. AVOIDING KICKBACK

When the blade of a circular saw gets pinched by the wood, the power of the motor can force the saw backward—a safety hazard called kickback. In extreme cases, the saw can jump away from the material with the blade still spinning, harming anything in its path. To prevent kickback when using a circular saw, follow these guidelines:

■ Use a sharp, carbide-tipped blade.

■ Cut in a straight line.

■ Let the saw do the cutting—don’t force it. Forcing the cut can cause the blade to bind and kick back.

■ Always provide proper support for the stock. Avoid setups that al­low the material being cut to pinch the blade (see the illustration below).

■

If a kickback does occur, release the saw trigger immediately and let the blade stop. As long as the blade guard is working properly, there is little danger of injury. Don’t resume cutting until the cause of the kickback is determined and corrected.