Before attempting to operate the machine, it is essential that you read this
manual thoroughly and carefully follow all instructions given. In doing so you
will ensure the safety of yourself and that of others around you, and you can
also look forward to the product giving you long and satisfactory service.
GUARANTEE
This CLARKE product is guaranteed against faulty manufacture for a period of
12 months from the date of purchase. Please keep your receipt 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.
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
Recycle unwanted materials instead of disposing of them as waste. All
unwanted accessories and packaging should be sorted and taken to a
recycling centre for disposal in a manner which is compatible with the
environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL RECYCLING POLICY
Through purchase of this product, the customer is taking on the
obligation to deal with the WEEE in accordance with the WEEE
regulations in relation to the treatment, recycling & recovery and
environmentally sound disposal of the WEEE.
In effect, this means that this product must not be disposed of with general
household waste but according to the laws governing Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment (WEEE) at a recognised disposal facility.
CAUTION: FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE PRECAUTIONS COULD RESULT IN
PERSONAL INJURY, AND/OR DAMAGE TO PROPERTY.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
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. Anyone
entering the work area must wear personal protective equipment.
Distractions can cause you to lose control and fragments of work or a
broken disc may fly away and cause injury.
4. Store power tools properly when not in use. Abrasive products should be
stored in a dry, secure place out of the reach of children.
5. Please read these instructions carefully and retain for future reference.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
1. Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way.
Do not use adapter 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 cord. Never use the cable 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.
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 personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protection. Safety
equipment such as dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hearing protection
and a workshop apron capable of stopping small abrasive or workpiece
fragments.
3. Avoid accidental starting. Ensure the switch is in the off position before
plugging in. Plugging in power tools that have the switch on invites
accidents.
4. Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turning the power tool on. A
wrench or a key left attached to a rotating part of the power tool 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. Dress
properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewellery.
6. Keep your hair, clothing and gloves away from moving parts. Loose
clothes, jewellery or long hair can be caught in moving parts. Keep the
work area clean and tidy.
7. Regularly clean the power tool’s air vents. The motor fan will draw dust
inside the housing and accumulation of material could cause electrical
hazards.
8. Avoid operator fatigue. Stop the power tool at regular intervals for a short
break to rest hands and arms.
9. Maintain your tools. Keep all handles and grips dry and clean.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
1. Position the power cable so that it cannot be inadvertently pulled or
pinched, and where it does not cause a trip hazard.
2. This machine is designed for indoor environments and must not be used for
other purposes.
3. If the machine requires repair, always contact your Clarke dealer. Always
insist on original spare parts. Repairs carried out by unauthorized persons
may be dangerous and invalidate the guarantee.
4. This machine must only be used by adults. Children should not be allowed
to play with this appliance.
5. Do not use extension power cables.
6. Before cleaning or maintenance operations, always unplug the machine
from the power supply.
POWER TOOL USE AND CARE
1. Do not force the machine. Use the correct power tool for your application.
It will do a better and safer job at the rate for which it was designed.
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 power tool from the power supply before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the tool. These measures will
reduce the risk of the power tool starting accidently.
4. Store power tools out of the reach of children and do not allow persons unfamiliar with these instructions to operate the power tool. Power tools are
potentially dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
5. Maintain power tools in top condition. Keep tools/ machines clean for the
best and safest performance. Check for misalignment or binding of
moving parts, broken parts, or any 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 recommended accessories. The use of improper accessories could be
hazardous.
7. Machine cleanliness. Do not allow the ventilation slots in the machine to
become blocked with dust.
8. Check the power tool for damage before using the machine. Any
damaged part should be inspected to ensure that it will operate properly
and perform its intended function. Check for alignment of moving parts,
breakage of parts, mountings, and any other condition that may affect the
machine’s operation. Any damage should be properly repaired or the part
replaced. If in doubt, DO NOT use the machine. Consult your local dealer.
SERVICING
1. When necessary, have your power tools serviced or repaired by a qualified
person using identical replacement parts. This will ensure that the safety of
the power tool is maintained.
ADDITIONAL PRECAUTIONS FOR BANDSAWS
1. Always check safety guards are in place and functioning correctly before
switching the machine on.
