CS 68 18EC - Saw Flex - Free user manual and instructions

USER MANUAL CS 68 18EC Flex

for commercial use in industry and trade,

for cutting wood lengthways and crossways in straight lines,

for dust free cutting when used in combination with a suitable vacuum cleaner/dust exactor. Safety instructions for circular saw WARNING! Read and follow all safety instructions and other instructions in this manual. Failure to observe the warnings and instructions may cause an electric shock, fire and/or serious injuries. Keep this manual in a safe place for subsequent use. Cutting procedures

DANGER: 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.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 workpiece in your hands or across your leg while cutting. Secure the workpiece to a stable platform. It is important to support the work properly to minimize body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.20 CS 68 18-EC 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 correct size and shape (diamond versus round) of arbour holes. Blades that do not match the mounting hardware of the saw will run off- centre, 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, jammed 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 jammed 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 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. 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. Unsharpened or improperly set blades produce 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 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 objects that can cause kickback. Lower guard function a) Check the lower guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate the saw if the lower guard does not move freely and close instantly. Never clamp or tie the lower guard into the open position. If the saw is accidentally dropped, the 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. b) 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.21 CS 68 18-EC c) The lower guard may be retracted manually only for special cuts such as “plunge cuts” and “compound cuts”. Raise the lower guard by the retracting handle and as soon as the blade enters the material, the lower guard must be released. For all other sawing, the lower guard should operate automatically. d) Always observe that the lower 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 switch is released. Noise and vibration The noise and vibration values have been determined in accordance with EN 62841. The A-evaulated noise level of the power tool is typically:

Sound pressure level L

Uncertainty: K = 3 dB Total vibration value:

CAUTION! The indicated measurements refer to new power tools. Daily use causes the noise and vibration values to change. NOTE The vibration emission level given in this information sheet has been measured in accordance with a measurement method standardised in EN 62841 and may be used to compare one tool with another. That the declared vibration total value(s) and the declared noise emission value(s) may also be used in a preliminary assessment of exposure. However, if the tool is used for different applications, with different cutting accessories or poorly maintained, the vibration emission level may differ. This may significantly increase the exposure level over the total working period. To make an accurate estimation of the vibration exposure level, it is also necessary to take into account the times when the tool is switched off or running but not actually in use. This may significantly decrease the exposure level over the total working period. Identify additional safety measures to protect the operator from the effects of vibration such as: maintain the tool and the cutting accessories, keep the hands warm, organization of work patterns. WARNING! that the vibration and noise emissions during actual use of the power tool can differ from the declared values depending on the ways in which the tool is used especially what kind of workpiece is processed; and of the need 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 the trigger time). CAUTION! Wear ear defenders at a sound pressure above 85 dB(A). Technical data Tool CS 68 18-EC Type Circular Saw Rated voltage Vdc 18 No-load speed /min Up to 5800 Bevel capacity ° 0 - 56° Blade diameter mm 190 Blade bore diameter mm 20 Depth of cut at 90° mm 68 Depth of cut at 45° mm 50.2 Depth of cut at 56° mm 3922 CS 68 18-EC Weight according to ”EPTA Procedure 01/2003” (without battery)kg 4.3Battery 18VAP 18.0/2.5AP 18.0/5.0AP 18.0/8.0AP 18/12.0Weight of battery kgAP 18.0/2.5AP 18.0/5.0AP 18.0/8.0AP 18/12.0 0,4 0,7 1,1 1,6 ChargerCA 12/18CA 18.0-LDCA 10.8/18.0Working Temperature-20~40°CCharging Temperature4~40°CStorage Temperature<50°C NOTE To achieve better performance and use experience, the 18V 2.5Ah battery pack is not recommended. Overview (see figure A) The numbering of the product features refers to the illustration of the machine on the graphics page.1 Rafter hook2 Lock-off button3 Trigger switch4 Dust extraction adapter5 Lower-guard lift lever6 Blade stud7 Outer blade-washer8 Lower guard9 LED work light10 Bevel-preset knob11 Calibrated bevel quadrant12 Auxiliary handle13 Upper guard14 Guide rail15 Depth bracket16 Shaft-lock button17 Bevel-adjustment lever18 Bevel indicator19 Guide slot adjustment knobs20 Foot21 Depth-adjustment lever22 Blade-wrench23 Depth-of-cut marks24 Main handle25 Rip fence26 Locking nut (with spring)27 Dust bag Operating instructions WARNING! Remove the battery before carrying out any work on the power tool. Before switching on the power tool Unpack the power tool and accessories and check that no parts are missing or damaged. NOTE The batteries are not fully charged on delivery. Prior to initial operation, charge the batteries fully. Refer to the charger operating manual. Inserting/replacing the battery (see figure B)

Press the charged battery into the power tool until it clicks into place (see figure B1).

