Work Area

1.Keep your work area clean and well lit.

Cluttered benches and dark areas invite acci- dents.

2.Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust. Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.

3.Keep bystanders, children, and visitors away while operating a power tool. Distrac- tions can cause you to lose control.

Electrical Safety

4.Double insulated tools are equipped with 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 the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified elec- trician to install a polarized outlet. Do not

change the plug in any way. Double insula-

tion eliminates the need for the three wire grounded power cord and grounded power supply system.

5.Avoid body contact with grounded sur- faces such as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is grounded.

6.Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.

7.Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord to carry the tools or pull the plug from an outlet. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving parts. Replace damaged cords immediately. Damaged cords increase the risk of electric shock.

8.When operating a power tool outside, use an outdoor extension cord marked ???W-A??? or ???W???. These cords are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric shock.

Personal Safety

9.Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power tool. Do not use tool while tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment of inattention while operating power tools may result in serious personal injury.

10.Dress properly. Do not wear loose cloth- ing or jewelry. Contain long hair. Keep your hair, clothing, and gloves away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving parts.

11.Avoid accidental starting. Be sure switch is off before plugging in. Carrying tools with your finger on the switch or plugging in tools that have the switch on invites accidents.

12.Remove adjusting keys or wrenches before turning the tool on. A wrench or a key that is left attached to a rotating part of the tool may result in personal injury.

13.Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Proper footing and

balance enables better control of the tool in unexpected situations.

14.Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection must be used for appropriate conditions. Ordinary eye or sun glasses are NOT eye protection.

Tool Use and Care

15.Use clamps or other practical way to secure and support the workpiece to a stable platform. Holding the work by hand or against your body is unstable and may lead to loss of control.

16.Do not force tool. Use the correct tool for your application. The correct tool will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it is designed.

17.Do not use tool if switch does not turn it on or off. Any tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be repaired.

18.Disconnect the plug from the power source before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the tool.

Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting the tool accidentally.

19.Store idle tools out of reach of children and other untrained persons. Tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.

20.Maintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained tools with sharp cutting edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.

21.Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, and any other condition that may affect the tools operation. If damaged, have the tool ser- viced before using. Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained tools.

22.Use only accessories that are recom- mended by the manufacturer for your model. Accessories that may be suitable for one tool, may become hazardous when used on another tool.

SERVICE

23.Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel. Service or main- tenance performed by unqualified personnel could result in a risk of injury.

24.When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance section of this manual.

Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow Maintenance instructions may create a risk of electric shock or injury.

1.DANGER! Keep hands away from cutting area and blade. Keep your second hand on auxiliary handle, or motor housing. If both hands are holding the saw, they cannot be cut by the blade.

Keep your body positioned to either side of the saw blade, but not in line with the saw blade. KICKBACK could cause the saw to jump backwards. (See ???Causes and Oper- ator Prevention of Kickback???)

Do not reach underneath the work. The guard can not protect you from the blade

below the work. Do not attempt to remove cut material when blade is moving.

CAUTION: Blades coast after turn off. Wait until blade stops before grasping cut material.

2.Check lower guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate saw if lower guard does not move freely and close instantly. Never clamp or tie the lower guard into the open position. If saw is accidentally dropped, lower guard may be bent. Raise the lower guard with the Retract- ing Lever and make sure it moves freely and

does not touch the blade or any other part, in all angles and depths of cut.

To check lower guard, open lower guard by hand, then release and watch guard closure. Also check to see that Retracting Lever does not touch tool housing. Leaving blade exposed is VERY DANGEROUS and can lead to serious personal injury.

3.Check the operation and condition of the lower guard spring. If the guard and the spring are not operating properly, they must be serviced before use. Lower guard may operate sluggishly due to damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a buildup of debris.

4.Lower guard should be retracted manually only for special cuts such as ???Pocket Cuts??? and ???Compound Cuts.??? Raise lower guard by Retracting Lever. As soon as blade enters the material, lower guard must be released. For all other sawing, the lower guard should operate automatically.

5.Always observe that the lower guard is covering the blade before placing saw down on bench or floor. An unprotected, coasting blade will cause the saw to walk backwards, cutting whatever is in its path. Be aware of the time it takes for the blade to stop after switch is released.

6.NEVER hold piece being cut in your hands or across your leg. It is important to support the work properly to minimize body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.

7.Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing an operation where the cutting tool may contact hidden wiring or its own cord. Contact with a ???live??? wire will also make exposed metal parts of the tool ???live??? and shock the operator.

8.When ripping always use a rip fence or straight edge guide. This improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the chance for blade binding.

9.Always use blades with correct size and shape (diamond vs. round) arbor holes.

Blades that do not match the mounting hard-

ware of the saw will run eccentrically, causing loss of control.

10.Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolts. The blade washers and bolt were specially designed for your saw, for optimum performance and safety of opera- tion.

11.Causes and Operator Prevention of Kick- back:

Kickback is a sudden reaction to a pinched, bound or misaligned saw blade, causing an uncontrolled saw to lift up and out of the workpiece toward the operator.

