BSS500RFJ - Scie MAKITA - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL BSS500RFJ MAKITA

ENGLISH (Original instructions)

Explanation of general view

• Due to our continuing programme of research and development, the specifications herein are subject to change without

• Specifications and battery cartridge may differ from country to country.

• Weight, with battery cartridge, according to EPTA-Procedure 01/2003

The tool is intended for performing lengthways and

crossways straight cuts and mitre cuts with angles in

wood while in firm contact with the workpiece.

General Power Tool Safety

WARNING Read all safety warnings and all

instructions. Failure to follow the warnings and

instructions may result in electric shock, fire and/or

Save all warnings and

instructions for future reference.

CORDLESS CIRCULAR SAW SAFETY WARNINGS GEB061-1

1. Keep hands away from cutting area and the 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.

2. Do not reach underneath the workpiece. The guard

cannot protect you from the blade below the

3. 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.

4. Never hold piece being cut in your hands or

across your leg. Secure the workpiece to stable

platform. It is important to support the work properly

to minimize body exposure, blade binding, or loss of

A typical illustration of proper hand support and

workpiece support. (Fig. 1)

5. Hold power 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 power

tool “live” and shock the operator.

6. When ripping always use a rip fence or straight

edge guide. This improves the accuracy cut and

reduces the chance of blade binding.

7. Always use blades with correct size and shape

(diamond versus round) of arbour holes. Blades

that do not match the mounting hardware of the saw

will run eccentrically, causing loss of control.

8. 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.

9. 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

- 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

- 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

19. Adjusting screw for 90°

Rated voltage D.C. 14.4V D.C. 18V6

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.

• 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.

• 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

• When restarting a saw in the workpiece, centre

the saw blade in the kerf and check that saw

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.

• 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.

To avoid kickback, do support board or panel near the

Do not support board or panel away from the cut.

• Do not use dull or damaged blades.

Unsharpened or improperly set blades produce

narrow kerf causing excessive friction, blade

binding and kickback.

• Blade depth and bevel adjusting locking levers

must be tight and secure before making cut. If

blade adjustment shifts while cutting, it may cause

binding and kickback.

• Use extra caution when making a “plunge cut”

into existing walls or other blind areas. The

protruding blade may cut objects that can cause

10. Check lower guard for proper closing before each

use. Do not operate the 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.

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.

11. Check the operation 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 build-up of debris.

12. Lower guard should be retracted manually only for

special cuts such as “plunge cuts” and

“compound cuts.” Raise lower guard by retracting

handle and as soon as blade enters the material,

the lower guard must be released. For all other

sawing, the lower guard should operate automatically.

13. 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

14. ALWAYS hold the tool firmly with both hands.

NEVER place your hand or fingers behind the saw.

If kickback occurs, the saw could easily jump

backwards over your hand, leading to serious

personal injury. (Fig. 4)

15. Never force the saw. Push the saw forward at a

speed so that the blade cuts without slowing.

Forcing the saw can cause uneven cuts, loss of

accuracy, and possible kickback.

16. Use extra caution when cutting damp wood,

pressure treated lumber, or wood containing

knots. Adjust speed of cut to maintain smooth

advancement of tool without decrease in blade speed.

17. Do not attempt to remove cut material when blade

is moving. Wait until blade stops before grasping

cut material. CAUTION: Blades coast after turn off.

18. Avoid Cutting Nails. Inspect for and remove all

nails from lumber before cutting.

19. Place the wider portion of the saw base on that

part of the workpiece which is solidly supported,

not on the section that will fall off when the cut is

made. As examples, Fig. 5 illustrates the RIGHT

way to cut off the end of a board, and Fig. 6 the

WRONG way. If the workpiece is short or small,

clamp it down. DO NOT TRY TO HOLD SHORT PIECES BY HAND!

20. Before setting the tool down after completing a

cut, be sure that the lower guard has closed and

the blade has come to a complete stop.

21. Never attempt to saw with the circular saw held

upside down in a vise. This is extremely

dangerous and can lead to serious accidents.

22. Some material contains chemicals which may be

toxic. Take caution to prevent dust inhalation and

skin contact. Follow material supplier safety data.

23. Do not stop the blades by lateral pressure on the

24. Always use blades recommended in this manual.

Do not use any abrasive wheels.

25. Keep blade sharp and clean. Gum and wood pitch

hardened on blades slows saw and increases

potential for kickback. Keep blade clean by first

removing it from tool, then cleaning it with gum and

pitch remover, hot water or kerosene. Never use

26. Wear a dust mask and hearing protection when

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

DO NOT let comfort or familiarity with product (gained

from repeated use) replace strict adherence to safety

rules for the subject product. MISUSE or failure to

follow the safety rules stated in this instruction

manual may cause serious personal injury.7

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS ENC007-4

FOR BATTERY CARTRIDGE

1. Before using battery cartridge, read all

instructions and cautionary markings on (1)

battery charger, (2) battery, and (3) product using

2. Do not disassemble battery cartridge.

3. If operating time has become excessively shorter,

stop operating immediately. It may result in a risk

of overheating, possible burns and even an

4. If electrolyte gets into your eyes, rinse them out

with clear water and seek medical attention right

away. It may result in loss of your eyesight.

