Revised February 2021

Safety

  1. Hearing protection, dust mask and safety glasses or face shield must be worn.
    (FYI Sound pressure level 93dB(A); sound power level 106dB(A). Uncertainty K=3dB.)
  2. Don’t wear loose clothing or lanyards. Tie back hair.
  3. Always clamp the work and only cut one workpiece at a time.
  4. Do not cut metal or other ferrous material with this saw.
  5. Maximum cutting depth: 104mm. Assuming it can be clamped, minimum wood dimensions 160mm x 335mm (l/w).
  6. If the piece of timber is too short to clamp, don’t use this saw. The table saw aided by the cross-cut sled, or a handsaw (aided by a mitre box or bench hook) provide safer options.
  7. It is essential that the workpiece be in contact with the fence and saw table at point of cutting. Never saw curved or rounded workpieces unless properly supported and secured.
  8. Ensure dust extraction is turned on and gate is open before operating the saw.
  9. Keep area around the saw (floor and saw housing) clear of obstructions and dust build up to reduce a potential fire hazard.
  10. Always ensure the locking knob (11) is tightened firmly before sawing.
  11. Stay alert. NEVER operate when tired or distracted. Avoid complacency.
  12. If unsure of any operation and before undertaking compound angle cuts, ask an experienced operator for assistance. Familiarise yourself with the manual instructions.
  13. Report any machine malfunction.
Diagram no.
Component
1
Handle
4
Retracting blade guard
5
Adjustable fence (fence-(6))
6
Fence
7
Saw table extension
8
Mounting holes
9
Insert plate
10
Locking clamp
11
Locking knob for various mitre angles
12
Mitre pre-setting lever
13
Clamping lever for various bevel angles
27
Laser protection cap
Diagram no.
Component
30
Depth Stop
32
Scale for bevel angle
33
Angle indicator for bevel angle range (47° – 0° – 47°)
34
Adjustment knob for 22.5° bevel angle
37
Scale for mitre angle. Notice the indents – detents -for standard mitre angles.
38
Saw table
39
Rotary knob for adjusting the bevel angle range.
59
On/off (trigger) switch
60
On/off switch for laser (cutting line indication) (on the back of handle)

Components of the sliding compound mitre saw

  1. See diagram.
  2. The blade can be angled to the left or right, and the whole assembly can be tilted from side to side, to make cuts at various compound angles. When moving left and right, there are a series of indents (or detents – 37) for the commonly used mitre angles, but the saw can be stopped at any angle in between.
  3. The saw can be set to operate as a drop saw, a cut off (chop) saw, a sliding mitre saw, as well as a compound angle (drop or sliding) saw. The saw is fitted with a guard which is only released when lowering the blade.
    NOTE:
    (i) Table extension (7) and length stop (35, 36) features of this saw are not available due to the build in outfeed tables.
    (ii) Compound angle cuts require the adjustable fence (5) to be moved away from the centre point. Unfortunately, the house-built dust extraction housing has to be modified to allow this. A maintenance team member is to be consulted before attempting such cuts.
    (iii) On the picture but not in the diagram you will see a U-shaped lever with red thumb rests to the left of the handle and below part #27. This is a blade guard release lever. Maintenance have modified this lever to make it be obsolete, BUT the guard is still operational.
  4. To aide accuracy the laser beams are adjusted to indicate the cutting width of the saw blade. Switch on the beams with switch on the back of the main handle (60). Position your cutting line on your workpiece between the two laser lines.

