piece of
molding, for example, must lie flat
against the table or fence, or be held
by a fixture or jig that will not let it
twist, rock or slip while being cut.
• Properly support round material
such as dowel rods, or tubing. They
have a tendency to roll while being
cut, causing the blade to "bite." To
avoid this, always use a fixture
designed to properly hold your
workpiece.
Whenever Saw Is Running
WARNING: Don't allow familiarity
(gained from frequent use of
your miter saw) cause a careless
mistake. A careless fraction of a
second is enough to cause a
severe injury.
Before starting your cut, watch the
miter saw while it runs. If it makes an
unfamiliar noise or vibrates a lot, stop
immediately. Turn the saw off. Unplug
the saw. Do not restart until finding
and correcting the problem.
Keep Children Away. Keep all visi-
tors a safe distance from the miter
saw. Make sure bystanders are clear
of the miter saw and workpiece.
Never confine the piece being cut
off. Never hold it, clamp it, touch it, or
use length stops against it while the
blade is spinning. It must be free to
move sideways on its own. If con-
fined, it could get wedged against the
blade and be thrown violently.
Let the blade reach full speed
before cutting. This will help avoid
thrown workpieces.
Don’t Force Tool. It will do the job
better and safer at its designed rate.
Feed the saw into the workpiece only
fast enough to let the blade cut with-
out bogging down or binding.
Before freeing jammed material:
• Turn miter saw “OFF” by releasing
trigger switch.
• Wait for all moving parts to stop.
• Unplug the miter saw.
After finishing a cut:
• Keep holding the power head down.
• Release the switch, and wait for all
moving parts to stop before moving
your hands or raising power head.
• If blade doesn’t stop within 6 sec-
onds, unplug the saw and follow the
instructions in the Trouble Shooting
section for fixing the blade brake
before using the saw again.
Before Leaving The Saw
Never Leave Tool Running Unat-
tended. Turn power off. Wait for all
moving parts to stop.
Make Workshop Child Proof. Install
a padlock through the hole provided
in the trigger to prevent unauthorized
usage. Lock the shop. Disconnect
master switches. Store tool awayfrom
children and others not qualified to
use the tool.

8
Glossary of Terms for Woodworking
Arbor
The shaft on which a cutting tool is
mounted.
Bevel Cut
An angle cutting operation made through
the face of the workpiece.
Compound Cut
A simultaneous bevel and miter cutting
operation.
Crosscut
A cutting operation made across the width
of the workpiece.
Freehand
Doing a cut without holding the workpiece
against both the table and fence. Most
workpieces can be held down with your
hand. Large or wide pieces should be
clamped to the fence or table.
Gum
A sticky, sap based residue from wood
products.
Heel
Misalignment of the blade.
Kerf
The amount of material removed by the
blade in a through cut or the slot produced
by the blade in a nonthrough or partial cut.
Miter Cut
An angle cutting operation made across
the width of the workpiece.
Resin
A sticky, sap based substance that has
hardened.
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)
The number of turns completed by a spin-
ning object in one minute.
Sawblade Path
The area of the workpiece or table top
directly in line with either the travel of the
blade or the part of the workpiece which
will be, or has been, cut by the blade.
Set
The distance that the tip of the sawblade
tooth is bent (or set) outward from the
face of the blade.
Workpiece
The item on which the cutting operation is
being performed. The surfaces of a work-
piece are commonly referred to as faces,
ends, and edges.
Motor Specifications and Electrical Requirements
Power Supply and Motor Specifications
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
electrical hazards, fire hazards
or damage to the tool, use
proper circuit protection. Your
tool is wired at the factory for
operation using the voltage
shown. Connect tool to a power
line with the appropriate voltage
and a 15-amp branch circuit. Use
a 15-amp time delay type fuse or
circuit breaker. To reduce the
risk of shock or fire, if power
cord is worn or cut, or damaged
in any way, have it replaced
immediately.
TheA-Cmotorusedonthistoolisauni-
versal non-reversible type, having the fol-
lowing specifications:
Face
Edge
End
Voltage 120
Amperes 15
Hertz (Cycles) 60
Phase Single
RPM 4000
Shaft Rotation Clockwise
Brake Automatic