When the blade is pinched or bound tightly by the kerf closing down, the blade stalls and the motor reaction drives the unit rapidly back toward the operator.

If the blade becomes twisted or misaligned in the cut, the teeth at the back edge of the blade can dig into the top surface of the wood causing the blade to climb out of the kerf and jump back toward operator.

Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper precau- tions as given below:

Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position your body and arm to allow you to resist KICKBACK forces.

KICKBACK forces can be controlled by the operator, if proper precautions are taken.

When blade is binding, or when interrupt- ing a cut for any reason, release the trig- ger and hold the saw motionless in the material until the blade comes to a com- plete stop. Never attempt to remove the saw from the work or pull the saw back- ward while the blade is in motion or KICK- BACK may occur. Investigate and take corrective actions to eliminate the cause of blade binding.

When restarting a saw in the workpiece, center the saw blade in the kerf and check that saw teeth are not engaged into the material. If saw blade is binding, it may walk up or KICKBACK from the workpiece as the saw is restarted.

Support large panels to minimize the risk of blade pinching and KICKBACK. Large

panels tend to sag under their own weight. Supports must be placed under the panel on both sides, near the line of cut and near the edge of the panel as shown in Fig. 1.

To minimize the risk of blade pinching and kickback. When cutting operation requires the resting of the saw on the workpiece, the saw should be rested on the larger portion and the smaller piece cut off.

Fig. 1 To avoid kickback, do support board or panel near the cut.

Fig. 2 Do not support board or panel away from the cut.

Do not use dull or damaged blade.

Unsharpened or improperly set blades pro- duce narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding and KICKBACK. Keep blade sharp and clean. Gum and wood pitch hard- ened on blades slows saw and increases potential for kickback. Keep blade clean by first removing it from tool, then cleaning it with gum and pitch remover, hot water or ker- osene. Never use gasoline.

Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must be tight and secure before

making cut. If blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause binding and KICKBACK.

Use extra caution when making a ???Pocket Cut??? into existing walls or other blind

areas. The protruding blade may cut objects that can cause KICKBACK. For pocket cuts, retract lower guard using Retracting Lever.

ALWAYS hold the tool firmly with both hands. NEVER place your hand or fingers

behind the saw. If kickback occurs, the saw could easily jump backwards over your hand, leading to serious personal injury.

Fig. 3

Never force the saw. Forcing the saw can cause uneven cuts, loss of accuracy, and possible kickback. Push the saw forward at

a speed so that the blade cuts without slow- ing.

12.Use extra caution when cutting damp wood, pressure treated lumber, or wood containing knots. Adjust speed of cut to maintain smooth advancement of tool without decrease in blade speed.

13.Adjustments. Before cutting be sure depth and bevel adjustments are tight.

14.Avoid Cutting Nails. Inspect for and remove all nails from lumber before cut- ting.

15.When operating the saw, keep the cord away from the cutting area and position it so that it will not be caught on the work- piece during the cutting operation. The tool is provided with a front grip and rear handle for two hand operation. Operate with proper hand support, proper work- piece support, and supply cord routing away from the work area.

WARNING: It is important to support the workpiece properly and to hold the saw

firmly to prevent loss of control which could cause personal injury. Fig. 4 illus- trates typical hand support of the saw.

Fig. 4 A typical illustration of proper hand support, workpiece support, and supply cord routing.

16.Place the wider portion of the saw base on that part of the workpiece which is solidly supported, not on the section that will fall off when the cut is made. As examples, Fig. 5 illustrates the RIGHT way to cut off the end of a board, and Fig. 6 the WRONG way. If the workpiece is short or small, clamp it down. DO NOT TRY TO HOLD

SHORT PIECES BY HAND!

Fig. 5

Fig. 6

17.Never attempt to saw with the circular saw held upside down in a vise. This is extremely dangerous and can lead to seri- ous accidents.

Fig. 7

18.WARNING: Blade coasts to stop after switch is released. Contact with coasting blade can cause serious injury. Before setting the tool down after completing a cut, be sure that the lower (telescoping) guard has closed and the blade has come to a complete stop.

19.Some material contains chemicals which may be toxic. Take caution to prevent dust inhalation and skin contact. Follow mate- rial supplier safety data.

FUNCTIONAL

DESCRIPTION

CAUTION:

???Always be sure that the tool is switched off and unplugged before adjusting or checking function on the tool.

001338

1

1. Clamping screw

001356

1.Bevel scale plate

2.Clamping screw

Adjusting depth of cut

CAUTION:

???After adjusting the depth of cut, always tighten the clamping screw securely.

Loosen the clamping screw on the depth guide and move the base up or down. At the desired depth of cut, secure the base by tightening the clamping screw.

For cleaner, safer cuts, set cut depth so that no more than one blade tooth projects below workpiece. Using proper cut depth helps to reduce potential for dangerous KICKBACKS which can cause personal injury.