Operation

  1. Check timber for and remove metal inclusions and clean with a stiff brush as necessary.
  2. Switch on at the wall socket. This will also activate the lights to illuminate the workpiece.
Set up saw

  • The saw should be returned to the 0° drop saw position. If not, loosen grey locking knob (11), lift up red pre-setting lever (12) and rotate saw table back to the 0° position. Always return the saw to the 0° drop saw position after use and tightening locking knob (11).
For angle set up

  • Common use mitre angles (45°, 31.6° 22.5°, 15° and on right side 60° indents on (37)):   Loosen the grey locking knob (11), lift red pre-setting lever (12) and rotate the saw table (38) left or right to the required detent position.  Release the lever (12); it must be felt to engage in the detent (indent). Re-tighten the locking knob (11).
Other mitre angles
  • Loosen the locking knob (11). Lift pre-setting lever (12) while at the same time pressing the locking clamp (red one with writing on it -10) until the lever clicks into the slot provided for it.  The table can now move freely to the required mitre angle on the scale (58).  Set angle by tightening knob 11.  To release setting lift up lever 12, the locking clamp 10 should spring back.
Sideway tilt angles
  • Read the manual and consult an experienced operator for instruction.  The process involves using the clamping lever (13) angle indicators (21) & (33), the rotary knob on the right of knob 11 (39) and bevel adjustment knob (34). Please don’t touch these adjusters unless changing the tilt of the saw.
Set up timber

  • Place the timber to be cut firmly against the fence and use clamp(s) to secure it.The clamp located on the outfeed table is operated by loosening the wing bolt on the end of the clamp arm and adjusting the arm up or down the clamp pole and then tightening the wing bolt again. Tightening the threaded rod fixes the workpiece in place.  The clamp may be attached on the left or the right outfeed table.
  • Bowed or warped workpieces should be clamped with the outside bowed face toward the fence to ensure solid contact. Always make sure there is no gap between the workpiece, fence, and the table along the line of cut. If the workpiece moves it may create a wedge and bind the blade.
  • It is easier and safer to check the blade by lowering it against your marked line before switching on. Adjust as required and re-clamp.
  • If using the laser guide function (on/off button for laser is on the back of the handle) check its accuracy on a suitably marked off cut; good advice if you wish to cut to the side of the cutting line rather than on it.
Turn on saw
  • Cuts must always be made by pushing the saw through the workpiece toward the dust hood; NEVER in the opposite direction.
  • The on/off switch must be held on for the saw to cut. The button above the trigger switch (2) locks the trigger switch.
  • Grasp the handle with your right hand, pull the saw fully towards you and lower to the table to retract the blade guard. Note the saw is spring loaded so will offer resistance as you bring it out and down to the table to make your cut.
  • Turn on the saw by squeezing the on/off (trigger) switch (59). Allow the blade to reach full speed before pushing the saw toward the fence (6) and dust hood. The saw will stop if you release the switch.
  • On finishing the cut, release the switch, hold the saw head down and wait for the blade to stop BEFORE allowing the saw to lift up and BEFORE removing the cut off piece.
Safe operation tips
  1. Always stand to the side out of direct line of the blade. Keep supporting hand at least 100mm away from blade when cutting. Never hold your workpiece to the right of the saw blade with you left hand or vice versa.
  2. Do not use excessive force to push the blade through timber too hard or fast. Pushing too fast will cause the blade to overheat and blunt it more rapidly. The best quality cuts are produced through a combination of a sharp blade and a slow feed rate. It is possible to make half cuts on thick wood.
  3. Keep the body and face to one side of the saw blade out of the line of a possible kickback.
  4. Keep work surface clear of tools, off cuts. The blade must be completely stopped before removing the waste or the work.
  5. If the blade binds while cutting (becomes pinched in the workpiece) immediately release the on/off trigger to stop the saw.
  6. It is possible to set a depth stop (e.g. when using a spacer) (30) by adjusting depth stop screw (29). Consult an experienced operator before using this feature.

When you have finished your job

  1. As in the case of any machine, do not leave the saw running unattended. Turn the power off and make sure the machine has stopped running before leaving the area.
  2. Always return saw to 0° setting(s) on completing your job and tighten knob (11).
  3. Close dust extraction gate/turn off extractor.
  4. Clean up all sawdust and offcuts. Offcuts should be placed in the bin provided and when that is close to being full, should be emptied into the trailer. Sawdust should be swept up and the area vacuumed.

Additional information

Features and operation of the compound mitre saw.

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety is a good source of information.