5. Do not short the battery cartridge:

(1) Do not touch the terminals with any

conductive material.

(2) Avoid storing battery cartridge in a container

with other metal objects such as nails, coins,

(3) Do not expose battery cartridge to water or

A battery short can cause a large current flow,

overheating, possible burns and even a

6. Do not store the tool and battery cartridge in

locations where the temperature may reach or

exceed 50°C (122°F).

7. Do not incinerate the battery cartridge even if it is

severely damaged or is completely worn out. The

battery cartridge can explode in a fire.

8. Be careful not to drop or strike battery.

9. Do not use dropped or struck battery.

SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

Tips for maintaining maximum battery life

1. Charge the battery cartridge before completely

discharged. Always stop tool operation and

charge the battery cartridge when you notice less

2. Never recharge a fully charged battery cartridge.

Overcharging shortens the battery service life.

3. Charge the battery cartridge with room

temperature at 10°C - 40°C (50°F - 104°F). Let a hot

battery cartridge cool down before charging it.

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION CAUTION:

• Always be sure that the tool is switched off and the

battery cartridge is removed before adjusting or

checking function on the tool.

Installing or removing battery cartridge

• Always switch off the tool before insertion or removal of

the battery cartridge.

• To remove the battery cartridge, withdraw it from the

tool while sliding the button on the side of the cartridge.

• To insert the battery cartridge, align the tongue on the

battery cartridge with the groove in the housing and slip

it into place. Always insert it all the way until it locks in

place with a little click. If you can see the red part on

the upper side of the button, it is not locked completely.

Insert it fully until the red part cannot be seen. If not, it

may accidentally fall out of the tool, causing injury to

you or someone around you.

• Do not use force when inserting the battery cartridge. If

the cartridge does not slide in easily, it is not being

Adjusting depth of cut (Fig. 9)

• After adjusting the depth of cut, always tighten the lever

Loosen the lever on the side of the rear handle and move

the base up or down. At the desired depth of cut, secure

the base by tightening the lever.

For cleaner, safer cuts, set cut depth so that no more than

one blade tooth projects below workpiece. Using proper

cut depth helps to reduce potential for dangerous

KICKBACKS which can cause personal injury.

Bevel cutting (Fig. 10)

Loosen the lever on the bebel scale plate on the front

base. Set for the desired angle (0° - 50°) by tilting

accordingly, then tighten the lever securely.

For straight cuts, align the A position on the front of the

base with your cutting line. For 45° bevel cuts, align the B

Switch action (Fig. 12)

• Before inserting the battery cartridge into the tool,

always check to see that the switch trigger actuates

properly and returns to the “OFF” position when

• Do not pull the switch trigger hard without pressing the

lock-off lever. This can cause switch breakage.

To prevent the switch trigger from being accidentally

pulled, a lock-off lever is provided. To start the tool, press

the lock-off lever and pull the switch trigger. Release the

switch trigger to stop.

• For your safety, this tool is equipped with lock-off lever

which prevents the tool from unintended starting.

NEVER use the tool if it runs when you simply pull the

switch trigger without pressing the lock-off lever. Return

tool a MAKITA service center for proper repairs

BEFORE further usage.

• NEVER tape down or defeat purpose and function of

• Do not look in the light or see the source of light

Only to turn on the light, pull the switch trigger without

pressing the lock-off lever.To turn on the light and run the

tool, press the lock-off lever and pull the switch trigger

with the lock-off lever being pressed.8

• Use a cotton stick to wipe the dirt off the lens of lamp.

Be careful not to scratch the lens of lamp, or it may

lower the illumination.

• Do not use gasoline, thinner or the like to clean the lens

of lamp. Using such substances will damage the lens.

• Always be sure that the tool is switched off and the

battery cartridge is removed before carrying out any

• Be sure the blade is installed with teeth pointing up at

the front of the tool.

• Use only the Makita wrench to install or remove the

blade cannot revolve and use the wrench to loosen the

hex bolt clockwise. Then remove the hex bolt, outer flange

To install the blade, follow the removal procedure in

reverse. BE SURE TO TIGHTEN THE HEX BOLT COUNTERCLOCKWISE SECURELY. (Fig. 15)

When changing blade, make sure to also clean upper and

lower blade guards of accumulated chips and particles.

Such efforts do not, however, replace the need to check

lower guard operation before each use.

Hex wrench storage (Fig. 16)

When not in use, store the hex wrench as shown in the

figure to keep it from being lost.