9
General Electrical Connections
DANGER: To reduce the risk of
electrocution:
1.Use only identical replacement
parts when servicing. Servicing
should be performed by a quali-
fied service technician.
2.Do not use in rain or where
floor is wet.
This tool is intended for indoor
residential use only.
WARNING Do not permit fingers
to touch the terminals of plug
when installing or removing the
plug to or from the outlet.
If power cord is cut, or damaged in any
way, have it replaced immediately.
110-120 Volt, 60 Hz. Tool Information
Double Insulated
The miter saw is double insulated to pro-
vide a double thickness of insulation
between you and the tool’s electrical sys-
tem. All exposed metal parts are isolated
from the internal metalmotor components
with protecting insulation.
Polarized Plug
Your unithas a plugthat looks like the one
shown.
To reduce the risk of electrical shock, this
appliance has a polarized plug (one blade
is wider than the other). This plug will fit in
a polarized outlet only one way, if the plug
does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse plug.
If it still does not fit, contact a qualified
electrician to install the proper outlet. Do
not change the plug in any way.
WARNING: Double insulation
does not take the place of normal
safety precautions when operat-
ing this tool.
Motor Safety Protection
1. Connect this tool to a 120v, 15-amp
branch circuit with a 15-amp time delay
fuse or circuit breaker. Using the wrong
size fuse can damage the motor.
1. If the motor won't start, release the trig-
ger switch immediately. Unplug The
Tool. Check the saw blade to make
sure it turns freely. If the blade is free,
try to start the motor again. If the motor
still does not start, refer to the "Motor
Trouble-Shooting Chart."
2. If the motor suddenly stalls while cut-
ting wood, release the trigger switch,
unplug the tool, and free the blade from
the wood. The motor may now be
restarted and the cut finished.
3. Fuses may "blow" or circuit breakers
may trip frequently if:
a.Motor Is Overloaded-Overloading
can occur if you feed too rapidly or
make too many start/stops in a short
time.
b. Line voltages are more than 10%
above or below the nameplate volt-
age. For heavy loads, however, the
voltage at motor terminals must equal
the voltage specified on nameplate.
c. Improper or dull saw blades are used.
4. Most motor troubles may be traced to
loose or incorrect connections, over-
load, low voltage (such as small size
wire in the supply circuit) or to overly
long supply circuit wire. Always check
the connections, the load and the sup-
ply circuit whenever motor doesn't work
well. Check wire sizes and length with
the Wire Size Chart below.

10
Motor Specifications and Electrical Requirements (con’t.)
Wire Sizes
NOTE: Make sure the proper extension
cord is used and is in good condition. The
use of any extension cord will cause some
loss of power. To keep this to a minimum
and to prevent overheating and motor
burn-out, use the table below to deter-
mine the minimum wire size A.W.G.)
extension cord.
For circuits that are farther than 100 feet
away from electrical service box, the wire
size must be increased proportionately in
order to deliver ample voltage to the saw
motor.
Unpacking and Checking Contents
Tools Needed
Unpacking
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from unexpected starting
or electrical shock, do not plug
the power cord into a power
source outlet during unpacking
and assembly. This cord must
remain unplugged whenever you
are working on the saw.
This Miter Saw is shipped complete in one
box.
WARNING: Although compact,
this saw is heavy. To reduce the
risk of back injury, get help
whenever you have to lift the
saw.
1. Remove the miter saw from the carton
by lifting the saw with the carrying han-
dle.
1. Place the saw on a secure, stationary
work surface and look the saw over
carefully.
List of Loose Parts
NOTE: Before beginning assembly, check
that all parts are included. If you are miss-
ing any part, do not assemble the saw. E-
mail us at [e-mail] if
any parts are damaged or missing.
Sometimes small parts can get lost in
packaging material. Do not throw away
any packaging until saw is put together.
Check packaging for missing parts before
contacting RIDGID. A complete parts list
(RepairParts)is at the end of the manual.
Use the list to identify the number of the
missing part.
Extension Cord
Length Wire Sizes Requiredfor120V
(A.W.G.)
110-120V
0-25 Ft.
26-50 Ft. 14 12
Combination Square
3/4" or 19mm, 12mm
Combination Wrench,
1/4" Hex “L” Wrench
with #2 Phillips tip
(supplied)
and Socket Wrench
Combination Square Must be True
Draw Light
Line on Board
Along this Edge Straight Edge of
Board 3/4" Thick
This Edge Must
be Perfectly
Should be no Gap or Overlap when Square
is Flipped Over in Dotted Position
Straight
Socket

