Chicago Electric 94245 User Manual

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7-1/4 INCH CIRCULAR SA

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94245

ASSEMBLY AND OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Due to continuing improvements, actual product may differ slightly from the product described herein.

3491 Mission Oaks Blvd., Camarillo, CA 93011

Visit our Web site at http://www.harborfreight.com

TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY,

READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL WARNINGS

AND INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE USE.

Copyright
of this manual or any artwork contained herein may be reproduced in any shape
or form without the express written consent of Harbor Freight Tools.

For technical questions and replacement parts, please call 1-800-444-3353.

©

2006 by Harbor Freight Tools®. All rights reserved. No portion

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SPECIFICATIONS

SAVE THIS MANUAL

E194601

You will need the manual for the safety warnings and precautions, assembly instructions,
operating and maintenance procedures, parts list and diagram. Keep your invoice with this
manual. Write the invoice number on the inside of the front cover. Keep the manual and
invoice in a safe and dry place for future reference.

GENERAL SAFETY RULES

WARNING!

READ AND UNDERSTAND ALL INSTRUCTIONS. Failure to follow all instructions
listed below may result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious injury.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS

Work Area

1. Keep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered benches and dark areas invite

accidents.

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.

Distractions can cause you to lose control. Protect others in the work area from debris
such as chips and sparks. Provide barriers or shields as needed.

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Page 2

Electrical Safety

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

grounded.

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

6. Grounded tools must be plugged into an outlet properly installed and grounded

in accordance with all codes and ordinances. Never remove the grounding
prong or modify the plug in any way. Do not use any adapter plugs. Check with
a qualified electrician if you are in doubt as to whether the outlet is properly
grounded. If the tools should electrically malfunction or break down, grounding

provides a low resistance path to carry electricity away from the user.

7. 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 electrician to install a polarized outlet. Do not change the plug in any
way. Double insulation

cord and grounded power supply system.

eliminates the need for the three wire grounded power

8. Do not abuse the Power Cord. Never use the Power Cord to carry the tools or

pull the Plug from an outlet. Keep the Power Cord away from heat, oil, sharp
edges, or moving parts. Replace damaged Power Cords immediately. Damaged

Power Cords increase the risk of electric shock.

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

Personal Safety

10. Stay alert. Watch what you are doing, and use common sense when operating a
power tool. Do not use a power 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.

11. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing 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.

12. Avoid accidental starting. Be sure the Power Switch is off before plugging in.
Carrying power tools with your finger on the Power Switch, or plugging in power tools
with the Power Switch on, invites accidents.

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

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14. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Proper footing
and balance enables better control of the power tool in unexpected situations.

15. Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask, nonskid safety
shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection must be used for appropriate conditions.

Tool Use and Care

16. Use clamps (not included) or other practical ways 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.

17. Do not force the 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.

18. Do not use the power tool if the Power Switch does not turn it on or off. Any tool
that cannot be controlled with the Power Switch is dangerous and must be replaced.

19. Disconnect the Power Cord 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.

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

21. Maintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained
tools with a sharp cutting edge are less likely to bind and are easier to control. Do not
use a damaged tool. Tag damaged tools “Do not use” until repaired.

22. Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, and any

other condition that may affect the tool’s operation. If damaged, have the tool
serviced before using. Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained tools.

23. Use only accessories that are recommended by the manufacturer for your
model. Accessories that may be suitable for one tool may become hazardous when

used on another tool.

Service

24. Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel. Service or
maintenance performed by unqualified personnel could result in a risk of injury.

25. When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts. Follow instructions

in the

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

“Inspection, Maintenance, And Cleaning”

section of this manual. Use of

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SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES FOR THIS PRODUCT

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 Kickback.) Do not reach underneath the work. The guard cannot
protect you from the blade below the work.

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. With the power to the saw disconnected, raise the lower guard with the
Retracting Handle and make sure it moves freely and does not touch the blade or any
other part, in all angles and depths of cut.

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 Handle. 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.
Use vises, clamps, or other appropriate supports to securely hold the workpiece.

7. Hold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when performing an operation where
the cutting tool may contact hidden wiring. 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 hardware 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
operation.

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11. Causes and Operator Prevention of Kickback: 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 the operator. Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or
incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper
precautions as given below:

12. Maintain a firm grip on the saw and position your body and arm in a way that
allows you to resist kickback forces. Kickback forces can be controlled by the
operator, if proper precautions are taken.

