Identify
If you don’t use a sabre-saw correctly it can kick back, injuring you and damaging materials. If you don’t check out what’s behind your work, you could also saw into wires, cables, or pipes.
Communicate & Control
Sabre saws are used to cut holes in ceilings, floors and walls and to make short, straight cuts. The sabre saw cuts on the upstroke only.
Don’t use this saw for continuous or heavy cutting. Use a circular saw.
There are some basic safeguards to follow when using a sabre saw.
- You need eye protection. You should wear safety glasses with side shields. Even better are goggles for dust or a face shield.
- You need two hands to maintain control, absorb vibration, and avoid accidental contact.
- Always make sure you know what’s on the other side of the surface being cut. Beware of sawing into wires, cables, and pipes.
- Make sure that the saw will clear the bench, trestle, or other support.
- Clamping material is not only safe. It reduces vibration and makes cutting more accurate.
- Don’t start cutting with the blade in contact with the work. Let the saw reach full power before it touches the work.
- Hold the base or shoe of the saw in firm contact with the work. This keeps the blade cutting straight up and down and prevents it from twisting or breaking.
- Keep your free hand away from the front of the saw.
- Never reach under, around, or behind the material being cut.
- Don’t try to make inside or pocket cuts without first drilling a lead hole.
- When the motor is running, working a blade in or out of a cut or lead hole can cause kickback.
- Let the saw and the blade do most of the work. Don’t force the saw. The machine should turn with ease. If you have to push the saw, the blade is dull or the stock is too heavy for the saw.
- Never put the saw down until the blade and motor have stopped.
All content from Construction Safety Association of Manitoba