11
The following parts are included:
Part or Assembly Qty.
A Basic Saw Assembly...........................1
B Table Extension...................................1
C Dust Bag.............................................1
D Work Clamp ........................................1
E Dust Elbow..........................................1
F Leg......................................................4
G Long Upper Stiffeners.........................2
Part or Assembly Qty.
H Short Upper Stiffeners........................2
J Long Lower Stiffeners.........................2
K Short Lower Stiffeners ........................2
L Foot (In Parts Bag) .............................4
M Bag, Extension Hardware................... 1
N Bag, Legset Hardware........................1
O Owners Manual................................... 1
A B C
DE
FG H
JK
LM N O

12
Assembly
WARNING: For your own safety,
never connect plug to power
source outlet until all assembly
steps are complete, and you
have read and understood the
safety and operational instruc-
tions.
Assembling and Aligning the Table
Extension
1. Locate the table extension. Locate the
bag assembly with the two cap screws
and two washers.
1. Place the two bolts and washers
through the holes in the table extension
and fasten onto the end of the table.
Finger tighten only.
2. Use a straight edge to align the table
extension to both the fence andbase of
the saw as shown.
3. Using the 1/4" hex end of combination
wrench securely tighten the two cap
screws.
Attaching Dust Elbow and Dust
Bag
Place the dust elbow into the 2-1/2 inch
dust port at the rear of the saw.
To attach the dust bag squeeze the spring
clamp on the bag and place it over the
dust elbow.
If desired a 2-1/2 inch wet/dry vac hose
may be inserted into the dust port or into
the elbow.
If desired, the dust bag may be attached
directly to dust port on saw.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from thrown sawdust and
wood chips, never operate saw
without dust bag, dust elbow, or
vac hose installed. Always direct
elbow away from bystanders and
operator.
Lock Pin
Table Extension
Washer
Cap Screws
Straightedge

13
Installing or Removing the Blade
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from a thrown workpiece
or thrown pieces of blade, do not
use a blade larger or smaller than
12" diameter.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from unexpected starting,
unplug the saw whenever you
are removing or installing the
blade.
1.Unplug the saw from the outlet.
2. Rotate the lower plastic guard by
hand. Loosen, but do not remove, the
cover plate stop screw using the Phil-
lips end of combination wrench.
3.Lift the lower guard up and tilt the
lower guard assembly back so the
arbor screw is exposed.
4.Find the arbor lock between the upper
guard and the miter saw handle. Fit 1/
4” hex end of combination tool in arbor
screw or use 1/2” box end wrench.
5.Press the arbor lock and hold it in
firmly while turning the wrench clock-
wise. The arbor lock will engage after
some turning of the wrench.
NOTE: The arbor screw has a left hand
thread. This helps prevent unwanted
loosening of the arbor screw during nor-
mal operation.
6.Remove the arbor screw, arbor washer,
outer blade collar, and the blade.
NOTE: Pay attention to pieces removed,
noting their position and direction they
face (see illustration). Wipe the blade col-
lars clean of any sawdust before installing
the new blades.
CAUTION: To reduce the risk of
cuts from extremely sharp teeth:
Wear gloves when installing or
removing sawblade.
See cautions in “Using Carbide Tipped
Blades” section concerning inspection,
use, and selection of carbide tipped and
other sawblades.
Stop
Screw
Loosen
Arbor Lock
(Left Hand Thread)
Arbor screw
Blade
Washer
Sawblade
Blade
(Hollowed Side
Toward Blade)
Collars
7.Install the new 12" blade (see recom-
mended accessory list). Make sure
the rotation arrow on the blade
matches the clockwise rotation arrow
on the upper guard.
8.Install the outer blade collar, blade
washer and arbor screw. Press the
arbor lock and turn the combination
wrench or the 1/2" wrench counter
clockwise to secure the blade. Tighten
arbor screw using moderate force, but
do not overtighten.

