Thank you for purchasing this CLARKE 160 mm Plunge Saw.
Read this manual fully before you use this product and follow the instructions
carefully. In doing so you will ensure the safety of yourself and that of others
around you, and you can look forward to your purchase giving you long and
satisfactory service.
GUARANTEE
This product is guaranteed against faulty manufacture for a period of 12
months from the date of purchase. Please keep your receipt which will be
required as proof of purchase.
This guarantee is invalid if the product is found to have been abused or
tampered with in any way, or not used for the purpose for which it was
intended.
Faulty goods should be returned to their place of purchase, no product can
be returned to us without prior permission. This guarantee does not effect your
statutory rights.
CARTON CONTENTS
The following items should be supplied in the carton. If any parts are missing or
damaged, please contact the Clarke dealer where you purchased the tool.
• 1 x Plunge Saw
• 1 x Guide Rail Assembly (2 halves and a joining bar)
• 1 x TCT Blade - 160 mm Ø x 20 mm (bore) x 2.4 mm (thickness).
1. Keep the work area clean and well lit. Cluttered 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 children and bystanders away while operating a power tool.
Distractions can cause you to lose control.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
1. Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way. Do not
use adaptor plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools. Unmodified plugs and
matching outlets will reduce the risk of electric shock.
2. Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a
power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.
3. Do not abuse the cable. Never use it for carrying, pulling or unplugging the
power tool. Keep the cable away from heat, oil, sharp edges or moving
parts. Damaged or entangled cables increase the risk of electric shock.
4. When operating a power tool outdoors, use an extension cable suitable for
outdoor use. Use of a cable suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of
electric shock
5. If operating the power tool in a damp location is unavoidable, use a
residual current device (RCD) protected supply.
PERSONAL SAFETY
1. Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a
power tool. Do not use a power tool while you are tired or under the influence of
drugs, alcohol or medication. A moment of inattention while operating power tools
may result in personal injury.
2. Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Safety equipment such
as dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection used
for appropriate conditions will reduce personal injuries.
3. Avoid accidental starting. Make sure that the switch is in the off position
before plugging in. Carrying power tools with your finger on the switch or
plugging in power tools that have the switch on invites accidents.
4. Remove any wrench before turning the power tool on. A wrench left
attached to a rotating part may result in personal injury.
5. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. This
enables better control of the power tool in unexpected situations.
6. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewellery. Keep your hair,
clothing and gloves away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewellery or
long hair can be caught in moving parts.
POWER TOOL USE AND CARE
1. Do not force the power tool. Use the correct accessories for your application. The
correct power tool will do the job better and safer at the rate which it was designed
for.
2. Do not use the power tool if the switch does not turn it on and off. Any
power tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and
must be repaired.
3. Disconnect the plug from the power source before changing accessories, or storing power tools. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of
starting the power tool accidentally.
4. Store idle tools out of the reach of children and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the power tool or these instructions to operate it. Power tools
are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
5. Maintain power tools. Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts,
breakage of parts and any other condition that may affect the power
tool’s operation. If damaged, have the power tool repaired before use.
Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained power tools.
6. Use the power tool and accessories in accordance with these instructions
and in the manner intended, taking into account the working conditions
and the work to be performed. Use of the power tool for operations
different from intended could result in a hazardous situation.
7. The performance of this tool may vary, depending upon variations in line
voltage. Extension cable usage may also affect performance.
SERVICE
1. Have your power tool serviced by qualified service personnel using only identical
replacement parts.
This will ensure that the safety of the power tool is maintained.
CIRCULAR SAW SAFETY WARNINGS
CIRCULAR SAW - CUTTING PROCEDURES
a. Keep hands away from cutting area and the blade. Keep your second hand on
the auxiliary handle, or motor housing. If both hands are holding the saw, they
cannot be cut by the blade.
b. Do not reach underneath the workpiece. The guard cannot protect you from the
blade below the workpiece.
c. Adjust the cutting depth to the thickness of the workpiece. Less than a full tooth
of the blade teeth should be visible below the workpiece.
d. Never hold the piece being cut in your hands or across your leg. Secure the
workpiece to a stable platform. It is important to support the work properly to
minimise body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.
e. Hold the power 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 power tool
“live” and could give the operator an electric shock.
f. When ripping, always use a rip fence or straight edge guide. This improves the
accuracy of cut and reduces the chance of blade binding
g. Always use blades with the correct size and shape of arbor holes. Blades that do
not match the mounting hardware of the saw will run eccentrically, causing loss
of control.
h. Never use damaged or incorrect blade washers or bolt. The blade washers and
bolt were specially designed for your saw, for optimum performance and safety
of operation.