2. Always use a push stick, especially on small workpieces.
3. Always use the appropriate saw blade for the material being cut.
4. Never use the machine if the electric cable or plug is in poor condition.
5. Never allow the ventilation slots in the motor to become blocked.
6. Never touch the blade immediately after use, when changing the blade
always allow time for it to cool.
7. Never use bent or cracked blades. (Replacement blades are available
from your Clarke dealer.
8. Replace table insert if the slot has become enlarged.
9. When cutting wood, ensure all nails or fastenings have been removed
beforehand. Nails will damage the saw blade.
10. When cutting boards in an upright position use a suitable push block to
prevent kickbacks.
11. When cutting round timber stock, use a suitable jig or fixture to keep the
work from turning.
12. Always ensure the blade is fully tightened and correctly adjusted before
use.
13. Keep the mains cable well away from the machine and ensure an
adequate electrical supply is close at hand so that the operation is not
restricted by the length of the cable.
14. Switch the machine off immediately the task is completed.
SAFETY SYMBOLS
The following safety symbols may be found on the machine.
Ensure that the outer sheath of the cable is firmly held by the clamp
Neutral
(Blue)
Live
(Brown)
Earth
(Green and Yellow)
WARNING: READ THESE ELECTRICAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
THOROUGHLY BEFORE CONNECTING THE PRODUCT TO THE MAINS
SUPPLY.
Before switching the product on, make sure that the voltage of your electricity supply is
the same as that indicated on the rating plate. This product is designed to operate on
230VAC 50Hz. Connecting it to any other power source may cause damage.
This product may be fitted with a non-rewireable plug. If it is necessary to change the
fuse in the plug, the fuse cover must be refitted. If the fuse cover becomes lost or
damaged, the plug must not be used until a suitable replacement is obtained.
If the plug has to be changed because it is not suitable for your socket, or due to
damage, it should be cut off and a replacement fitted, following the wiring instructions
shown below. The old plug must be disposed of safely, as insertion into a mains socket
could cause an electrical hazard
WARNING: THE WIRES IN THE POWER CABLE OF THIS PRODUCT ARE
COLOURED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE FOLLOWING CODE:
BLUE = NEUTRAL BROWN = LIVE YELLOW AND GREEN = EARTH
If the colours of the wires in the power cable of this product do not correspond with the
markings on the terminals of your plug, proceed as follows.
•The Blue wire must be connected to the terminal marked N or coloured Black.
•The Brown wire must be connected to the terminal marked L or coloured Red.
•The Yellow and Green wire must be connected to the terminal which is marked E or
or coloured Green.
.
.
We strongly recommend that this machine is connected to the mains supply
via a Residual Current Device (RCD)
If in any doubt, consult a qualified electrician. DO NOT attempt any repairs
yourself.
Ensure the bandsaw and its components suffered no damage during transit
and that all components are present. Should any loss or damage be
apparent, please contact your CLARKE dealer immediately.
The following components are supplied with the bandsaw assembly.
1. Loosen the locking handle and
turn the table tilting knob to adjust
the table to the desired angle.
2. Use the angle indicator scale on
the table tilting bracket, to find
the desired angle.
3. Re-tighten the locking handle to
secure the table.
• For assured accuracy, we
recommend checking the tilt
angle using a protractor or set square.
4. With the table exactly level, it
should rest on the supporting stud
shown. Adjust the height of the
stud by screwing it in or out of the
frame and securing with the
locknut. Check with a set square
that the table is exactly level
when resting on the stud.
TRACKING THE SAW BLADE
If the saw blade does not run in the centre of the rubber tyre, the tracking
needs to be corrected by adjusting the tilt of the upper bandsaw wheel.
1. Open the upper and lower covers
by releasing the twist knobs and
the safety latches on the front of
the machine.
• Unscrew the safety latches fully to
release the cover panel.s.
• The panels will not move unless
the twist knobs are first released..
2. Loosen the tracking knob and
manually rotate the upper wheel,
taking care of the sharp blade.
3. Turn the setting knob clockwise or anticlockwise until the saw blade tracks
centrally on the rubber tyre.