14
Assembly (continued)
9.Lower the lower blade guard until the
slot in cover plate rests all the way
down on the cover plate stop screw.
Tighten the screw with the Phillips end
of the combination wrench.
DANGER: Never use saw without
guard cover plate securely in
place. It keeps the arbor screw
from falling out if it accidentally
loosens, and prevents the spin-
ning blade from coming off the
machine.
10.Be sure the arbor lock is released so
the blade turns freely.
NOTE: The arbor lock can be damaged
by improper use. If the arbor lock will not
hold, lower the blade down on to a scrap
piece of wood positioned against the
fence. This will serve as an alternate lock-
ing means.
WARNING: Make sure the collars
are clean and properly arranged.
After installing a new blade,
make sure the blade clears the
table slot at the 0° and 45° bevel
positions. Lower the blade into
the table slot and check for any
contact with the base or turn
table structure. If blade contacts
table, seek authorized service.
Getting to Know Your Miter Saw
1. Lower Blade Guard - The blade
guard helps protect your hands from
the blade in the raised position. To
reduce the risk of binding on the work-
piece, it retracts as the blade is low-
ered.
2. The Repeat-A-Cut™ - Surface allows
pencil marks to be made and easily
erased for duplicate cuts.
3. Miter Lock Knob - The miter lock
handle securely locks the miter saw at
a desired miter angle. Index points
have been provided on right and left
for 0, 15°, 22.5°, crown molding (CM)
and 45°.
4. Table - Sits in base, supports pivot
and allows for approximately 49° miter
left and right.
5. Base - Supports table, holds accesso-
ries and allows for work bench or leg
set mounting.
6. Left Extension Table - Helps to sup-
port long workpieces.
7. Sliding Fence - Slides left/right to
provide maximum support for the
workpiece.
8.Lock Pin - The miter saw can be
lockedintheloweredpositionforcom-
pact storage.
9.Cover Plate - Holds the lower guard
and is attached to upper guard. Pre-
vents the arbor screw from backing
out when properly fastened.
10.Upper Blade Guard - Supports the
motor, handle, switch, blade and lower
guard.
2
3
6
7
~
4
5
8
1
9
10
(21-Clamp
Mounting Hole)
Cover Plate
Stop Screw

15
11.Arbor lock - Allows the user to keep
blade from rotating while tightening or
loosening arbor screw during blade
replacement or removal.
12.Switch Interlock Button - Prevents
trigger switch from being accidentally
engaged.
13. On/Off Trigger Switch - To start the
tool, depress switch interlock button
with right thumb or palm of either hand
and then squeeze the trigger. Release
the trigger to stop the miter saw. Install
padlock through the hole in the trigger
to prevent unauthorized use.
14.Sliding Fence Locking Knob - Locks
fence at correct cutting position.
15.Combination Wrench - Used for 1/4"
hex and Phillips head screw adjust-
ments.
16.Bevel Index Pin - This three position
pin provides a 0° and crown molding
bevel stop when pushed all the way in.
Inthemiddlepositiona0°and45°
bevel stop is provided. Pull the pin all
the way out and the stops can be
over-ridden allowing -2° to 47° bevel
capacity.
17.Bevel Lock Knob - Locks the miter
saw at a desired bevel angle.
18.Warning Label
19.Carrying Handle - This handle is built
into the unit to move it from one loca-
tion to another. Before attempting to
pick up the unit by the carrying handle
always lock the miter saw power head
in the down position using the lock pin.
Make sure the miter lock and bevel
lock knobs are tight.
20.Miter Saw Handle - The saw handle
contains the trigger switch with a pad-
lock, locking hole to prevent unautho-
rized use. The blade is lowered into
the workpiece by pushing down on the
handle. The saw will return to its
upright position when the handle is
released, unless the handle lock pin is
engaged.
FrontofSaw
11 12 13
18
17
14
16 15
19
20
21
Pin
21.Workpiece Clamp - Helps to hold
workpiece in position for precise cut-
ting. Quick release allows easy move-
ment for workpiece width adjustment.
Pin of clamp fits in either hole in front
of base.