13. When blade is binding, or when interrupting a cut for any reason, release the

trigger and hold the saw motionless in the material until the blade comes to a
complete stop. Never attempt to remove the saw from the work or pull the saw
backward while the blade is in motion or kickback may occur. Investigate and take

corrective actions to eliminate the cause of blade binding.

14. When restarting a saw in the workpiece, center the saw blade in the kerf and
check that 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.

15. 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.

16. Do not use dull or damaged blade. Unsharpened or improperly set blades produce
narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding, and kickback.

17. Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must be tight and secure before
making cut. If blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it will cause binding and kickback.

18. 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.

19. Maintain labels and nameplates on the Circular Saw. These carry important
information. If unreadable or missing, contact Harbor Freight Tools for a replacement.

20. Always wear ANSI-approved safety impact eye goggles and heavy work gloves
when using the Circular Saw. Using personal safety devices reduce the risk for
injury. Safety impact eye goggles and heavy work gloves are available from Harbor
Freight Tools.

21. Maintain a safe working environment. Keep the work area well lit. Make sure there
is adequate surrounding workspace. Always keep the work area free of obstructions,
grease, oil, trash, and other debris. Do not use a power tool in areas near flammable
chemicals, dusts, and vapors. Do not use this product in a damp or wet location.

22. Avoid unintentional starting. Make sure you are prepared to begin work before
turning on the Circular Saw.

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23. Do not force the Circular Saw. This tool will do the work better and safer at the speed
and capacity for which it was designed.

24. Always unplug the Circular Saw from its electrical outlet before performing any

inspection, maintenance, or cleaning procedures.

25. Never leave the Circular Saw unattended while running. Turn power off if you have
to leave the Circular Saw.

26. Before each use, check all nuts, bolts, and screws for tightness.

27. Keep extension cord off the ground and away from water.

28. Always connect the Line Cord to a Ground protected electrical outlet.

29. WARNING! People with pacemakers should consult their physician(s) before
using this product. Electromagnetic fields in close proximity to a heart pacemaker
could cause interference to or failure of the pacemaker.
In addition, people with pacemakers should adhere to the following:

• Avoid operating power tools alone.

• Don’t use a power tool with the power switch locked on.

• Be certain that the tool is properly grounded. A ground fault interrupt (GFCI) system
is also a good precaution. This inexpensive device is a good safety measure because
it prevents a sustained electrical shock.

• Properly maintain and inspect all tools before use to avoid electrical shock.

30. Some dust created by power sanding, sawing, grinding, drilling, and other construction
activities, contains chemicals known (to the State of California) to cause cancer, birth
defects or other reproductive harm. Some examples of these chemicals are: lead from
lead-based paints, crystalline silica from bricks and cement or other masonry products,
arsenic and chromium from chemically treated lumber. Your risk from these exposures
varies, depending on how often you do this type of work. To reduce your exposure to
these chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and work with approved safety
equipment, such as those dust masks that are specially designed to filter out
microscopic particles. (California Health & Safety Code § 25249.5,

et seq.

)

GROUNDING

WARNING!

Improperly connecting the grounding wire can result in the risk of electric shock.
Check with a qualified electrician if you are in doubt as to whether the outlet is
properly grounded. Do not modify the power cord plug provided with the tool or
product. Never remove the grounding prong from the plug. Do not use the tool if
the power cord or plug is damaged. If damaged, have it repaired by a service
facility before use. If the plug will not fit the outlet, have a proper outlet installed by
a qualified electrician.

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Grounded Tools with Three Prong Plugs

1. Tools marked with “Grounding Required” have a three wire cord and three prong
grounding plug. The plug must be connected to a properly grounded outlet. If the tool
should electrically malfunction or break down, grounding provides a low resistance
path to carry electricity away from the user, reducing the risk of electric shock. (See
Figure A.)

2. The grounding prong in the plug is connected through the green wire inside the cord to
the grounding system in the tool. The green wire in the cord must be the only wire
connected to the tool’s grounding system and must never be attached to an electrically
“live” terminal. (See Figure A.)

3. Your tool must be plugged into an appropriate outlet, properly installed and grounded
in accordance with all codes and ordinances. The plug and outlet should look like
those in the following illustration. (See Figure A.)