4. After adjusting, retighten the tracking lock knob and close the covers.
ADJUSTING THE BLADE TENSION
CAUTION: TOO MUCH TENSION CAN CAUSE THE SAW BLADE TO BREAK.
TOO LITTLE TENSION CAN CAUSE THE BLADE TO MAKE IRREGULAR CUTS
1. Raise the upper blade guide fully.
2. Check the tension by pressing
with a finger against the side of
the blade, halfway between the
table and upper guide.
• The blade should not flex more
than 2 mm.
3. Turn the blade tension knob to
adjust tension.
• Turning the blade tension knob clockwise will increase the blade tension.
BLADE TENSION INDICATOR
The blade tension indicator set screw
shown in the diagram is factory set to
the width of the blade supplied
(12mm). If a blade of a different
width is to be used, you will need to
make the following adjustment:
1. With the new blade installed,
adjust the blade tension knob until
the pointer aligns with the blade
width on the scale.
• The bandsaw can use blades of 6, 10,12,16 & 20 mm wide.
• The scale indicates the correct adjustment, depending on the blade
width.
The height of the blade guide needs to be adjusted prior to every cutting
operation to accommodate the height of the workpiece.
The upper blade guide should be set approx 3 mm above the workpiece.
1. Set the upper blade guide with
the adjusting knob to the desired
height by loosening the locking
knob and re-tightening after
adjustment.
GUIDE BEARING SETTING
2. Loosen the knob, (A) and adjust
the blade guide assembly so that
the guide bearing is positioned 1
or 2 mm from the back of the
blade. Re-tighten the knob (A).
3. Loosen the bolt (C) and adjust the
guide bearing to a position 0.5
mm away from the blade. Retighten the bolt (C).
4. Loosen the knob, (B) and adjust
the thrust bearing to a position, 0.5
mm from the rear of the blade.
Re-tighten the knob (B).
The lower blade guide needs to be re-adjusted after any blade change or
tracking adjustment.
• This task may be easier if the table is tilted for better access.
1. Loosen the screw (D), and move
the entire lower blade guide.
Adjust the guide bearing to a
position of 1 or 2 mm from the
back of the blade. Re-tighten the
set-screw.
2. Loosen the socket-head bolt (E),
and adjust the thrust bearing to a
position of 0.5 mm from the rear of
the blade. Re-tighten the bolt (E).
3. Loosen the socket head bolts (F),
and adjust the guide bearings to
a position of 0.5 mm from the sides
of the blade. Re-tighten the
socket head bolt (F).
CUTTING SPEED ADJUSTMENT
1. Open the lower cover by twisting
the cover release knob.
2. Slacken the driving belt by turning
the belt tension knob.
• The fence can be adjusted for accuracy when parallel to the side of the
blade by loosening the two socket bolts (H). Check the alignment with a
square before tightening the bolts.
ALIGNING THE FENCE WITH THE BLADE
To determine the distance of the
fence from the saw blade, the scale
on the fence guide rail must be set to
line up with the blade.
1. To do this, position the fence so
that it just touches the blade while
it is free to move along the guide
rail.
2. Loosen the guide rail locking
knobs and move the guide rail to
the side until the indicator scale is on ‘Zero’, then re-tighten the knobs
• If the fence is changed to the alternative height, the guide rail will need to
be re-set for that configuration.
USING THE MITRE GAUGE
The mitre gauge is inserted into the
table slot from the front edge.
The mitre gauge can be turned to
o
60
in both directions.
To set a mitre angle, loosen the lock
handle by turning it counterclockwise. Firmly tighten the handle
to secure the mitre gauge in position.
USING THE PUSH STICK
The push-stick serves as an extension
of the operators hand as protection
against accidentally touching the
saw blade.
The push-stick should be used if the
distance between the blade and rip
fence is less than approx 150 mm.
When not in use, the push-stick can
be stored on the hook provided on
the bandsaw frame.
This bandsaw is fitted with a dust port
for connection to a dust collector if
available. Connections are available
in the following sizes:
• 50mm o/d
• 75mm o/d
• 100mm o/d
Other sawdust will fall into the dust
drawer which can be removed and
emptied as required. This is best
cleared out regularly.