Bevel cutting

Loosen the clamping screw on the bevel scale plate on the front of the base. Set for the desired angle (0?? - 45??) by tilting accordingly, then tighten the clamping screw securely.

1. Base

Sighting

For straight cuts, align the A position on the front of the base with your cutting line. For 45?? bevel cuts, align the B position with it.

001395

1

2

1.Lock-off button

2.Switch trigger

Switch action

CAUTION:

???Before plugging in the tool, always check to see that the switch trigger actuates properly and returns to the ???OFF??? position when released.

To prevent the switch trigger from being accidentally pulled, a lock-off button is provided. To start the tool, push in the lock- off button and pull the switch trigger. Release the switch trig- ger to stop.

ASSEMBLY

1.Wrench

2.Shaft lock

Electric brake

This tool is equipped with an electric blade brake. If the tool consistently fails to quickly stop blade after switch trigger release, have tool serviced at a Makita service center.

The blade brake system is not a substitute for lower guard.

NEVER USE TOOL WITHOUT A FUNCTIONING LOWER

GUARD. SERIOUS PERSONAL INJURY CAN RESULT.

CAUTION:

???Always be sure that the tool is switched off and unplugged before carrying out any work on the tool.

Removing or installing saw blade

CAUTION:

???Be sure the blade is installed with teeth pointing up at the front of the tool.

???Use only the Makita wrench to install or remove the blade.

To remove the blade, press the shaft lock so that the blade cannot revolve and use the wrench to loosen the hex bolt clockwise. Then remove the hex bolt, outer flange and blade.

1.Inner flange

2.Saw blade

3.Outer flange

4.Hex bolt

OPERATION

001459

3

1.Rear handle

2.Front grip

3.Base

To install the blade, follow the removal procedure in reverse.

BE SURE TO TIGHTEN THE HEX BOLT COUNTER-

CLOCKWISE SECURELY.

When changing blade, make sure to also clean upper and lower blade guards of accumulated sawdust. Such efforts do not, however, replace the need to check lower guard opera- tion before each use.

CAUTION:

???Be sure to move the tool forward in a straight line gently. Forcing or twisting the tool will result in overheating the motor and dangerous kickback, possibly causing severe injury.

Hold the tool firmly. The tool is provided with both a front grip and rear handle. Use both to best grasp the tool. If both hands are holding saw, they cannot be cut by the blade. Set the base on the workpiece to be cut without the blade making any contact. Then turn the tool on and wait until the blade attains full speed. Now simply move the tool forward over the workpiece surface, keeping it flat and advancing smoothly until the sawing is completed.

To get clean cuts, keep your sawing line straight and your speed of advance uniform. If the cut fails to properly follow your intended cut line, do not attempt to turn or force the tool back to the cut line. Doing so may bind the blade and lead to dangerous kickback and possible serious injury. Release switch, wait for blade to stop and then withdraw tool. Realign tool on new cut line, and start cut again. Attempt to avoid positioning which exposes operator to chips and wood dust being ejected from saw. Use eye protection to help avoid injury.

001479

1

1. Rip fence (Guide rule)

Rip fence (Guide rule)

The handy rip fence allows you to do extra-accurate straight cuts. Simply slide the rip fence up snugly against the side of the workpiece and secure it in position with the screw on the front of the base. It also makes repeated cuts of uniform width possible.

MAINTENANCE

1. Limit mark

1.Brush holder cap

2.Screwdriver

CAUTION:

???Always be sure that the tool is switched off and unplugged before attempting to perform inspection or maintenance.

Replacing carbon brushes

Remove and check the carbon brushes regularly. Replace when they wear down to the limit mark. Keep the carbon brushes clean and free to slip in the holders. Both carbon brushes should be replaced at the same time. Use only iden- tical carbon brushes.

Use a screwdriver to remove the brush holder caps. Take out the worn carbon brushes, insert the new ones and secure the brush holder caps.

After replacing brushes, plug in the tool and break in brushes by running tool with no load for about 10 minutes. Then check the tool while running and electric brake operation when releasing the switch trigger. If electric brake is not working well, ask your local Makita service center for repair.

To maintain product SAFETY and RELIABILITY, repairs, any other maintenance or adjustment should be performed by Makita Authorized or Factory Service Centers, always using Makita replacement parts.

Cut

Makita U.S.A., Inc.

14930 Northam Street

La Mirada, CA 90638-5753

Fold

First-Class

Postage

Required

Post Office will not deliver without proper postage.

Paste Paste Paste Paste Paste Paste

STREET ADRESS

CITY

BE SURE TO COMPLETE THE CUSTOMER???S PORTION OF THIS FORM AND RETAIN FOR YOUR RECORDS.

Paste Paste Paste Paste Paste Paste

When you need service: Send complete tool (prepaid) to one of the Makita Factory Service Centers listed, or to an Authorized Makita Service Center. Be sure to attach a letter to the outside of the carton detailing the problem with your tool.

Date Purchased

Dealer???s Name & Address

Model No.

Serial No.