Bosch PKS 18 LI Cordless Handheld Circular Saw Instruction Manual

BOSCH PKS 18 LI Cordless Handheld Circular Saw Instruction Manual

Safety Notes

General Power Tool Safety Warnings

Read all safety warnings and all instructions. Failure to follow the warnings and instructions may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.

Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.

The term “power tool” in the warnings refers to your mainsoperated (corded) power tool or battery-operated (cordless) power tool.

Work area safety

• Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark areas invite accidents.
• 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.
• Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose control.

Electrical safety

• Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way. Do not use any adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools. Unmodified plugs and matching outlets will reduce risk of electric shock.
• Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces, such as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
• Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.
• Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling or unplugging the power tool. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges and moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase the risk of electric shock.
• When operating a power tool outdoors, use an extension cord suitable for outdoor use. Use of a cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of electric shock.
• If operating a power tool in a damp location is unavoidable, use a residual current device (RCD) protected supply. Use of an RCD reduces the risk of electric shock.

Personal safety

• 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 serious personal injury.
• Use personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protection. Protective equipment such as dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection used for appropriate conditions will reduce personal injuries.
• Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch is inthe off-position before connecting to power source and/or battery pack, picking up or carrying the tool. Carrying power tools with your finger on the switch or energising power tools that have the switch on invites accidents.
• 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.
• 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. Keep your  hair, clothing and gloves away frommoving parts. Loose clothes, jewellery or long hair can be caught in moving parts.
• If devices are provided for the connection of dust extraction and collection facilities, ensure these are connected and properly used. Use of dust collection can reduce dust-related hazards.

Power tool use and care

• Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power tool for your application. The correct power tool will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed.
• 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.
• Disconnect the plug from the power source and/or the battery pack from the power tool before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing power tools. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.
• Store idle power tools out of the reach of children and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the power tool or these instructions to operate the power tool. Power tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
• 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.
• Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
• Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits etc. in accordance with these instructions, taking into account the working conditions and the work to be performed. Use of the power tool for operations different from those intended could result in a hazardous situation.

Battery tool use and care

• Recharge only with the charger specified by the manufacturer. A charger that is suitable for one type of battery pack may create a risk of fire when used with another battery pack.
• Use power tools only with specifically designated battery packs. Use of any other battery packs may create a risk of injury and fire.
• When battery pack is not in use, keep it away from other metal objects, like paper clips, coins, keys, nails, screws or other small metal objects, that can make a connection from one terminal to another. Shorting the battery terminals together may cause burns or a fire.
• Under abusive conditions, liquid may be ejected from the battery; avoid contact. If contact accidentally occurs, flush with water. If liquid contacts eyes, additionally seek medical help. Liquid ejected from the battery may cause irritation or burns.

Service

• Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair person using only identical replacement parts. This will ensure that the safety of the power tool is maintained.

Safety Warnings for Circular Saws

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.
• Do not reach underneath the workpiece. The guard cannot protect you from the blade below the workpiece.
• 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.
• Never hold 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 minimize body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.
• Hold power tool by the insulated gripping surfaces, when performing an operation where the cutting tool may run into hidden wiring. Contact with a “live” wire will make exposed metal parts of the tool “live” and shock the operator.
• When ripping always use a rip fence or straight edge guide. This improves the accuracy of cut and reduces the chance of blade binding.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 binding.
• 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.
• 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 sawing into existing walls or other blind areas. The protruding blade may cut objects that can cause kickback.

Lower guard function

• 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.
• 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.
• Lower guard may 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.
• 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 switch is released.

Additional safety warnings

• Do not reach into the saw dust ejector with your hands. They could be injured by rotating parts.
• Do not work overhead with the saw. In this manner you do not have sufficient control over the power tool.
• Use appropriate detectors to determine if utility lines are hidden in the work area or call the local utility company for assistance. Contact with electric lines can lead to fire and electric shock. Damaging a gas line can lead to explosion. Penetrating a water line causes property damage.
• Do not operate the power tool stationary. It is not designed for operation with a saw table.
• Do not use high speed steel (HSS) saw blades. Such saw blades can easily break.
• Do not saw ferrous metals. Red hot chips can ignite the dust extraction.
• When working with the machine, always hold it firmly with both hands and provide for a secure stance. The power tool is guided more secure with both hands.
• Secure the workpiece. A workpiece clamped with clamping devices or in a vice is held more secure than by hand.
• Always wait until the machine has come to a complete stop before placing it down. The tool insert can jam and lead to loss of control over the power tool.
• Do not open the battery. Danger of short-circuiting. Protect the battery against heat, e. g., against continuous intense sunlight, fire, water, and moisture. Danger of explosion.
• In case of damage and improper use of the battery, vapours may be emitted. Ventilate the area and seek medical help in case of complaints. The vapours can irritate the respiratory system.
• Use the battery only in conjunction with your Bosch product. This measure alone protects the battery against dangerous overload.
• Use only original Bosch batteries with the voltage listed on the nameplate of your power tool. When using other batteries, e.g. imitations, reconditioned batteries or other brands, there is danger of injury as well as property damage through exploding batteries.

