Ryobi TS1550 User manual

Your new miter saw has been engineered and manufactured to Ryobi's high standard for dependability, ease of
operation, and operator safety. Properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance.
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, the user must read and understand the operator’s manual.
Thank you for buying a Ryobi miter saw.
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
12 in. (305 mm) Compound Miter Saw
TS1550 - Double Insulated
SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
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INTRODUCTION
■Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 2
■Rules for Safe Operation ................................................................................................................................3-5
■Specifications .................................................................................................................................................... 6
■Glossary ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
■Unpacking .......................................................................................................................................................... 7
■Features .........................................................................................................................................................8-9
■Assembly ....................................................................................................................................................10-12
■Operation ....................................................................................................................................................13-19
■Adjustments ................................................................................................................................................20-22
■Accessories ................................................................................................................................................23-24
■Maintenance .................................................................................................................................................... 25
■Parts, Ordering, and Service ........................................................................................................................... 26
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Look for this symbol to point out important safety
precautions. It means attention!!! Your safety is involved.
GLASSES
SAFETY
WEAR YOUR
FORESIGHT IS BETTER
THAN NO SIGHT
The operation of any power tool can result in foreign objects being thrown into your eyes,
which can result in severe eye damage. Before beginning tool operation, always wear safety
goggles or safety glasses with side shields and a full face shield when needed. We
recommend Wide Vision Safety Mask for use over eyeglasses or standard safety glasses
with side shields. Always wear eye protection which is marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1.
Your miter saw has many features for making cutting
operations more pleasant and enjoyable. Safety,
performance, and dependability have been given top
priority in the design of this tool making it easy to
maintain and operate.
WARNING:
Do not attempt to use this tool until you have read
thoroughly and understand completely the operator’s
manual. Pay close attention to the safety rules,
including Dangers, Warnings, and Cautions. If you
use your miter saw properly and only for what it is
intended, you will enjoy years of safe, reliable service.
DOUBLE INSULATION
Double insulation is a concept in safety in electric power
tools, which eliminates the need for the usual three-wire
grounded power cord. All exposed metal parts are
isolated from the internal metal motor components with
protecting insulation. Double insulated tools do not need
to be grounded.
WARNING:
The double insulated system is intended to protect
the user from shock resulting from a break in the
tool’s internal wiring. Observe all normal safety pre-
cautions to avoid electrical shock.
Important: Servicing of a tool with double insulation
requires extreme care and knowledge of the system and
should be performed only by a qualified service
technician. For service, we suggest you return the tool to
your nearest authorized service center for repair. Always
use original factory replacement parts when servicing.

3
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
Safe operation of this power tool requires that you read
and understand this operator's manual and all labels
affixed to the tool. Safety is a combination of common
sense, staying alert, and knowing how your tool works.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
■KNOW YOUR POWER TOOL. Read the operator's
manual carefully. Learn the saw's applications and
limitations as well as the specific potential hazards
related to this tool.
■GUARD AGAINST ELECTRICAL SHOCK by pre-
venting body contact with grounded surfaces such as
pipes, radiators, ranges, refrigerator enclosures.
■KEEP GUARDS IN PLACE and in good working
order.
■REMOVE WRENCHES AND ADJUSTING KEYS.
Get in the habit of checking - before turning on tool -
that hex keys and adjusting wrenches are removed
from tool.
■KEEP THE WORK AREA CLEAN. Cluttered work
areas and work benches invite accidents. DO NOT
leave tools or pieces of wood on the saw while it is in
operation.
■DO NOT USE IN DANGEROUS ENVIRONMENTS.
Do not use power tools near gasoline or other flam-
mable liquids, in damp or wet locations, or expose
them to rain. Keep the work area well lit.
■KEEP CHILDREN AND VISITORS AWAY. All visi-
tors should wear safety glasses and be kept a safe
distance from work area. Do not let visitors contact
tool or extension cord while operating.
■MAKE WORKSHOP CHILDPROOF with padlocks
and master switches or by removing starter keys.
■DO NOT FORCE THE TOOL it will do the job better
and more safely at the rate for which it was designed.
■USE THE RIGHT TOOL FOR THE JOB. Do not force
the tool or attachment to do a job it was not designed
for. Use it only the way it was intended.
■USE THE PROPER EXTENSION CORD. Make sure
your extension cord is in good condition. Use only a
cord heavy enough to carry the current your product
will draw. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line
voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating. A
wire gage size (A.W.G.) of at least 14 is recom-
mended for an extension cord 25 feet or less in
length. If in doubt, use the next heavier gage. The
smaller the gage number, the heavier the cord.
■INSPECT TOOL CORDS AND EXTENSION CORDS
PERIODICALLY and, if damaged, have repaired by
a qualified service technician at an authorized ser-
vice center. Stay constantly aware of cord location
and keep it well away from the moving blade.
■DRESS PROPERLY. Do not wear loose clothing,
gloves, neckties, rings, bracelets, or other jewelry
that can get caught and draw you into moving parts.
Nonslip footwear is recommended. Also wear protec-
tive hair covering to contain long hair.
■ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES WITH SIDE
SHIELDS. Everyday eyeglasses have only impact-
resistant lenses, they are NOT safety glasses.
■WEAR A DUST MASK to keep from inhaling fine
particles.
■PROTECT YOUR HEARING. Wear hearing protec-
tion during extended periods of operation.
■SECURE WORK. Use clamps or a vise to hold work
when practical. It's safer than using your hand and
frees both hands to operate tool.
■DO NOT OVERREACH. Keep proper footing and
balance at all times.
■MAINTAIN TOOLS WITH CARE. Keep tools sharp
and clean for better and safer performance. Follow
instructions for lubricating and changing accesso-
ries.
■DISCONNECT ALL TOOLS. When not in use, be-
fore servicing, or when changing attachments, all
tools should be disconnected.
■AVOID ACCIDENTAL STARTING. Be sure switch is
off when plugging in any tool.
■USE RECOMMENDED ACCESSORIES. Using im-
proper accessories may risk injury.
■NEVER STAND ON TOOL. Serious injury could
occur if the tool is tipped or if the blade is unintentionally
contacted.
■CHECK DAMAGED PARTS. Before using the tool
again, check any damaged parts, including guards,
for proper operation and performance. Check align-
ment of moving parts, binding of moving parts, break-
age of parts, saw stability, mounting and any other
conditions that may affect its operation. A damaged
part must be properly repaired or replaced by a
qualified service technician at an authorized service
center to avoid risk of personal injury.
■NEVER LEAVE TOOL RUNNING UNATTENDED.
TURN THE POWER OFF. Do not leave tool until it
comes to a complete stop.
■FIRMLY CLAMP OR BOLT your miter saw to a
workbench or table at approximately hip height.
■USE ONLY CORRECT BLADES. Use the right
blade size, style and cutting speed for the material
and the type of cut. Do not use blades with incor-
rect size holes. Never use blade washers or blade
bolts that are defective or incorrect. The maximum
blade capacity of your saw is 12 in. (305 mm).
■KEEP BLADES CLEAN, SHARP, AND WITH
SUFFICIENT SET. Sharp blades minimize stalling
and kickback.
■DO NOT REMOVE THE SAW'S BLADE
GUARDS. Never operate the saw with any guard or
cover removed. Make sure all guards are operating
properly before each use.