KICKBACK CAUSES AND RELATED WARNINGS
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 saw misuse and/or
incorrect operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper
precautions as given below.
a. Maintain a firm grip with both hands on the saw and position your arms to resist
kickback forces. Position your body to either side of the blade, but not in line with
the blade. Kickback could cause the saw to jump backwards, but kickback
forces can be controlled by the operator, if proper precautions are taken.
b. When the 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 the blade binding.
c. When restarting a saw in the workpiece, centre the saw blade in the kerf so that
the saw teeth are not engaged into the material. If a saw blade binds, it may
walk up, or kickback from the workpiece as the saw is restarted.
d. Support large panels to minimise 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.
e. Do not use dull or damaged blades. Un-sharpened or improperly set blades
produce a narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade binding and kickback.
f. Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers must be tight and secure before
making the cut. If the blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause binding
and kickback.
g. Use extra caution when sawing into existing walls or other blind areas. The
protruding blade may cut hidden objects that can cause kickback.
BLADE SAFETY WARNINGS
a. The maximum speed marked on the tool shall not exceed the maximum speed
marked on the blade.
b. Cracked circular saw blades must be scrapped (repairing is not permitted).
Composite (tipped) circular saw blades, where the tip dimension is reduced to
less than 1 mm, shall be taken out of service.
c. Fastening screws and nuts shall be tightened using the tools supplied.
d. Clamping surfaces shall be cleaned to remove any dirt, grease, oil or water.
e. Do not use loose rings or bushes to “make up” bore sizes on circular saw blades.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLUNGE TYPE SAWS
GUARD FUNCTION
a. Check the guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate the saw if
the guard does not move freely and enclose the blade instantly. Never clamp or
tie the guard so that the blade is exposed. If the saw is accidentally dropped, the
guard may be bent. Check to make sure that the guard moves freely and does
not touch the blade or any other part, in all angles and depths of cut.
b. Check the operation of the guard return spring. If the guard and the spring are
not operating properly, they must be serviced before use. The guard may
operate sluggishly due to damaged parts, gummy deposits, or a build-up of
debris.
c. Make sure that the base plate of the saw will not shift while performing a “plunge
cut”. Blade shifting sideways will cause binding and likely kick back.
d. Always observe that the guard is covering the blade before placing the 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 the switch is released.
RIVING KNIFE FUNCTION
a. Use the appropriate saw blade for the riving knife. For the riving knife to function,
the body of the blade must be thinner than the riving knife and the cutting width
of the blade must be wider than the thickness of the riving knife.
b. Adjust the riving knife as described in this instruction manual. Incorrect spacing,
positioning and alignment can make the riving knife ineffective in preventing
kickback.
c. For the riving knife to work, it must be engaged in the workpiece. The riving knife
is ineffective in preventing kickback during short cuts.
d. Do not operate the saw if the riving knife is bent. Even a light interference can
WARNING: READ THESE ELECTRICAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FULLY
BEFORE CONNECTING THE PRODUCT TO THE MAINS SUPPLY.
This product is provided with a standard 13 amp, 230 volt (50Hz), BS 1363 plug,
for connection to a standard, domestic electrical supply. Should the plug
need changing, make sure that a plug of identical specification is used.
WARNING: THE WIRES IN THE CABLE ARE COLOURED AS FOLLOWS:
BLUE = NEUTRAL BROWN = LIVE
If the colours of the wires in the power cable do not correspond with the
markings on the terminals of your plug, proceed as follows.
• Connect the blue wire
to the terminal which
is marked N.
• Connect the brown
wire to the terminal
which is marked L.
We recommend that this plunge saw is connected to the mains supply via a
Residual Current Device (RCD)
If in doubt, consult a qualified electrician. DO NOT attempt any repairs yourself
This symbol indicates that this is a Class II product, and does not
require an earth connection.
1. Insert the joining bar half way into
one of the rails and secure using 2
of the set screws on the joining
bar.
2. Slide the second rail over the
other half of the joining bar until
the rails are touching and secure using the remaining 2 set screws on the
joining bar.
USING THE RAILS
NOTE: Before using for the first time, perform a full length cut on a scrap piece
of wood to cut the rubber lip on the rails flush to the blade.
1. Place the plunge saw onto the
guide rails as shown.
2. Slide the plunge release button
upward and squeeze the on/off
trigger to start the saw.
3. Push the saw down until you
reach the set cutting depth.
• Remember to add the
thickness of the rails to your
measured cutting depth
(approximately 5 mm).
4. Push the saw forwards to make the cut.
5. Release the on/off trigger and allow the saw to spring up when the saw
cutting is complete.
6. If you are performing a mitre cut
using the rail, you may need to fit
the anti-tilt bracket as shown using
the clamp nut supplied.