Product Description and Specifications

Read all safety warnings and all instructions. Failure to follow the warnings and instructions may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury.

Intended Use

The machine is intended for lengthways and crossways cutting of wood with straight cutting lines as well as mitre cuts in wood while resting firmly on the workpiece. With suitable saw blades, thin-walled non-ferrous metals, e. g., profiles, can also be sawed. Working ferrous metals is not permitted.

Product Features

The numbering of the components shown refers to the representation of the power tool on the graphic pages.

1. Lock-off button for On/Off switch
2. On/Off switch
3. Battery pack *
4. Vacuum connection
5. Blade guard
6. Lever for retracting blade guard
7. Base plate
8. Saw blade*
9. Retracting blade guard
10. Parallel guide
11. Wing bolt for parallel guide
12. “CutControl” – Viewing window for cutting line
13. Wing bolt for bevel-angle preselection
14. Scale for mitre angle
15. Auxiliary handle (insulated gripping surface)
16. Handle (insulated gripping surface)
17. Battery unlocking button
18. Vacuum hose*
19. Spindle lock button
20. Saw spindle
21. Mounting flange
22. Clamping flange
23. Clamping bolt with washer
24. Allen key
25. Wing bolt for cutting depth preselection
26. Cutting-depth scale
27. Cutting mark, 0°
28. Cutting mark, 45 °

* Accessories shown or described are not part of the standard delivery scope of the product. A complete overview of accessories can be found in our accessories program.

Technical Data

Noise/Vibration Information

Measured sound values determined according to EN 60745.
Typically the A-weighted sound pressure level of the product is 74 dB(A). Uncertainty K=3 dB.
The noise level when working can exceed 80 dB(A).

Wear hearing protection!

Vibration total values ah (triax vector sum) and uncertainty K determined according to EN 60745:
Cutting wood: ah<2.5 m/s2, K=1.5 m/s2 ,
Cutting metal: ah=3.5 m/s2 , K=1.5 m/s2.

The vibration emission level given in this information sheet has been measured in accordance with a standardised test given in EN 60745 and may be used to compare one tool with another. It may be used for a preliminary assessment of exposure.

The declared vibration emission level represents the main applications of the tool. However if the tool is used for different applications, with different accessories or poorly maintained, the vibration emission may differ. This may significantly increase the exposure level over the total working period.

An estimation of the level of exposure to vibration should also take into account the times when the tool is switched off or when it is running but not actually doing the job. This may significantly reduce 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 accessories, keep hands warm, organise work patterns.

Declaration of Conformity

We declare under our sole responsibility that the product described under “Technical Data” is in conformity with the following standards or standardization documents: EN 60745 according to the provisions of the directives 2011/65/EU,
2004/108/EC, 2006/42/EC.
Technical file (2006/42/EC) at:
Robert Bosch GmbH, PT/ETM9,
D-70745 Leinfelden-Echterdingen

Henk Becker
Executive Vice President Engineering

Helmut Heinzelmann
Head of Product Certification PT/ETM9

Robert Bosch GmbH, Power Tools Division
D-70745 Leinfelden-Echterdingen
Leinfelden, 12.06.2013

Assembly

Battery Charging

• Use only the battery chargers listed on the accessories page. Only these battery chargers are matched to the lithium ion battery of your power tool.

Note: The battery is supplied partially charged. To ensure full capacity of the battery, completely charge the battery in the battery charger before using your power tool for the first time. The lithium ion battery can be charged at any time without reducing its service life. Interrupting the charging procedure does not damage the battery.

The Lithium-Ion battery is protected against deep discharging by the “Electronic Cell Protection (ECP)”. When the battery is empty, the machine is switched off by means of a protective circuit: The inserted tool no longer rotates.

• Do not continue to press the On/Off switch after the machine has been automatically switched off. The battery can be damaged.

The battery is equipped with a NTC temperature control which allows charging only within a temperature range of between 0 °C and 45 °C. A long battery service life is achieved in this manner.

Observe the notes for disposal.

Removing the battery (see figure A)

The battery 3 is equipped with two locking levels that should prevent the battery from falling out when pushing the battery unlocking button 17 unintentionally. As long as the battery is inserted in the power tool, it is held in position by means of a spring.

To remove the battery 3, press the battery unlocking button 17 and pull the battery upward out of the power tool. Do not exert any force.