4
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
■KEEP HANDS AWAY FROM CUTTING AREA. Do
not reach underneath work or in blade cutting path
with your hands and fingers for any reason. Always
turn the power off.
■BLADE COASTS AFTER BEING TURNED OFF.
■DO NOT ABUSE CORD. Never yank cord to discon-
nect it from receptacle. Keep cord from heat, oil, and
sharp edges.
■USE ONLY OUTDOOR EXTENSION CORDS. Use
only extension cords with the marking "Acceptable
for use with outdoor appliances; store cords indoors
while not in use". Use extension cords with an elec-
trical rating not less than the saw's rating. Always
disconnect the extension cord from the outlet before
disconnecting the product from the extension cord.
■DO NOT USE TOOL IF SWITCH DOES NOT TURN
IT ON AND OFF. Have defective switches replaced
by a qualified service technician at an authorized
service center.
■KEEP TOOL DRY, CLEAN, AND FREE FROM OIL
AND GREASE. Always use a clean cloth when
cleaning. Never use brake fluids, gasoline, petro-
leum-based products, or any solvents to clean tool.
■ALWAYS SUPPORT LONG WORKPIECES while
cutting to minimize risk of blade pinching and kick-
back. Saw may slip, walk or slide while cutting long or
heavy boards.
■BEFORE MAKING A CUT, be sure all adjustments
are secure.
■BE SURE BLADE PATH IS FREE OF NAILS. In-
spect for and remove all nails from lumber before
cutting.
■ALWAYS USE A CLAMP to secure the workpiece
when possible.
■NEVER TOUCH BLADE or other moving parts dur-
ing use for any reason.
■BE SURE THE BLADE CLEARS THE WORK-
PIECE. Never start the saw with the blade touching
the workpiece. Allow motor to come up to full speed
before starting cut.
■MAKE SURE THE MITER TABLE AND SAW ARM
(BEVEL FUNCTION) ARE LOCKED IN POSITION
BEFORE OPERATING YOUR SAW. Lock the miter
table by securely tightening the miter lock handle.
Lock the saw arm (bevel function) by securely tight-
ening the bevel lock knob.
■NEVER USE A LENGTH STOP ON THE FREE
SCRAP END OF A CLAMPED WORKPIECE.
NEVER hold onto or bind the free scrap end of the
workpiece in any operation. If a work clamp and
length stop are used together, they must both be
installed on the same side of the saw table to prevent
the saw from catching the loose end and kicking up.
■NEVER cut more than one piece at a time. DO NOT
STACK more than one workpiece on the saw table at
a time.
■NEVER PERFORM ANY OPERATION FREEHAND.
Always place the workpiece to be cut on the miter
table and position it firmly against the fence as a
backstop. Always use the fence.
■NEVER hand hold a workpiece that is too small to be
clamped. Keep hands clear of the no hands zone.
■NEVER reach behind, under, or within three inches
(76 mm) of the blade and its cutting path with your
hands and fingers for any reason.
■NEVER reach to pick up a workpiece, a piece of
scrap, or anything else that is in or near the cutting
path of the blade.
■AVOID AWKWARD OPERATIONS AND HAND PO-
SITIONS where a sudden slip could cause your hand
to move into the blade. ALWAYS make sure you
have good balance. NEVER operate your miter saw
on the floor or in a crouched position.
■NEVER stand or have any part of your body in line
with the path of the saw blade.
■ALWAYS release the power switch and allow the
saw blade to stop rotating before raising it out of the
workpiece.
■DO NOT TURN THE MOTOR SWITCH ON AND
OFF RAPIDLY. This could cause the saw blade to
loosen and could create a hazard. Should this ever
occur, stand clear and allow the saw blade to come to
a complete stop. Disconnect your saw from the power
supply and securely retighten the blade bolt.
■REPLACEMENT PARTS. All repairs, whether elec-
trical or mechanical, should be made at your nearest
authorized service center.
■WHEN SERVICING, use only identical Ryobi re-
placement parts. Use of any other parts may create
a hazard or cause product damage.
■NEVER USE THIS TOOL IN AN EXPLOSIVE AT-
MOSPHERE. Normal sparking of the motor could
ignite fumes.
■POLARIZED PLUGS. To reduce the risk of electric
shock, this tool has a polarized plug (one blade is
wider than the other). This plug will fit in a polar-
ized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit
fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does
not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the
proper outlet. Do not change the plug in any way.
■IF ANY PART OF THIS MITER SAW IS MISSING
or should break, bend, or fail in any way, or should
any electrical component fail to perform properly,
release the switch trigger, remove the miter saw
plug from the power source and have damaged,
missing, or failed parts replaced before resuming
operation.
■DO NOT OPERATE THIS TOOL WHILE UNDER
THE INFLUENCE OF DRUGS, ALCOHOL, OR
ANY MEDICATION.

