600019417. Never force the saw. Push the saw forward at aspeed so that the blade cuts without slowing.Forcing the saw can cause uneven cuts, loss ofaccuracy, and possible kickback.Lower guard function18. Check lower guard for proper closing beforeeach use. Do not operate the saw if lowerguard does not move freely and close instantly.Never clamp or tie the lower guard into theopen position. If saw is accidentally dropped,lower guard may be bent. Raise the lower guardwith the retracting handle and make sure it movesfreely and does not touch the blade or any otherpart, in all angles and depths of cut.19. Check the operation of the lower guard spring.If the guard and the spring are not operatingproperly, they must be serviced before use.Lower guard may operate sluggishly due todamaged parts, gummy deposits, or a build-up ofdebris.20. Lower guard may be retracted manually onlyfor special cuts such as "plunge cuts" and"compound cuts". Raise lower guard byretracting handle and as soon as blade entersthe material, the lower guard must be released.For all other sawing, the lower guard shouldoperate automatically.21. Always observe that the lower guard iscovering the blade before placing saw downon bench or floor. An unprotected, coastingblade will cause the saw to walk backwards,cutting whatever is in its path. Be aware of thetime it takes for the blade to stop after switch isreleased.22. To check lower guard, open lower guard byhand, then release and watch guard closure.Also check to see that retracting handle doesnot touch tool housing. Leaving blade exposedis VERY DANGEROUS and can lead to seriouspersonal injury.Additional safety warnings23. Use extra caution when cutting damp wood,pressure treated lumber, or wood containingknots. Maintain smooth advancement of toolwithout decrease in blade speed to avoidoverheating the blade tips.24. Do not attempt to remove cut material whenblade is moving. Wait until blade stops beforegrasping cut material.Blades coast after turn off.25. Avoid cutting nails. Inspect for and remove allnails from lumber before cutting.26. Place the wider portion of the saw base on thatpart of the workpiece which is solidlysupported, not on the section that will fall offwhen the cut is made. As examples, Fig. 1illustrates the RIGHT way to cut off the end ofa board, and Fig. 2 the WRONG way. If theworkpiece is short or small, clamp it down. DONOT TRY TO HOLD SHORT PIECES BY HAND!Fig. 1000147Fig. 200015027. Before setting the tool down after completinga cut, be sure that the lower guard has closedand the blade has come to a complete stop.28. Never attempt to saw with the circular sawheld upside down in a vise. This is extremelydangerous and can lead to serious accidents.