16
Alignment (Adjustments)
WARNING: Cut material can be
thrown. Eyes can be permanently
damaged. Wear your safety gog-
gles.
NOTE: Before this saw is aligned or used,
a kerf must be cut into the table insert at
0° bevel. Our Quality Control Audit Proce-
dure requires us to cut through the inserts
before they leave our factory.
To cut through an uncut insert:
1. Plug in the power cord.
1. Turn the saw on by actuatingthe trigger
switch.
2. Lower the blade to full depth while cut-
ting through the table insert.
3. Release the trigger switch and allow
the blade to come to a complete stop.
4. Repeat this procedure at 45° bevel.
Tighten
Spring
Loosen Handle
5. Unplug the power cord before starting
alignment procedure.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from unexpected starting
or electrical shock, do not plug
the saw in. The power cord must
remain unplugged whenever you
are working on the saw.
Step One: Blade Square to Table (Bevel Alignment)
NOTE: The miter saw was assembled,
aligned, and inspected before shipment.
Alignment should be checked and any
adjustments made to insure accurate cuts.
1. Check miter lock knob setting. The
miter lock knob should be at the 0°
position. To reset the miter angle, turn
the miter lock knob counter clockwise
and press down the index spring, move
to 0° miter and retighten knob.
2. Lower the blade and engage the lock
pin. Use a combination square to check
blade squareness to table. If the blade
does not contact the full length of the
square, (see illustration) follow the
alignment procedure.
a. Loosen bevel lock knob.
b. Grasping carrying handle, move the
cutting head left or right until blade
makes contact with the full length of
the square.
NOTE: If you cannot get to 0° bevel, the
bevel stop may be in your way. Adjust the
bevelstop(SeeStepd)soyoumay
achieve 0° bevel.
c. Tighten the bevel lock knob.
d. Loosen the 0° bevel stop mounting
screw and push the stop against the
pin. Retighten the stop mounting
wrench. Slide the indicator under the
Phillipsheadscrewtolineupexactly
with the 0° bevel mark on the bevel
scale. Retighten the indicator screw.
e. Loosen bevel lock knob and tilt the
power head to 45° bevel and check
the 45° bevel stop. The bevel indica-
tor should be on the 45° mark, the
45° bevel stop should be in full con-
tact with the 45° bevel stop screw,
and the blade should contact the full
length of the square. This adjustment
sets the 45° and crown molding
stops.
3. If adjustment is necessary, repeat steps
2a - 2d for the 45°/crown molding bevel
stop.
Index/
By-Pass Pin
By-Pass
0°, 45° Index
0°, CM Index
Bevel Index
Mechanism
Bevel Stop
Mounting Screw