5
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
■ALWAYS STAY ALERT! Do not allow familiarity
(gained from frequent use of your saw) to cause a
careless mistake. ALWAYS REMEMBER that a care-
less fraction of a second is sufficient to inflict severe
injury.
■STAY ALERT AND EXERCISE CONTROL. Watch
what you are doing and use common sense. Do not
operate tool when you are tired. Do not rush.
■MAKE SURE THE WORK AREA HAS AMPLE
LIGHTING to see the work and that no obstructions
will interfere with safe operation BEFORE performing
any work using your saw.
■ALWAYS TURN OFF THE SAW before disconnect-
ing it to avoid accidental starting when reconnecting
to power supply. NEVER leave the saw unattended
while connected to a power source.
■SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. Refer to them fre-
quently and use to instruct other users. If you loan
someone this tool, loan them these instructions also.
WARNING:
Some dust created by power sanding, sawing,
grinding, drilling, and other construction activities
contains chemicals known 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
and other masonry products, and
• 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.
The purpose of safety symbols is to attract your attention to possible dangers. The safety symbols, and the
explanations with them, deserve your careful attention and understanding. The safety warnings do not by
themselves eliminate any danger. The instructions or warnings they give are not substitutes for proper accident
prevention measures.
SYMBOL MEANING
DANGER: Failure to obey a safety warning will result in serious injury to yourself or to others.
Always follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal injury.
WARNING: Failure to obey a safety warning can result in serious injury to yourself or to others.
Always follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal injury.
CAUTION: Failure to obey a safety warning may result in property damage or personal injury to
yourself or to others. Always follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock
and personal injury.
NO HANDS:Failure to keep your hands away from the blade will result in serious personal injury.
WET CONDITIONS ALERT: Do not expose to rain or use in damp locations.
NOTE: Advises you of information or instructions vital to the operation or maintenance of the equipment.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

6
SPECIFICATIONS
Blade Diameter 12 in. (305 mm)
Blade Arbor 1 in. (25.4 mm)
No Load Speed 3600 RPM
Input 120 Volts, 60 Hz, AC only, 15 amps
Weight 41 lbs. (18.6 kg)
GLOSSARY
Arbor
The shaft on which a blade or cutting tool is mounted.
Bevel Cut
A cutting operation made with the blade at any angle
other than 90˚ to the miter table.
Crosscut
A cutting or shaping operation made across the grain of
the workpiece.
Compound Miter Cut
A compound miter cut is a cut made using a miter angle
and a bevel angle at the same time.
Freehand
Performing a cut without using a fence, miter gage,
fixture, work clamp, or other proper device to keep the
workpiece from twisting or moving during the cut.
Gum
A sticky, sap based residue from wood products.
Miter Cut
A cutting operation made with the blade at any angle
other than 90˚ to the fence.
No Hands Zone
The area between the marked lines on the left and right
side of the miter table base. This zone is identified by no
hands zone labels placed inside the marked lines on the
miter table base.
Resin
A sticky, sap base substance that has hardened.
Revolutions Per Minute (RPM)
The number of turns completed by a spinning object in
one minute.
Saw Blade Path
The area over, under, behind, or in front of the blade. As
it applies to the workpiece, that area 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.
Throw-Back
Throwing of a workpiece in a manner similar to a kickback.
Usually associated with a cause other than the kerf
closing, such as a workpiece not being against the
fence, being dropped into the blade, or being placed
inadvertently in contact with the blade.
Through Sawing
Any cutting operation where the blade extends completely
through the thickness of the workpiece.
Workpiece
The item on which the cutting operation is being done.
The surfaces of a workpiece are commonly referred to
as faces, ends, and edges.
Zero Clearance Throat Plate
A plastic throat plate inserted in the miter table that
allows for blade clearance. When you make your first cut
with your compound miter saw, the saw blade cuts a slot
through the throat plate the exact width of the blade. This
provides for a zero clearance kerf that minimizes
workpiece tear-out.