Connecting a vacuum cleaner (Fig. 17 &

When you wish to perform clean cutting operation,

connect a Makita vacuum cleaner to your tool. Install the

dust nozzle on the tool using the screw. Then connect a

hose of the vacuum cleaner to the dust nozzle as shown

• Always insert the battery cartridge all the way until it

locks in place. If you can see the red part on the upper

side of the button, it is not locked completely. Insert it

fully until the red part cannot be seen. If not, it may

accidentally fall out of the tool, causing injury to you or

• Be sure to move the tool forward in a straight line

gently. Forcing or twisting the tool will result in

overheating the motor and dangerous kickback,

possibly causing severe injury.

• If the tool is operated continuously until the battery

cartridge has discharged, allow the tool to rest for

15 minutes before proceeding with a fresh battery.

Hold the tool firmly. The tool is provided with both a front

grip and rear handle. Use both to best grasp the tool. If

both hands are holding saw, they cannot be cut by the

blade. Set the base on the workpiece to be cut without the

blade making any contact. Then turn the tool on and wait

until the blade attains full speed. Now simply move the

tool forward over the workpiece surface, keeping it flat

and advancing smoothly until the sawing is completed.

To get clean cuts, keep your sawing line straight and your

speed of advance uniform. If the cut fails to properly follow

your intended cut line, do not attempt to turn or force the

tool back to the cut line. Doing so may bind the blade and

lead to dangerous kickback and possible serious injury.

Release switch, wait for blade to stop and then withdraw

tool. Realign tool on new cut line, and start cut again.

Attempt to avoid positioning which exposes operator to

chips and wood dust being ejected from saw. Use eye

protection to help avoid injury.

Rip fence (guide rule) (Accessory)

The handy rip fence allows you to do extra-accurate

straight cuts. Simply slide the rip fence up snugly against

the side of the workpiece and secure it in position with the

screw on the front of the base. It also makes repeated

cuts of uniform width possible.

MAINTENANCE CAUTION:

• Always be sure that the tool is switched off and the

battery cartridge is removed before attempting to

perform inspection or maintenance.

Adjusting for accuracy of 90° cut (vertical

This adjustment has been made at the factory. But if it is

off, adjust the adjusting screws with a hex wrench while

inspecting 90° the blade with the base using a triangular

rule or square rule, etc. (Fig. 21 & 22)

Replacing carbon brushes (Fig. 23)

Remove and check the carbon brushes regularly.

Replace when they wear down to the limit mark. Keep the

carbon brushes clean and free to slip in the holders.

Both carbon brushes should be replaced at the same

time. Use only identical carbon brushes.

Use a screwdriver to remove the brush holder caps.

Take out the worn carbon brushes, insert the new ones

and secure the brush holder caps. (Fig. 24)

To maintain product SAFETY and RELIABILITY, repairs,

any other maintenance or adjustment should be

performed by Makita Authorized Service Centers, always

using Makita replacement parts.

ACCESSORIES CAUTION:

• These accessories or attachments are recommended

for use with your Makita tool specified in this manual.

The use of any other accessories or attachments might

present a risk of injury to persons. Only use accessory

or attachment for its stated purpose.

If you need any assistance for more details regarding

these accessories, ask your local Makita Service Center.

• Rip fence (Guide rule)

• Makita genuine batteries and charger

The typical A-weighted noise level determined according

Sound pressure level (L

Sound power level (L WA

Uncertainty (K): 3 dB (A)

Wear ear protection.

The vibration total value (tri-axial vector sum) determined

according to EN60745:

Work mode: cutting chipboard

Vibration emission (a

The typical A-weighted noise level determined according

Sound pressure level (L

Sound power level (L WA

Uncertainty (K): 3 dB (A)

Wear ear protection.

The vibration total value (tri-axial vector sum) determined

according to EN60745:

Work mode: cutting chipboard

Vibration emission (a

• The declared vibration emission value has been

measured in accordance with the standard test method

and may be used for comparing one tool with another.

• The declared vibration emission value may also be

used in a preliminary assessment of exposure.

• The vibration emission during actual use of the power

tool can differ from the declared emission value

depending on the ways in which the tool is used.

• Be sure to identify safety measures to protect the

operator that are based on an estimation of exposure in

the actual conditions of use (taking account of all parts

of the operating cycle such as the times when the tool

is switched off and when it is running idle in addition to

For European countries only

EC Declaration of Conformity

We Makita Corporation as the responsible

manufacturer declare that the following Makita

Designation of Machine:

Cordless Circular Saw

Model No./ Type: BSS500, BSS501

are of series production and

Conforms to the following European Directives:

98/37/EC until 28th December 2009 and then with

2006/42/EC from 29th December 2009

And are manufactured in accordance with the following

standards or standardised documents:

The technical documentation is kept by our authorised

representative in Europe who is:

Makita International Europe Ltd.,

Michigan, Drive, Tongwell,

Michigan, Drive, Tongwell,

Michigan, Drive, Tongwell,

Michigan, Drive, Tongwell,

Michigan Drive, Tongwell,

Michigan, Drive, Tongwell,

Michigan, Drive, Tongwell,

Vibrationsemission (a

Vibrationsemission (a

Michigan, Drive, Tongwell,

Michigan, Drive, Tongwell,