To remove, press the release button (1.) and pull out the battery (2.) (see figure B2). CAUTION! When the device is not in use, protect the battery contacts. Loose metal parts may short circuit the contacts; explosion and fire hazard! Installing the blade WARNING! Use only 190mm saw blades rated 5800/min (RPM) or greater. NEVER use a blade that is so thick that it prevents the outer blade washer from engaging with the flat side of the spindle. Do not use abrasive wheels23 CS 68 18-EC with circular saws. Using a blade not designed for the saw may result in serious personal injury and property damage. WARNING! Use only the recommended saw blades, for cutting wood or similar materials according EN 847-1. WARNING! Be sure to wear protective work gloves while handling a saw blade. The blade can injure unprotected hands. a Take the blade wrench from its storage area.b Press the shaft-lock button and use the provided blade wrench to turn the saw blade until the shaft-lock button engages. Continue to depress the shaft-lock button, turn the blade wrench counterclockwise and remove the blade stud and the outer washer (see figure C1).c Make sure that the saw teeth and the arrow on the blade point in the same direction as the arrow on the lower guard.d Retract the lower guard all the way up into the upper guard. e Slide the blade through the slot in the foot and mount it against the inner washer on the shaft. f Reinstall the outer washer. First finger tighten the blade stud, then tighten the blade stud 1/8 turn (45˚) with the blade wrench provided (see figure C2). NOTE Do not use a blade wrench with a longer handle, since it may lead to over tightening of the blade stud. Attaching the dust extraction adapter Check and make sure the dust extraction adapter is attached to the saw using the locking screw provided (see figure D1).To attach a suitable vacuum hose (see figure D2)The dust extraction adapter allows connection of a vacuum hose of D27 in inner diameter or D36 at outer diameter.Disconnect the vacuum hose when finished cutting.To attach the dust bag (see figure D3)The dust extraction adapter allows connection of the dust bag.For maximum efficiency, remove the battery pack and empty the dust bag frequently during operation. Adjusting the cutting depth (see figure E1) a Loosen the depth-adjustment lever.b Hold the foot of the saw flat against the edge of the workpiece and then raise or lower the saw until the indicator mark on the depth scale aligns with the desired depth mark.c Securely tighten the depth lock lever. NOTE Check the depth setting. Not more than one tooth length of the blade should extend below the material to be cut (see figure E2).

djusting the cutting angle To use the bevel-preset knob (see figure F1) a Push the bevel-preset knob and turn it to one of the desired settings: 22.5°, 45°, or 56°. b Release the bevel-preset knob and it will serve as a travel stop when adjusting the bevel angle.To use the bevel-adjustment lever (see figure F2)a Loosen the bevel-adjustment lever.b Tilt the saw as far as possible until it is blocked by the bevel-preset knob at either 22.5°, 45°, or 56°. If a custom bevel angle within the selected angle range (e.g. 22.5 – 45°), tilt the saw until the bevel indicator is aligned with the desired angle mark on the quadrant.c Tighten the bevel-adjustment lever.To check the 90° cutting angle, if necessary (see figure F3)a Set the foot to the maximum depth. Loosen the bevel-adjustment lever, set the bevel indicator to 0° on quadrant, retighten the24 CS 68 18-EC lever, and check for 90° angle between the blade and bottom plane of foot with a square.b Use a 2.5mm hex key (not included) to make adjustments, if necessary, by turning the small alignment screw from bottom side of the foot. Line guide The cutting guide notches will indicate an approximate line of cut. Use the 0°notch as a visual guide for a straight 90°cut. For a 45°bevel cut, use the 45°notch. Make sample cuts in scrap lumber to verify the actual line of cut. This will be helpful as blade types and thicknesses vary.To ensure minimum splintering on the good side of the material to be cut, face the good side down.