7
UNPACKING
INFORMATION
We have shipped the miter saw completely assembled
except for the blade, miter lock handle, dust guide/dust
bag, table extensions, and stop block.
■Remove the loose parts from the box. Make sure
that all items listed in the loose parts list are in-
cluded.
■Remove the packing materials from around the saw.
■Lift the saw carefully from the box and place it on a
level work surface.
NOTE: The saw is heavy. Ask for assistance if
necessary.
■Do not discard the packing material until you have
carefully inspected the tool, identified all loose parts,
and satisfactorily operated the tool.
■The saw is shipped with the saw arm locked in the
down position. To release the saw arm, push down
on the top of the saw arm and pull out the lock pin.
Apply hand pressure on the saw arm to prevent
sudden rise upon release of the lock pin.
■If any parts are damaged or missing, please call
1-800-525-2579 for assistance.
■Inspect all parts carefully to make sure no breakage
or damage occurred during shipping.
WARNING:
If any parts are missing do not operate the tool until
the missing parts are replaced. Failure to do so
could result in serious personal injury.
NOTE: The compound miter saw has been adjusted at
the factory for making very accurate cuts. However,
some of the components might have been jarred out of
alignment during shipping. Also, over a period of time,
readjustment will probably become necessary due to
wear. After unpacking your saw, check the saw
adjustments before you begin using the saw. Make any
readjustments that are necessary and periodically check
the parts alignment to make sure that the saw is cutting
accurately. Refer to ADJUSTMENTS later in this manual.
LOOSE PARTS LIST
1. Saw blade
2. Miter lock handle
3. Dust bag
4. Dust guide
5. Stop block
6. Small wing screw
7. Clamp brackets (2)
8. Clamp bracket screws (2)
9. Table extensions (2)
10. Work clamp
11. Hex blade wrench
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Before using the miter saw, familiarize yourself with all
operating features and safety requirements. However,
do not let familiarity with the tool make you careless.
WARNING:
Exercise caution when using the miter saw. Care-
less actions, for even a fraction of a second, can
result in serious personal injury.
SWITCH
The miter saw has a conveniently located trigger switch.
TRIGGER LOCK
The trigger switch features a lockable latch that allows
you to attach a padlock to prevent unauthorized use.
MOTOR
Your saw has a powerful 15 amp motor with sufficient
power to handle tough cutting jobs. It is made with all ball
bearings.
BLADE
A 12 in. (305 mm) saw blade is included with your
compound miter saw. It will cut materials up to 7-7/8 in.
(200 mm) wide, depending upon the thickness of the
material and the settings at which the cut is being made.
Refer to the table below for cutting capacity details.
Miter Angle Bevel Angle Cutting Capacity
0°0°7-7/8 in. x 2-1/2 in.
(200 mm x 63.5 mm)
45°0°5-1/2 in. x 2-1/2 in.
(140 mm x 63.5 mm)
0°45°7-7/8 in. x 1-3/4 in.
(200 mm x 44.5 mm)
45°45°5 in. x 1-3/4 in
(127 mm x 44.5 mm)
CARRYING HANDLE
The saw includes a handle on top of the saw arm that
allows you to easily transport the miter saw.
MITER LOCK HANDLE
The miter lock handle securely locks the saw at desired
miter angles.
SPINDLE LOCK BUTTON
The spindle lock button allows you to lock the spindle,
which keeps the blade in the saw from rotating.
POSITIVE STOPS
The saw contains positive stops at 0°, 15°, 22-1/2°, 30°,
and 45°on both the left and right side of the miter table.
FEATURES
BEVEL LOCK KNOB
The bevel lock knob securely locks your compound miter
saw at desired bevel angles. Positive stop adjustment
screws are included on each side of the saw arm, which
allow you to make fine adjustments at 0°and 45°.
ELECTRIC BRAKE
The electric brake allows you to quickly stop the blade
rotation after you release the switch.
FENCE
The fence secures the workpiece when making cuts.
The fence contains a built-in measuring scale to assist
you in making crosscuts.
LOWER BLADE GUARD
The self-retracting lower blade guard is made of shock-
resistant, clear plastic that provides protection from
each side of the blade. It retracts over the upper blade
guard as you lower the saw into the workpiece.
BLADE WRENCH STORAGE
The saw has a convenient blade wrench storage in the
base.
MOUNTING HOLES
Four bolt holes are located in the saw base that allow you
to permanently mount the saw to a firm supporting
surface.
WARNING:
Always make sure the compound miter saw is se-
curely mounted to a workbench or an approved work
stand. Failure to do so could result in an accident
resulting in possible serious personal injury.
ELECTRICAL CONNECTION
Your tool has a precision built electric motor. It should
be connected to a power supply that is 120 volts, 60
Hz, AC only (normal household current). Do not
operate this tool on direct current (DC). A substantial
voltage drop will cause a loss of power and the motor will
overheat. If your tool does not operate when plugged
into an outlet, double-check the power supply.

9
FEATURES
Fig. 1
WARNING:
Do not attempt to modify this tool or create accessories not recommended for use with this tool. Any such
alteration or modification is misuse and could result in a hazardous condition leading to possible serious
personal injury.
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MITER LOCK
HANDLE
BLADE
SAW ARM
LOCK PIN
CARRYING
HANDLE
TABLE
EXTENSION
TABLE
EXTENSION
MITER LOCK
LEVER
MITER SCALE
BEVEL LOCK
KNOB
DUST BAG
LOWER BLADE
GUARD
UPPER BLADE
GUARD
BEVEL
SCALE
FENCE
ZERO CLEARANCE
THROAT PLATE
STOP BLOCK
WORK CLAMP
SAW BASE
CONTROL ARM
HEX BLADE
WRENCH
SPINDLE LOCK
BUTTON

10
ASSEMBLY
Fig. 2
WARNING:
The miter saw should never be connected to a power
supply when you are assembling parts, making ad-
justments, installing or removing blades, cleaning, or
when not in use. Disconnecting the miter saw will
prevent accidental starting that could cause serious
personal injury.
NOTE: For information on installing accessories, refer to
ACCESSORIES later in this manual.
INSTALLING THE MITER LOCK HANDLE
See Figure 2.
Follow these directions to install the miter lock handle.
■Place the threaded end of the miter lock handle into
the threaded hole in the control arm.
■Tighten the miter lock handle by turning it clockwise.
INSTALLING THE DUST GUIDE
See Figure 3.
Follow these directions to install the dust guide.
■Unplug the saw.
WARNING:
Failure to unplug the tool could result in accidental
starting causing serious injury.
■Place the end of the dust guide over the exhaust
port in the upper blade guard.
■Turn the guide so that the open end is facing down
or toward the rear of the saw.
INSTALLING THE BLADE
See Figures 4, 5, and 6.
WARNING:
The maximum blade capacity of this saw is 12 in.
(305 mm). Never use a blade that is too thick to
allow the outer blade washer to engage with the flats
on the spindle. Larger blades will come in contact
with the blade guards, while thicker blades will pre-
vent the blade bolt from securing the blade on the
spindle. Either of these situations could result in a
serious accident and can cause serious personal
injury.
Follow these directions to install the blade.
■Unplug the saw.
WARNING:
Failure to unplug the tool could result in accidental
starting causing serious injury. Fig. 4
Fig. 3
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DUST GUIDE
EXHAUST
PORT
1) PUSH DOWN
ON ARM
2) PULL
OUT
LOCK PIN