Dust/Chip Extraction

• Before any work on the power tool, remove the battery.

Dusts from materials such as lead-containing coatings, some wood types, minerals and metal can be harmful to one’s  health. Touching or breathing-in the dusts can cause allergic reactions and/or lead to respiratory infections of the user or bystanders.

Certain dusts, such as oak or beech dust, are considered as carcinogenic, especially in connection with wood-treatment additives (chromate, wood preservative). Materials containing asbestos may only be worked by specialists.

As far as possible, use a dust extraction system suitable for
the material.
– Provide for good ventilation of the working place.
– It is recommended to wear a P2 filter-class respirator.
Observe the relevant regulations in your country for the materials to be worked.
 Prevent dust accumulation at the workplace. Dusts can
easily ignite.

External Dust Extraction (see figure B)

• Insert a vacuum hose 18 (accessory) into the vacuum connection 4. Connect the vacuum hose 18 to a vacuum cleaner (accessory). An overview for connecting to a vacuum cleaner can be found at the end of these instructions.

The vacuum cleaner must be suitable for the material being worked.

When vacuuming dry dust that is especially detrimental to health or carcinogenic, use a special vacuum cleaner.

Mounting/Replacing the Saw Blade

• Before any work on the power tool, remove the battery.
• When mounting the saw blade, wear protective gloves. Danger of injury when touching the saw blade.
• Only use saw blades that correspond with the characteristic data given in the operating instructions.
• Do not under any circumstances use grinding discs as the cutting tool.

Selecting a Saw Blade

An overview of recommended saw blades can be found at the end of this manual.

Removal of the Saw Blade (see figure C)

For changing the cutting tool, it is best to place the machine on the face side of the motor housing.

• Press the spindle lock button 19 and keep it pressed.
• The spindle lock button 19 may be actuated only when the saw spindle is at a standstill. Otherwise, the power tool can be damaged.
• With the Allen key 24, unscrew the clamping bolt 23 turning in rotation direction 1.
• Tilt back the retracting blade guard 9 and hold firmly.
• Remove the clamping flange 22 and the saw blade 8 from the saw spindle 20.

Mounting the Saw Blade (see figure C)

For changing the cutting tool, it is best to place the machine on the face side of the motor housing.

• Clean the saw blade 8 and all clamping parts to be assembled.
• Tilt back the retracting blade guard 9 and hold firmly.
• Place the saw blade 8 onto the mounting flange 21. The cutting direction of the teeth (direction of arrow on the saw blade) and the direction-of-rotation arrow on the retracting blade guard 9 must correspond.
• Mount the clamping flange 22 and screw in the clamping bolt 23 turning in rotation direction 2. Observe correct mounting position of mounting flange 21 and clamping flange 22.
  Press the spindle lock button 19 and keep it pressed.
• With the Allen key 24, tighten the clamping bolt 23 turning in rotation direction 2. The tightening torque is between 6–9 Nm, which corresponds to hand tight plus ¼ turn.

Operation

Operating Modes

Before any work on the power tool, remove the battery.

Adjusting the Cutting Depth (see figure D)

• 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.
• Loosen wing bolt 25. For a smaller cutting depth, pull the machine from the base plate 7; for a larger cutting depth, push the machine toward the base plate 7. Adjust the desired cutting depth at the cutting-depth scale 26. Tighten wing bolt 25 again.

Adjusting the Cutting Angle

• It is best to place the machine on the face side of the blade guard 5.
• Loosen wing bolt 13. Tilt the saw sidewards. Adjust the desired setting at the scale 14. Tighten wing bolt 13 again.

Note: For bevel cuts, the cutting depth is smaller than the setting indicated on the cutting-depth scale 26.

Cutting Marks (see figure E)

The “CutControl” 12 viewing window, which folds out to the front, is used for precise guiding of the circular saw alongside the cutting line on the workpiece. The “CutControl” 12 viewing window has a mark each for right-angled cuts and for 45° cuts.

The 0° cutting mark (27) indicates the position of the saw blade for right-angled cuts. The 45° cutting mark (28) indicates the position of the saw blade for 45° cuts.

For precise cuts, position the circular saw against the workpiece as shown in the figure. It is best to carry out a trial cut.

Starting Operation

Inserting the battery

• Use only original Bosch lithium ion batteries with the voltage listed on the nameplate of your power tool. Using other batteries can lead to injuries and pose a fire hazard. Insert the charged battery 3 from the front into the base of the power tool. Push the battery completely into the base until the red stripe can no longer be seen and the battery is securely locked.

Switching On and Off

To start the machine, first push the lock-off button for the On/Off switch 1 and then press the On/Off switch 2 and keep it pressed.
To save energy, only switch the power tool on when using it.
To switch off the machine, release the On/Off switch 2.