Figure A

Figure B

Double Insulated Tools with Two Prong Plugs

4. This product has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other) as a feature to
reduce the risk of electric shock. 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 electrician. Never use with an extension cord unless plug can be fully
inserted. Do not alter the plug.”

5. Tools marked “Double Insulated” do not require grounding. They have a special double
insulation system which satisfies OSHA requirements and complies with the
applicable standards of Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., the Canadian Standard
Association, and the National Electrical Code. (See Figure B above.)

6. Double insulated tools may be used in either of the 120 volt outlets shown in the
following illustration. (See Figure B above.)

EXTENSION CORDS

1. Grounded tools require a three wire extension cord. Double Insulated tools can use
either a two or three wire extension cord.

2. As the distance from the supply outlet increases, you must use a heavier gauge
extension cord. Using extension cords with inadequately sized wire causes a serious
drop in voltage, resulting in loss of power and possible tool damage. (See Table A.)

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3. The smaller the gauge number of the wire, the greater the capacity of the cord. For
example, a 14 gauge cord can carry a higher current than a 16 gauge cord. (See Table
A.)

4. When using more than one extension cord to make up the total length, make sure
each cord contains at least the minimum wire size required. (See Table A.)

5. If you are using one extension cord for more than one tool, add the nameplate amps
and use the sum to determine the required minimum cord size. (See Table A.)

6. If you are using an extension cord outdoors, make sure it is marked with the suffix “W­A” (“W” in Canada) to indicate it is acceptable for outdoor use.

7. Make sure your extension cord is properly wired and in good electrical condition.
Always replace a damaged extension cord or have it repaired by a qualified
electrician before using it.

8. Protect your extension cords from sharp objects, excessive heat, and damp or wet
areas.

Table A

RECOMMENDED MINIMUM WIRE GAUGE FOR EXTENSION CORDS*

(120 VOLT)

NAMEPLATE

AMPERES

(At Full Load)

25

Feet

0 – 2.0 18 18 18 18 16

2.1 – 3.4 18 18 18 16 14

3.5 – 5.0 18 18 16 14 12

5.1 – 7.0 18 16 14 12 12

7.1 – 12.0 16 14 12 10 -

12.1 – 16.0 14 12 10 - -

16.1 – 20.0 12 10 - - ­* Based on limiting the line voltage drop to five volts at 150% of the rated amperes.

EXTENSION CORD LENGTH

50

Feet

75

Feet

100

Feet

150

Feet

SYMBOLOGY

Table B

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UNPACKING

When unpacking, check to make sure that the following parts are included: Circular Saw,
Hex Wrench, and Guide Fence. Refer to the Assembly section, and the Assembly Drawing
and Parts List at the end of this manual. If any parts are missing or broken, please call
Harbor Freight Tools at the number on the cover of this manual as soon as possible.

OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS

Adjusting the Saw Prior to Cutting

CAUTION: Always make sure the Power Cord is unplugged from its electrical outlet
prior to making any adjustments to the tool.

1. To adjust the angle of blade from 0 to 45 degrees, loosen Wing Nut (10) and move

Base Plate (4) down, observing the degrees indicated on the Angle Bracket (6).
Tighten Wing Nut (10).

2. To adjust the depth of the cut, lift Depth Lever (38) and move Base Plate (4) down (or

up) while observing the amount of saw blade exposed under Base Plate. Push down
on the Depth Lever (38) to lock in new depth setting.

Handle Grip

Depth Lever (38)

Controls and Adjustments

Switch Lock ButtonSwitch (61) Trigger

Base Plate (4)

Angle Adjust
Wing Nut (10)

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Screw (3)

Scale

Guide Fence (1)

Prepare Material Before Cutting

1. Support large panels to minimize risk of blade pinching and saw kickback.

2. Use the supplied Guide Fence (1) when ripping material by sliding it into the Base
Plate (4), and tightening Screw (3).

3. Securely clamp material to be cut to work bench.

4. Be cautious that Circular Saw does not cut into supports or workbench.

5. Use the appropriate type of blade for the material you are cutting.

General Cutting

Caution: Verify that Saw Blade (14) is securely tightened and both angle and height
adjusting nuts and levers are tight. Read and understand all safety precautions listed
on page 5.

1. If a straight cut is desired, slide the Guide Fence (1) into the side of the Circular Saw
and tighten with Screw (3), or clamp a straight edge to the material to guide the saw on
a straight path. Refer to photo above.

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