11
ASSEMBLY
Fig. 6
■Push down on the saw arm.
■Pull out the lock pin to release saw arm.
■Raise the saw arm to its full raised position.
NOTE: Be cautious; the saw arm is spring loaded.
■Raise the lower blade guard to expose the screws
on the blade bolt cover.
■Loosen the screws on the blade bolt cover using the
phillips end of the blade wrench.
■Rotate the lower blade guard and blade bolt cover
up and back to expose the blade bolt.
■Depress the spindle lock button and rotate the blade
bolt until the spindle locks.
NOTE: The blade bolt has left hand threads. Turn
the blade bolt clockwise to loosen.
■Loosen and remove the blade bolt using the blade
wrench provided.
■Remove the flat washer.
■Remove the outer blade washer. Do not remove
the inner blade washer.
■Wipe a drop of oil on the inner blade washer and
outer blade washer where they contact the blade.
WARNING:
If the inner blade washer has been removed, replace
it before placing the blade on the spindle. Failure to
do so could cause the blade not to tighten properly,
which could result in serious injury.
■Fit the saw blade inside the lower blade guard and
onto the spindle, with the blade teeth pointing down-
ward at the front of saw.
WARNING:
Always install the blade with the blade teeth and the
arrow printed on the side of the blade pointing down
at the front of the saw. The direction of blade rotation
is also stamped with an arrow on the upper blade
guard. Failure to heed this warning can result in
serious personal injury.
■Replace the outer blade washer.
■Replace the flat washer.
NOTE: The double “D” flats on the blade washers
align with the flats on the spindle.
■Replace the blade bolt.
NOTE: The blade bolt has left hand threads. Turn
the blade bolt counterclockwise to tighten.
■Depress the spindle lock button.
■Tighten the blade bolt securely.
BLADE
BOLT
FLAT
WASHER
OUTER
BLADE
WASHER
Fig. 5
■Remove the blade wrench.
■Restore the lower blade guard and the blade bolt
cover.
■Retighten the screws using the phillips end of the
blade wrench securing the blade bolt cover.
■Return the blade wrench to the wrench storage
area.
■Make the first cut with the miter saw. Refer to CUT-
TING THE THROAT PLATE later in this manual.
CAUTION:
To prevent damage to the spindle lock, always allow
the motor to come to a complete stop before engag-
ing the spindle lock. Make sure the spindle lock
button is not engaged before reconnecting the saw
to a power source.
BLADE BOLT
COVER
SCREWS
LOWER
BLADE
GUARD
LOWER
BLADE
GUARD
BLADE
BOLT
COVER

12
ASSEMBLY
CARRYING THE SAW
See Figure 7.
Follow these directions to carry the saw.
■Unplug the saw.
WARNING:
Failure to unplug the tool could result in accidental
starting causing serious injury.
■Pull the saw arm all the way down.
■Engage the lock pin to hold the saw arm in the
transport position.
■Stand behind the saw.
■Lift the saw by the carrying handle.
NOTE: The saw is heavy. Ask for assistance if
necessary.
MOUNTING THE SAW TO A WORK
SURFACE
See Figure 8.
Follow these directions to mount the saw to a work
surface.
■Place the saw on a sturdy work surface, e.g., work
stand, workbench, countertop.
■Mark the holes in the saw base with a pencil.
■Remove the saw from the work surface.
■Drill four holes through the work surface.
■Place the saw back on the work surface, aligning
the holes in the saw base with the holes in the work
surface.
■Insert four bolts (not included, 3/8 in. (9.5 mm) ma-
chine bolts recommended) and tighten securely with
lock washers and hex nuts (not included).
■Check the work surface carefully after you mount
the saw to make sure that no movement can occur
during use. If any tipping, sliding, or walking is noted,
secure the work surface to the floor before operat-
ing the saw.
NOTE: If you plan to transport the saw to different
locations, we recommend that you attach it
permanently to a mounting board that you can easily
clamp to a work surface.
SECURING THE SAW
See Figure 9.
Follow these directions to secure the saw.
■Unplug the saw.
WARNING:
Failure to unplug the tool could result in accidental
starting causing serious injury.
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
■Install a padlock through the hole in the trigger
switch.
NOTE: You may use a padlock with a long shackle
up to 9/32 in. (7 mm) in diameter.
■Store the padlock key in another location.
CARRYING
HANDLE
TRIGGER
SWITCH
PADLOCK

13
OPERATION
WARNING:
Before starting any cutting operation, clamp or bolt
the compound miter saw to a workbench at approxi-
mately waist height. Never operate your miter saw
on the floor or in a crouched position. Failure to heed
this warning can result in serious personal injury.
CUTTING THE THROAT PLATE
See Figure 10.
In order to use the compound miter saw, you must cut a
slot through the zero clearance throat plate to allow for
blade clearance.
Follow these directions to cut the throat plate.
■Set the saw at 0°miter.
■Turn on the saw and allow the blade to reach full
speed.
■Make a straight cut as far as it will go through the
throat plate.
■Turn off the saw and allow the blade to come to a
complete stop before raising the saw arm.
■Adjust the bevel angle to 45°.
■Turn on the saw and allow the blade to reach full
speed.
■Make another cut through the throat plate.
NOTE: The slot in the throat plate is now wide enough
to allow the blade to pass through it at any angle
from 0 to 45 degrees.
CUTTING WITH THE MITER SAW
WARNING:
When using the work clamp or a C-clamp to secure
the workpiece, clamp the workpiece on one side of
the blade only. The workpiece must remain free on
one side of the blade to prevent the blade from
binding in the workpiece. Binding the blade causes
the motor to stall and kickback, which could cause
an accident resulting in serious personal injury.
CROSSCUT
See Figure 11.
A crosscut is made by cutting across the grain of the
workpiece. A straight crosscut is made with the miter
table set at the zero degree position. Miter crosscuts are
made with the miter table set at some angle other than
zero.
Follow these directions to make a crosscut.
■Push down on the saw arm.
■Pull out the lock pin to release the saw arm.
Fig. 10
0 DEGREES
45 DEGREES
AFTER FIRST
CUT
AFTER
SECOND CUT
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14
OPERATION
■Raise the saw arm to its full raised position.
■Loosen the miter lock handle by rotating it approxi-
mately one-half turn.
■Depress the miter lock lever.
■Rotate the control arm until the pointer aligns with the
desired angle on the miter scale.
■Release the miter lock lever.
NOTE: You can quickly locate 0°, 15°, 22-1/2°, 30°,
and 45°left or right by releasing the miter lock lever
as you rotate the control arm. The miter lock lever
will seat itself in one of the positive stop notches,
located in miter table frame.
■Tighten the miter lock handle securely.
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, always tighten the
miter lock handle securely before making a cut. Fail-
ure to do so could result in movement of the control
arm or miter table while making a cut.
■Place the workpiece flat on the miter table with one
edge securely against the fence. Refer to CUTTING
WARPED MATERIAL and SUPPORTING LONG AND
WIDE WORKPIECES later in this manual.
NOTE: Use the built-in measuring scale to make
quick crosscuts.
■Align the cutting line on the workpiece with the edge
of saw blade.
■Grip the workpiece firmly with one hand to secure
it against the fence.
NOTE: Use the work clamp or a C-clamp to secure
the workpiece when possible.
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, keep your hands
outside the no hands zone; at least 3 in. (76 mm)
from the blade. Never perform any cutting operation
freehand (without holding the workpiece against the
fence). The blade could grab the workpiece if it slips
or twists.
■Perform a dry run of the cutting operation (before
turning on the saw) just to make sure that no problems
will occur when you make the cut.
■Grasp the saw handle firmly.
■Squeeze the switch trigger.
Fig. 11
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CROSSCUT
■Allow several seconds for the blade to reach maxi-
mum speed.
■Lower the blade into and through the workpiece.
■Release the switch trigger.
■Wait for the blade to stop before raising the saw arm
or moving the workpiece.
BEVEL CUT
See Figure 12.
A bevel cut is made by cutting across the grain of the
workpiece with the blade angled to the workpiece. A
straight bevel cut is made with the miter table set at the
zero degree position and the blade set at an angle
between 0°and 45°.
Follow these directions to make a bevel cut.
■Push down on the saw arm.
■Pull out the lock pin to release the saw arm.
■Raise the saw arm to its full raised position.
■Loosen the miter lock handle by rotating it approxi-
mately one-half turn.
■Depress the miter lock lever.
■Rotate the control arm until the pointer aligns with
zero on the miter scale.

