Black & Decker cat 3027-90 - Manual (Page 9)

OPERATION
WARNING: It is important to support the work properly and to hold the saw
firmly to prevent loss of control which could cause personal injury.
ALWAYS DISCONNECT SAW BEFORE MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS! Place the work
with its "good” side—the one on which appearance is most important—down.
The saw cuts upward, so any splintering will be on the work face that is up when
you saw it.
Support the work so that the cut will be on your right. Place the wider portion of
the saw shoe on that part of the work piece which is solidly supported, not on the
section that will fall off when the cut is made. As examples. Figure 9 illustrates
the RIGHT way to cut off the end of a board, and Figure 10 the WRONG way. If
the work is short or small, clamp it down. Don't try to hold short pieces by hand!
FIG. 9 -RIGHT FIG. 10 - WRONG
Draw the required guide lines. Then rest the front of the saw shoe on the work
with the guide edge lined up with the drawn guide line. Before starting the motor,
push the blade lightly against the edge of the work and then back off about
Now, start the motor, and when the blade gains full speed, push the saw forward
and begin sawing. As you begin cutting, the lower blade guard will automatically
begin to telescope into the upper blade guard. This telescoping action will continue
as you advance the saw until it reaches the position in Figure 9
Push the saw forward at a speed which allows the blade to cut without laboring.
Hardness and toughness can vary even in the same piece of material, and a
knotty or damp section can put a heavy load on the saw. When this happens, push
the saw more slowly, but hard enough to keep it working without much decrease
in speed. Forcing it beyond this makes for rough cuts, inaccuracy and overheating
of the motor.
Should your cut begin to go off the line, don’t try to force the saw back on. Re­
lease trigger and allow blade to come to a complete stop. Then you can withdraw
the saw, sight anew, and start a new cut a trifle inside the wrong one. In any
event, withdraw the saw if you must shift the cut. Forcing a correction inside the
cut can stall the saw and perhaps spoil the work. IF SAW STALLS, RELEASE THE
TRIGGER, BACK THE SAW UNTIL IT IS LOOSE. BE SURE BLADE IS STRAIGHT IN
THE CUT BEFORE RESTARTING.
As you finish a cut, release the trigger and allow the blade to stop before lifting
the saw from the work. As you lift the saw the spring-tensioned telescoping guard
will automatically close under the saw. Remember the blade is exposed until this
occurs; never reach under the work for any reason whatsoever. When you have to
retract the telescoping guard manually (as is necessary for starting pocket cuts)
always use the retracting lever.