PRACTICAL OPERATION
Before commencing work, ensure the work area is clean and tidy and the
machine table is clear of tools etc. Plan your work carefully and set the
machine up accordingly before switching on.
• Check the blade is correctly tensioned before use (see page 14).
• Set the upper blade guide as close as practical to the workpiece. This
provides the best safety for the operator and giving more accurate results
and greater control.
• Adjust the height of the upper blade guide to achieve the best control.
• Switch on and allow the saw blade to reach full speed before proceeding.
• Use both hands to feed the workpiece. The work must be held flat on the
table at all times to prevent binding of the blade. Use a steady, even
pressure, just sufficient to keep the blade cutting.
• Always use the rip fence or mitre gauge where possible to eliminate any
sideways movement of the work. This is most important when the table is
tilted at an angle.
• Remember that the blade removes material during the cut creating a gap
called the ‘kerf’, which must be allowed for when cutting to exact sizes.
Plan your cut so that the kerf is the scrap side of the line you wish to cut.
Where necessary, allow a little more material for finishing.
• Always use a suitable holding device when cutting round or irregular
shaped timber to prevent twisting of the work piece.
TYPES OF CUT
Several types of cut are possible with this saw i.e. rip cutting, cross cutting,
bevel or mitre cutting.
RIP CUTTING
This term refers to cutting timber in the same direction as the grain, rather than
across it. You can rip wood freehand to a drawn pencil line, but best results
are obtained by using the rip fence.
If the table is set level, set the rip-fence to the left hand side of the blade,
allowing you to use your right hand to hold the work firmly against the fence.
The scale on the fence guide rail indicates the distance of the fence from the
saw blade and can be used as shown on page 20.
When cutting a bevel rip, with the table tilted at any angle up to 45o, set the
rip fence to the right hand side of the blade if the width of the workpiece
allows it. With the fence on the ‘downhill’ side of the table, it will help support
the workpiece.
The width of cut indicator (scale) on the guide rail may be used to set the rip
fence to the required cutting position.
Long workpieces may require additional support in the form of blocks or rollers
and may be pulled as well as pushed to pass them through the bandsaw.
CROSS CUTTING
This term refers to cutting timber at right angles to the grain. This type of cut
can also be made freehand, but the mitre gauge is used to ensure accurate
results. The mitre gauge can be adjusted up to 60
with the table tilted, compound mitre cuts.
Make sure the work is held firmly against the table and against the face of the
mitre gauge. Be careful to keep your fingers away from the blade, particularly
at the end of the cut.
o
to produce mitre cuts, and
MITRE CUTTING
Most crosscut work, especially with small pieces is more easily controlled with
the use of a mitre gauge. The mitre gauge is also essential for accurate
compound mitre cuts. The gauge is graduated to 60
hand angles.
WARNING: ALWAYS SWITCH OFF THE MACHINE AND DISCONNECT FROM
THE POWER SUPPLY BEFORE CARRYING OUT ANY CLEANING OF
MAINTENANCE TASKS.
CLEANING
Accumulated dust and chips should be removed from inside the bandsaw
frequently as well as emptying the dust drawer. Open the upper and lower
covers, use a soft brush and/or vacuum cleaner to remove sawdust. If
compressed air is used, ensure it is set to no more than 10 psi.
At the end of every work session, clean sawdust away from the motor vents.
CHANGING THE WHEEL PULLEY TYRES
Eventually the rubber tyres on the bandsaw pulley wheels will wear due to the
constant contact with the blade. Remove the saw blade as described on
page 17, then lift the edge of the tyre with a small screwdriver and carefully
work off the wheel. Ease on the new tyre, ensuring it sits evenly around the
wheel.
We recommend that both tyres (item 35, page 27) are changed at the same
time.
BLADE GUIDES
Blade guides should be inspected regularly for wear or chipping, and
replaced if necessary. See pages 14-16 for blade guide adjustments.
BEARINGS
All bearings used in the construction of your bandsaw and its motor are sealed
and lubricated for life.
STORAGE
Switch off the bandsaw and disconnect the power cable.
Cover the machine with a plastic bag and store it in a dry location.