15
OPERATION
■Release the miter lock lever.
NOTE: You can quickly locate 0°by releasing the
miter lock lever as you rotate the control arm. The
miter lock lever will seat itself in one of the positive
stop notches, located in miter table frame.
■Tighten the miter lock handle securely.
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, always tighten the
miter lock handle securely before making a cut. Fail-
ure to do so could result in movement of the control
arm or miter table while making a cut.
■Loosen the bevel lock knob.
■Move the saw arm to the left to the desired bevel
angle.
NOTE: You can set bevel angles from 0°to 45°.
Align the indicator point to the desired angle.
■Tighten the bevel lock knob securely.
■Place the workpiece flat on the miter table with one
edge securely against the fence.
NOTE: Refer to CUTTING WARPED MATERIAL
and SUPPORTING LONG AND WIDE
WORKPIECES later in this manual.
■Align the cutting line on the workpiece with the edge
of saw blade.
■Clamp the workpiece firmly against the fence using
the work clamp or a C-clamp.
WARNING:
If not held securely in place, the workpiece is pulled
toward the blade in a bevel crosscut. This action can
result in the workpiece kicking back. Always se-
curely clamp the workpiece when bevel cutting. Keep
your hands out of the cutting area to avoid serious
personal injury.
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, keep your hands
outside the no hands zone; at least 3 in. (76 mm)
from the blade. Never perform any cutting operation
freehand (without holding workpiece against the
fence). The blade could grab the workpiece if it slips
or twists.
■Perform a dry run of the cutting operation (before
turning on the saw) just to make sure that no problems
will occur when you make the cut.
■Grasp the saw handle firmly.
■Squeeze the switch trigger.
■Allow several seconds for the blade to reach maxi-
mum speed.
■Lower the blade into and through the workpiece.
■Release the switch trigger.
■Wait for the blade to stop before raising the saw arm
or moving the workpiece.
COMPOUND MITER CUT
See Figure 13.
A compound miter cut is a cut made using a miter angle
and a bevel angle at the same time. This type of cut is
used to make picture frames, cut molding, make boxes
with sloping sides, and for certain roof framing cuts.
To make this type of cut, you must rotate the control arm
on the miter table to the correct angle and tilt the saw arm
to the correct bevel angle. Take care when making
compound miter setups due to the interaction of the two
angle settings.
Adjustments of miter and bevel settings are
interdependent with one another. Each time you adjust
the miter setting, you change the effect of the bevel
setting. Also, each time you adjust the bevel setting, you
change the effect of the miter setting.
Fig. 12
BEVEL CUT

16
OPERATION
It may take several settings to obtain the desired cut.
Always check the first angle setting after setting the
second angle, since adjusting the second angle affects
the first.
Once you have obtained the two correct settings for a
particular cut, always make a test cut in scrap material
before making a finish cut in good material.
Follow these directions to make a compound miter cut.
■Push down on the saw arm.
■Pull out the lock pin to release the saw arm.
■Raise the saw arm to its full raised position.
■Loosen the miter lock handle by rotating it approxi-
mately one-half turn.
■Depress the miter lock lever.
■Rotate the control arm until the pointer aligns with the
desired angle on the miter scale.
■Release the miter lock lever.
NOTE: You can quickly locate 0°, 15°, 22-1/2°, 30°,
and 45°left or right by releasing the miter lock lever as
you rotate the control arm. The miter lock lever will
seat itself in one of the positive stop notches, located
in miter table frame.
■Tighten the miter lock handle securely.
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, always tighten the
miter lock handle securely before making a cut. Fail-
ure to do so could result in movement of the control
arm or miter table while making a cut.
■Loosen the bevel lock knob.
■Move the saw arm to the left to the desired bevel
angle.
NOTE: You can set bevel angles from 0°to 45°.
Align the indicator point to the desired angle.
■Tighten the bevel lock knob securely.
■Recheck the miter angle setting.
■Make a test cut in scrap material.
■Place the workpiece flat on the miter table with one
edge securely against the fence.
NOTE: Refer to CUTTING WARPED MATERIAL
and SUPPORTING LONG AND WIDE
WORKPIECES later in this manual.
■Align the cutting line on the workpiece with the edge
of saw blade.
■Clamp the workpiece firmly against the fence using
the work clamp or a C-clamp.
Fig. 13
WARNING:
To avoid serious personal injury, keep your hands
outside the no hands zone; at least 3 in. (76 mm)
from the blade. Never perform any cutting operation
freehand (without holding workpiece against the
fence). The blade could grab the workpiece if it slips
or twists.
■Perform a dry run of the cutting operation (before
turning on the saw) just to make sure that no problems
will occur when you make the cut.
■Grasp the saw handle firmly.
■Squeeze the switch trigger.
■Allow several seconds for the blade to reach maxi-
mum speed.
■Lower the blade into and through the workpiece.
■Release the switch trigger.
■Wait for the blade to stop before raising the saw arm
or moving the workpiece.
COMPOUND
MITER CUT