17
Step Two: Blade Square to Fence
(Miter Alignment)
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from unexpected starting
or electrical shock, do not plug
the saw in. The power cord must
remain unplugged whenever you
are working on the saw.
Adjust Blade Square to Fence:
1. Lower the blade and engage the lock
pin. Use a combination square. Place
the square against the fence and next
to the blade as illustrated. Locate the
square properly so it does not contact
the set in the teeth of sawblade, giving
an inaccurate reading. The sawblade
should contact the full length of the
square.
1. If blade contacts full length of square,
no alignment is necessary, skip a-f
below. If blade is not square to the
fence, follow the alignment procedure.
a. Loosen miter lock knob a half turn.
The saw power head should still be
secured in the lowered position by
the lock pin.
CAUTION: To keep from losing con-
trol of the unit, steady the base with
one hand while loosening the two
bolts with the other hand.
b. With the unit securely resting on a
large stable surface, tilt the unit by
lifting up on one side or the other of
the base. Using combination wrench
supplied, loosen the two miter arm
cap head screws on the underside of
the turn table.
c. Return the saw to its normal resting
position. Make sure the miter lock
knob is loose but do not release the
index spring.
d. Use the miter saw knob to move the
table so that the blade contacts the
full length of the square. Watch out
for tooth set. Turn the miter lock knob
clockwise to lock saw square to
fence.
Miter
Indicator
Miter Arm
Cap Head Screws
e. Tilt saw as in Step b and tighten cap
head screws.
f. Recheck blade squareness to fence
and readjust if necessary.
Adjust Miter Scale Indicator
1. Through the hole in front of the table
insert, loosen the Phillips screw that
holds the Vernier indicator in place.
1. Reposition the indicator to align it with
0° mark, and retighten screw.

18
Alignment (Adjustments) (continued)
Step Three: Pivot Adjustment
NOTE: This adjustment was made at the
factory and normally does not require
readjustment.
Arm Pivot Movement
1. Make sure the see through lower guard
is rotated closed and is resting against,
or very close to, the rubber stops. If not,
see “Lubrication” section.
Bevel Pivot Movement/Adjustment
Check that miter saw bevels easily by
loosening the bevel lock handle and tilting
the power head to the left. NOTE: At least
one thread of the pivot bolt should stick
out past the hex lock nut.
1. If movement is tight or there is loose-
ness in the pivot, do the following
adjustment procedure:
a. Loosen the bevel lock handle.
b.Turnthehexlocknutwitha3/4"or
19mm socket and socket wrench.
Recheck bevel movement of the miter
saw. Readjust if necessary.
Assembling Leg Set
1. Locate the following parts:
4 Legs
2 Long Upper Stiffeners
2 Short Upper Stiffeners
2 Long Lower Stiffeners
2 Short Lower Stiffeners.
2. From the leg set hardware bag find the
following:
4 Feet
24Carriage Bolts 5/16-18 x 5/8
24Flange Nuts 5/16-18
NOTE: Hardware not shown actual size.
3. Assemble the stand as shown. Make
sure the legs go inside the upper stiff-
eners. Make sure the legs go outside
the lower stiffeners. Make sure the long
upper stiffeners go over the short upper
stiffeners.
4. Only finger tighten nuts at this time.
Leg
Short Upper
Stiffener
Long Lower
Stiffener
Short Lower
Stiffener
Long Upper
Stiffener
Flange Nut
Bolt
Foot
Short UIpper
Stiffener
Long Lower
Stiffener Short Lower
Stiffener
Long Upper
Stiffener
Foot
Leg