When the foot is placed on the surface of cutting material directly, use the 0°notch and 45°notch as shown in figure G1.

When applying the narrow slots of the guide rail system, use the 0°notch and 45°notch as shown in figure G2. Check and make sure the guide rail is installed onto the wide slot of the foot when using the 45°notch.

When applying the wide slots of the guide rail system, use the 0°notch and 45°notch as shown in figure G3.Check and make sure the guide rail is removed from the wide slot of the foot when using the 0°notch. Rotate the guide slot adjustment knobs (19) to reduce the clearance between the circular saw and the guide rail system. Rafter hook (see figure H) Use the hook to hang the saw from a rafter or beam or other similar secure structure for temporary storage during work. To use, lift up the hook until it snaps into the open position.When not in use, always lower the hook until it snaps into the closed position. WARNING! When the saw is hung by the hook, do not shake the saw or the object that it is hanging from. Do not hang the saw from any electrical wires. Make sure that the structure used to hang the saw is secure. Personal injury or property damage may occur. Only use the hook for hanging the saw. Using the hook to hang anything else could lead to serious injury. Do not use the hook to reach another object or use the hook to support your weight in any situation. Switching on and off (see figure I) The tool is equipped with a lock-off button to avoid unintentional starting.To switch on, depress the lock-off button and squeeze the trigger switch.To switch off, release the trigger switch. CAUTION! Allow the blade to come to a complete standstill before setting the saw down. LED work light (see figure J) The LED work light will automatically turn on with a slight squeeze of the trigger switch before the tool starts running. It will turn off approximately 10 seconds after the trigger switch is released.a When the tool and/or battery pack becomes overloaded or too hot, the LED light will rapidly flash. Rest the tool for a while or place the tool and battery pack separately under air flow for cooling.b The LED light will flash more slowly to indicate that the battery pack charge is at low capacity. Recharge the battery pack. General cuts WARNING! Always be sure that neither hand interferes with the free movement of the lower guard. WARNING! After completing a cut and releasing the trigger, be aware of the necessary time it takes for the blade to come to a complete stop during coast down. Do not allow the saw to brush against your leg or side; since the lower guard is retractable, it could catch on your clothing and expose the blade. Be aware of the necessary blade exposures that exist in both the upper and lower guard areas Always hold the saw by the main handle with one hand and the auxiliary handle with the other. Maintain a firm grip with both hands25 CS 68 18-EC 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. To resume cutting when cutting is interrupted, restart the saw, and allow the blade to reach full speed, re-enter the cut slowly, and resume cutting. When cutting across the grain, the fibers of the wood tend to tear and lift. Advancing the saw slowly minimizes this effect. For a finished cut, a cross cut blade or miter blade is recommended. Cross cuts/Rip cuts (see figure K) The blade provided with your saw is for both cross cuts and rip cuts. Ripping is cutting lengthwise with the grain of the wood. Rip cuts are easy to do with a rip fence. To attach a fence, insert it through slots in foot to desired width and secure with the provided locking nut. Rip board guide (see figure L) When rip cutting large sheets, the rip fence may not allow the desired width of cut. Clamp or nail a straight piece of 25 mm lumber to the sheet as a guide. Use the right side of the foot against the board guide. WARNING! Ensure that the clamps do not interfere with the free movement of the saw. Plunge cuts (see figure M) WARNING! Always adjust the bevel setting to zero before making a plunge cut. Attempting a plunge cut at any other setting can result in a loss of control of the saw, which can result in serious injury. a Remove the battery pack. b Set the depth according to the thickness of the material to be cut. c Attach the battery pack. d Hold the main handle of the saw with one hand, tilt the saw forward, and rest the front of the foot on the material to be cut. Align the cutting guide notch with the line you have drawn. e Use the lower guard lift lever to raise the lower guard until you are able to grasp and hold the auxiliary handle with the other hand. f Position the saw with the blade just above the material to be cut. Start the motor and once the blade is fully up to speed, gradually lower the back end of saw using the front end of the foot as the