17
4
PITCH
OF SIDE
NUMBER OF SIDES
0°
6
M- 45.00°
B- 0.00°
5°
10°
15°
20°
25°
30°
35°
40°
45°
50°
55°
60°
65°
70°
75°
80°
85°
90°
5789
10
M- 36.00°
B- 0.00°
M- 30.00°
B- 0.00°
M- 25.71°
B- 0.00°
M- 22.50°
B- 0.00°
M- 20.00°
B- 0.00°
M- 18.00°
B- 0.00°
Each B (Bevel) and M (Miter) Setting is Given to the Closest 0.005°.
COMPOUND-ANGLE SETTINGS FOR POPULAR STRUCTURES
M- 44.89°
B- 3.53°
M- 35.90°
B- 2.94°
M- 29.91°
B- 2.50°
M- 25.63°
B- 2.17°
M- 22.42°
B- 1.91°
M- 19.93°
B- 1.71°
M- 17.94°
B- 1.54°
M- 7.82°
B -16.26°
M- 14.51°
B- 43.08°
The compound angle setting chart below is provided to help you make correct settings for compound miter cuts.
Since compound miter cuts are the most difficult to accurately obtain, carefully plan the cut and make trial cuts in
scrap material prior to making the required cut.
M- 44.56°
B- 7.05°
M- 35.58°
B- 5.86°
M- 29.62°
B- 4.98°
M- 25.37°
B- 4.32°
M- 22.19°
B- 3.81°
M- 19.72°
B- 3.40°
M- 17.74°
B- 3.08°
M- 44.01°
B- 10.55°
M- 43.22°
B- 14.00°
M- 42.19°
B- 17.39°
M- 4.98°
B- 44.78°
M- 0.00°
B- 45.00°
M- 9.85°
B- 44.14°
M- 18.88°
B- 41.64°
M- 22.91°
B- 39.86°
M- 26.57°
B- 37.76°
M- 29.84°
B- 35.40°
M- 32.73°
B- 32.80°
M- 35.26°
B- 30.00°
M- 37.45°
B- 27.03°
M- 39.32°
B- 23.93°
M- 40.89°
B- 20.70°
M- 35.06°
B- 8.75°
M- 29.15°
B- 7.44°
M- 24.95°
B- 6.45°
M- 21.81°
B- 5.68°
M- 19.37°
B- 5.08°
M- 17.42°
B- 4.59°
M- 34.32°
B- 11.60°
M- 28.48°
B- 9.85°
M- 24.35°
B- 8.53°
M- 21.27°
B- 7.52°
M- 18.88°
B- 6.72°
M- 16.98°
B- 6.07°
M- 33.36°
B- 14.38°
M- 27.62°
B- 12.20°
M- 23.56°
B- 10.57°
M- 20.58°
B- 9.31°
M- 18.26°
B- 8.31°
M- 16.41°
B- 7.50°
M- 32.18°
B- 17.09°
M- 26.57°
B- 14.48°
M- 22.64°
B- 12.53°
M- 19.73°
B- 11.03°
M- 17.50°
B- 9.85°
M- 15.72°
B- 8.89°
M- 30.76°
B- 19.70°
M- 25.31°
B- 16.67°
M- 21.53°
B- 14.41°
M- 18.74°
B- 12.68°
M- 16.60°
B- 11.31°
M- 14.90°
B- 10.21°
M- 29.10°
B- 22.20°
M- 23.86°
B- 18.75°
M- 20.25°
B- 16.19°
M- 17.60°
B- 14.24°
M- 15.58°
B- 12.70°
M- 13.98°
B- 11.46°
M- 0.00°
B- 36.00°
M- 0.00°
B- 30.00°
M- 0.00°
B- 25.71°
M- 0.00°
B- 22.50°
M- 0.00°
B- 20.00°
M- 0.00°
B- 18.00°
M- 3.62°
B- 35.84°
M- 2.88°
B- 29.87°
M- 2.40°
B- 25.61°
M- 2.07°
B- 22.41°
M- 1.82°
B- 19.92°
M- 1.62°
B- 17.93°
M- 7.19°
B- 35.37°
M- 5.73°
B- 29.50°
M- 4.78°
B- 25.30°
M- 4.11°
B- 22.14°
M- 3.62°
B- 19.68°
M- 3.23°
B- 17.72°
M- 10.65°
B- 34.59°
M- 8.50°
B- 28.88°
M- 7.10°
B- 24.78°
M- 6.12°
B- 21.69°
M- 5.38°
B- 19.29°
M- 4.81°
B- 17.37°
M- 13.95°
B- 33.53°
M- 11.17°
B- 28.02°
M- 9.35°
B- 24.06°
M- 8.06°
B- 21.08°
M- 7.10°
B- 18.75°
M- 6.34°
B- 16.88°
M- 17.07°
B- 32.19°
M- 13.71°
B- 26.95°
M- 11.50°
B- 23.16°
M- 9.93°
B- 20.29°
M- 8.74°
B- 18.06°
M- 19.96°
B- 30.60°
M- 16.10°
B- 25.66°
M- 13.54°
B- 22.07°
M- 11.70°
B- 19.35°
M- 10.31°
B- 17.23°
M- 9.23°
B- 15.52°
M- 22.62°
B- 28.78°
M- 18.32°
B- 24.18°
M- 15.44°
B- 20.82°
M- 13.36°
B- 18.27°
M- 11.79°
B- 16.27°
M- 10.56°
B- 14.66°
M- 25.03°
B- 26.76°
M- 20.36°
B- 22.52°
M- 17.20°
B- 19.41°
M- 14.91°
B- 17.05°
M- 13.17°
B- 15.19°
M- 11.80°
B- 13.69°
M- 27.19°
B- 24.56°
M- 22.21°
B- 20.70°
M- 18.80°
B- 17.87°
M- 16.32°
B- 15.70°
M- 14.43°
B- 14.00°
M- 12.94°
B- 12.62°
OPERATION