19
Mounting The Miter Saw
WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from unexpected saw
movement:
a.Before moving the saw, lock the
miter and bevel knobs and lock
the power head in the lower
position. Unplug electric cord.
b.Toreducetheriskofback
injury, hold the tool close to
your body when lifting. Bend
your knees so you can lift with
your legs, not your back. Lift by
using the hand-hold areas at
each side of the bottom of the
base or by the carrying handle.
c.Never carry the miter saw by
the power cord or the trigger
grip of the plastic handle. Car-
rying the tool by the power
cord could cause damage to
the insulation or the wire con-
nections resulting in electric
shock or fire.
d.Place the saw so other people
cannot stand behind it. Thrown
debris could injure people in
its path.
e.Place the saw on a firm, level
surfacewherethereisplentyof
room for handling and properly
supporting the workpiece.
f. Support the saw so the table is
level and the saw does not rock.
g.Bolt or clamp the saw to its support.
Mounting Saw on Supplied Legset
1. Locate 4 bolts, 4 washers and 4 nuts in
parts bag.
2. Position leg set at the desired location .
3. Mount the miter saw as shown with pro-
vided hardware. Only finger tighten
nuts at this time.
4. If necessary shift the leg set to adjust
for slightly unlevel floor. Securely
tighten all hardware.
Mounting Saw on Other Legsets or
Work Benches
Place the saw in the desired location
either on a work bench or other recom-
mended leg set. The base of the saw has
eight holes to mount the miter saw. Four
smaller holes for “drywall” screws are
labeled A. Four holes for bolts are labeled
B (see illustration). If the saw is to be used
in one location, permanently fasten it to
the work bench or leg set.
NOTE: When mounted on a large flat sur-
face, the miter saw table is 3 1/2" high. A
finished 4x4 or a supported 2x4 on edge
can be used as work support extension.
Portable Applications
To mount the saw to a 3/4” piece of ply-
wood, use 4, 1/4" bolt holes or the 4 dry-
wall screw holes. The mounting board can
then be clamped down to prevent it from
tipping. Plywood mount also helps protect
saw from damage during the rough han-
dling associated with portable miter saw
usage.
Bolt
Washer
Nut
A
B
BA
ABBA
Mounting Board or Work Surface

20
Safety Instructions for Basic Saw Operations
Before Each Use
Inspect your saw.
Disconnect The Miter Saw. To
reduce the risk of injury from acciden-
tal starting, unplug the saw, before
changing the setup, changing the
blade or adjusting anything.
Compare the direction of rotation
arrow on the guard to the direction
arrow on blade. The blade teeth
should always point downward at the
front of the saw.
Tighten the arbor screw.
Tighten the cover plate stop screw.
Check Damaged Parts. Check for:
• Alignment of moving parts,
• Damaged electric cords,
• Binding of moving parts,
• Broken parts,
• Stable mounting
• Function of arm return spring and
lower guard: Push the arm all the
way down, then let it rise up until it
stops by itself. Check the lower
guard to see if it closed fully. If it did
not, follow the instructions in the
Trouble Shooting section.
• Other conditions that may affect the
way the miter saw works.
Keep Guards In Place,inworking
order, and in proper adjustment.
If any part of this miter saw if missing,
bent, or broken in any way, or any
electrical parts don’t work, turn the
saw off and unplug it. Replace dam-
aged, missing, or failed parts before
using the saw again.
Maintain Tools With Care. Keep the
miter saw clean for best and safest
performance. Follow instructions for
lubricating. DON’T put lubricants on
the blade while it’s spinning.
Remove Adjusting Keys And
Wrenches from tool before turning it
on.
To Reduce the Risk of Injury From Jams, Slips Or Thrown Pieces
• Use Only Recommended Accesso-
ries. (See “Accessory” section
within.) Consult this Owner’smanual
for recommended accessories. Fol-
low the instructions that come with
the accessories. The use of
improper accessories may cause
risk of injury to persons.
• Choose the right 12-inch diameter
blade for the material and the type
of cutting you plan to do.
• Make sure the blade is sharp,
undamaged and properly aligned.
With the saw unplugged, push the
power-head all the way down. Hand
spin the blade and check for clear-
ance.
• Make sure the blade and arbor col-
lars are clean.
• Make sure the collars' recessed
sides are facing the blade.
• Using 1/4” hex end of combination
wrench (supplied) or 1/2-inch box
end wrench, make sure the arbor
screw is firmly tightened.
• Make sure all clamps and locks are
tight and there is no excessive play
in any parts.
•Keep work area clean. Cluttered
areas and benches invite accidents.
Floor must not be slippery.
To reduce the risk of burns or other
fire damage, never use the miter saw
near flammable liquids, vapors or
gases.