hinge point. g Release the lower-guard lift lever as soon as the blade engages the workpiece. h Once the foot plate rests flat on the surface being cut, proceed cutting in the forward direction to the end of cut. i Turn saw around and finish the cut in the normal manner, sawing forward. If corners of your plunge cut are not completely cut through, use a jigsaw or hand saw to finish the corners. WARNING! Allow blade to come to a complete stop before lifting the saw from cut. Also, never pull the saw backward since blade will climb out of the material and KICKBACK will occur. Cutting large sheets (see figure N) Large sheets and long boards can sag or bend, depending on their support. If you attempt to cut without leveling and properly supporting the piece, the blade will tend to bind, causing KICKBACK and extra load on the motor. Support the panel or board close to the cut. Be sure to set the depth of the cut so that you cut through the sheet or board only and not the table or work bench. The two-by-fours used to raise and support the work should be positioned so that the wide sides support the work and rest on the table or bench. Do not support the work with the narrow sides, as this is an unsteady arrangement. If the sheet or board to be cut is too large for a table or work bench, use the supporting two-by-fours on the floor and secure.26 CS 68 18-EC Maintenance and care WARNING! Before performing any work on the power tool, remove the battery pack from the tool. Cleaning CAUTION! When cleaning with compress air, always wear goggles. Regularly clean the power tool and ventilation slots. Frequency of cleaning is dependent on the material and duration of use. Regularly blow out the housing interior and motor with dry compressed air. Repairs Repairs may be carried out by an authorized customer service centre only. Spare parts and accessories Other accessories, in particular tools and accessories, can be found in the manufacturer’s catalogues. Exploded drawings and spare-part lists can be found on our homepage: www.flex-tools.com. Disposal information WARNING! Render redundant power tools unusable: battery operated power tool by removing the battery. EU countries onlyDo not throw electric power tools into the household waste! In accordance with the European Directive 2012/19/EU on Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment and transposition into national law used electric power tools must be collected separately and recycled in an environmentally friendly manner.Raw material recovery instead of waste disposal.Device, accessories and packaging should be recycled in an environmentally friendly manner. Plastic parts are identified for recycling according to material type. WARNING! Do not throw batteries into the household waste, fire or water. Do not open used batteries. EU countries only: In accordance with Directive 2006/66/EC defective or used batteries must be recycled. NOTE Please ask your dealer about disposal options! -Declaration of Conformity We declare under our sole responsibility that the product described under “Technical specifications” conforms to the following standards or normative documents:EN 62841 in accordance with the regulations of the directives 2014/30/EU, 2006/42/EG, 2011/65/EU.Responsible for technical documents:FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH, R & D Bahnhofstrasse 15, D-71711 Steinheim/MurrPeter Lameli Klaus Peter WeinperTechnical Head Head of Quality Department (QD)22.12.2023; FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbHBahnhofstrasse 15, D-71711 Steinheim/Murr27 CS 68 18-EC Declaration of Conformity We as the manufacturer: FLEX Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH, Business address: Bahnhofstr. 15, 71711 Steinheim, Germany declare under our sole responsibility, that the product(s) described under “Technical specifications“ fulfills all the relevant provisions of The Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations S.I. 2008/1597 and also fulfills all the relevant provisions of the following UK Regulations: Electromagnetic Compatibility Regulations S.I. 2016/1091, The Restriction of the Use of Certain Hazardous Substances in Electrical and Electronic Equipment Regulations S.I. 2012/3032 and are manufactured in accordance with the following designated Standards: BS EN 62841-1:2015+A11:2022 BS EN 62841-2-5:2014

Place of declaration: Steinheim, Germany. Responsible person: Peter Lameli, Technical Director – FLEX-Elektrowerkzeuge GmbH Contact details for Great Britain: FLEX Power Tools Limited, Unit 8 Anglo Office Park, Lincoln Road, HP 12, 3RH Buckinghamshire, United Kingdom. Peter Lameli Klaus Peter Weinper Technical Head Head of Quality Department (QD)

кг 4,3 Батерия 18V AP 18,0/2,5 AP 18,0/5,0 AP 18,0/8,0 AP 18/12,0

CA 12/18 CA 18,0-LD CA 10,8/18,0

CA 12/18 CA 18.0-LD CA 10.8/18.0