18
OPERATION
CUTTING CROWN MOLDING
See Figures 14a, 14b, and 14c.
The compound miter saw is an excellent tool choice for
cutting crown molding. In order to fit properly, crown
molding must be compound mitered with extreme
accuracy.
The two contact surfaces on a piece of crown molding
that fit flat against the ceiling and the wall of a room are
at angles that, when added together, equal exactly 90°.
Most crown molding has a top rear angle (the section
that fits flat against the ceiling) of 52°and a bottom rear
angle (the section that fits flat against the wall) of 38°.
Follow these tips when cutting crown molding.
■Lay the molding with its broad back surface flat on the
miter table and against the fence.
■When setting the bevel and miter angles for compound
miters, remember that the settings are interdependent;
changing one angle changes the other angle as well.
■Keep in mind that the angles for crown moldings are
very precise and difficult to set. Since it is very easy
for these angles to shift, you should first test all
settings on scrap molding.
■Most walls do not have angles of exactly 90°; therefore,
you will need to fine tune your settings.
■The bevel angle should be set at 33.85°and the miter
angle should be set at 31.62°either right or left,
depending on the desired cut for the application. See
the chart below for correct angle settings and correct
positioning of crown molding on miter table.
■The settings in the chart below can be used for cutting
All Standard (U.S.) crown molding with 52°and 38°
angles. The crown molding is placed flat on the miter
table using the compound features of your miter saw.
Bevel
Angle Type of Cut
Setting
Left side, inside corner
1. Top edge of molding against fence
2. Miter table set right 31.62°
3. Save left end of cut
Right side, inside corner
1. Bottom edge of molding against fence
2. Miter table set left 31.62°
3. Save left end of cut
Left side, outside corner
1. Bottom edge of molding against fence
2. Miter table set left 31.62°
3. Save right end of cut
Right side, outside corner
1. Top edge of molding against fence
2. Miter table set right 31.62°
3. Save right end of cut
33.85°
33.85°
33.85°
33.85°
Fig. 14c
Fig. 14b
CEILING
W
A
L
L
52°
38°
FENCE
TOP EDGE AGAINST FENCE =
LEFT SIDE, INSIDE CORNER
RIGHT SIDE, OUTSIDE CORNER
INSIDE
CORNER
BOTTOM EDGE AGAINST FENCE =
RIGHT SIDE, INSIDE CORNER
LEFT SIDE, OUTSIDE CORNER
FENCE OUTSIDE
CORNER
Fig. 14a
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19
OPERATION
CUTTING WARPED MATERIAL
See Figure 15.
When cutting warped material, always make sure it is
positioned on the miter table with the convex side
against the fence. If the warped material is positioned
the wrong way, it will pinch the blade near the completion
of the cut.
WARNING:
To avoid a kickback and to avoid serious personal
injury, never position the concave edge of bowed or
warped material against the fence.
Fig. 16
Fig. 15
Fig. 17
SUPPORTING LONG AND WIDE
WORKPIECES
LONG WORKPIECES
See Figure 16.
Long workpieces need extra supports. Supports should
be placed along the workpiece so it does not sag. The
support should let the workpiece lay flat on the base of
the saw during the cutting operation. Use the work clamp
or a C-clamp to secure the workpiece.
WIDE WORKPIECES
See Figure 17.
When cutting workpieces that are too wide to clamp with
the work clamp, e.g., 2 in. x 6 in. (50.8 mm x 152.4 mm),
use a C-clamp. Always clamp wide workpieces.
30
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45
5
31.6
31.6
45
5
3
31.6
4
5

20
ADJUSTMENTS
SQUARING THE MITER TABLE TO THE
FENCE
See Figures 18 through 22.
Follow these directions to square the miter table to the
fence.
■Unplug the saw.
WARNING:
Failure to unplug the tool could result in accidental
starting causing possible serious personal injury.
■Push down on the saw arm.
■Pull out the lock pin to release the saw arm.
■Raise the saw arm to its full raised position.
■Loosen the miter lock handle by rotating it approxi-
mately one-half turn.
■Loosen the socket head screws securing the miter
lock lever.
■Grasp the miter lock handle and rotate the miter
table until the miter pointer is positioned at 0°.
■Tighten the miter lock handle securely.
■Tighten the socket head screws to secure the miter
lock lever.
■Lay a framing square flat on the miter table.
■Place one leg of the square against the fence.
■Place the other leg of the square beside the zero
clearance throat plate in the miter table.
NOTE: The edge of the square and the zero
clearance throat plate in the miter table should be
parallel. If the edge of the framing square and the
zero clearance throat plate in the miter table are not
parallel, adjustments are needed. Continue as follows.
■Loosen the socket head screws securing the fence.
■Adjust the fence until the framing square and zero
clearance throat plate are parallel.
■Retighten the screws securely and recheck the fence-
to-table alignment.
Fig. 20
Fig. 18
PULL OUT
LOCK PIN
PUSH DOWN
ON ARM
Fig. 19
SOCKET
HEAD
SCREW
MITER LOCK
HANDLE
30
30
15
15
0
0
15
15
30
30
MITER
POINTER