Note: For safety reasons, the On/Off switch 2 cannot be locked; it must remain pressed during the entire operation.

Run-on Brake

An integrated run-on brake reduces the run-on period of the saw blade after switching off the machine.

Protection Against Deep Discharging

The Lithium-Ion battery is protected against deep discharging by the “Electronic Cell Protection (ECP)”. When the battery is empty, the machine is switched off by means of a protective circuit: The inserted tool no longer rotates.

Working Advice

Protect saw blades against impact and shock.

Guide the machine evenly and with light feed in the cutting direction. Excessive feed significantly reduces the service life of the saw blade and can cause damage to the power tool.

Sawing performance and cutting quality depend essentially on the condition and the tooth form of the saw blade. Therefore, use only sharp saw blades that are suited for the material to be worked.

Sawing Wood

The correct selection of the saw blade depends on the type and quality of the wood and whether lengthway or crossway cuts are required.

When cutting spruce lengthways, long spiral chips are formed.

Beech and oak dusts are especially detrimental to health. Therefore, work only with dust extraction.

Sawing Non-ferrous Metals

Note: Use only a sharp saw blade that is suitable for non-ferrous metals. This ensures a clean cut and prevents blade binding.

Guide the switched on power tool against the workpiece and carefully start the cut. Continue the cut with low feed and without interruption.

When sawing profiles, always begin the cut from the narrow side; when sawing U-profiles, never start the cut from the open side. Support long profiles in order to avoid blade binding and kickback of the power tool.

Sawing with Parallel Guide (see figure F)

The parallel guide 10 enables exact cuts along a workpiece edge and cutting strips of the same dimension. Loosen wing bolt 11 and slide the scale of the parallel guide 10 through the guide in the base plate 7. Adjust the desired cutting width as the scale setting at the respective cutting mark 27 or 28; see Section “Cutting Marks”. Tighten wing bolt 11 again.

Maintenance and Service

Maintenance and Cleaning

• Before any work on the machine itself (e. g. maintenance, tool change, etc.) as well as during transport and storage, remove the battery from the power tool.
  There is danger of injury when unintentionally actuating the On/Off switch.
• For safe and proper working, always keep the machine and ventilation slots clean.

The retracting blade guard must always be able to move freely and retract automatically. Therefore, always keep the area around the retracting blade guard clean. Remove dust and chips by blowing out with compressed air or with a brush.

Saw blades that are not coated can be protected against corrosion with a thin coat of acid-free oil. Before use, the oil must be removed again, otherwise the wood will become soiled. Resin and glue residue on the saw blade produces poor cuts. Therefore, clean the saw blade immediately after use. When the battery is no longer operative, please refer to an authorised after-sales service agent for Bosch power tools.

After-sales Service and Application Service

In all correspondence and spare parts order, please always include the 10-digit article number given on the type plate of the machine.

Our after-sales service responds to your questions concerning maintenance and repair of your product as well as spare parts. Exploded views and information on spare parts can also be found under: www.bosch-pt.com

Bosch’s application service team will gladly answer questions concerning our products and their accessories.

Great Britain
Robert Bosch Ltd. (B.S.C.)
P.O. Box 98
Broadwater Park
North Orbital Road
Denham
Uxbridge
UB 9 5HJ
Tel. Service: (0844) 7360109
Fax: (0844) 7360146
E-Mail: [email protected]

Ireland
Origo Ltd.
Unit 23 Magna Drive
Magna Business Park
City West
Dublin 24
Tel. Service: (01) 4666700
Fax: (01) 4666888

Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Islands
Robert Bosch Australia Pty. Ltd.
Power Tools
Locked Bag 66
Clayton South VIC 3169
Customer Contact Center
Inside Australia:
Phone: (01300) 307044
Fax: (01300) 307045
Inside New Zealand:
Phone: (0800) 543353
Fax: (0800) 428570
Outside AU and NZ:
Phone: +61 3 95415555
www.bosch.com.au

Republic of South Africa
Customer service
Hotline: (011) 6519600

Gauteng – BSC Service Centre
35 Roper Street, New Centre
Johannesburg
Tel.: (011) 4939375
Fax: (011) 4930126
E-Mail:

KZN – BSC Service Centre
Unit E, Almar Centre
143 Crompton Street Pinetown
Tel.: (031) 7012120
Fax: (031) 7012446
E-Mail: [email protected]

Western Cape – BSC Service Centre
Democracy Way, Prosperity Park Milnerton
Tel.: (021) 5512577
Fax: (021) 5513223
E-Mail:

Bosch Headquarters
Midrand, Gauteng
Tel.: (011) 6519600
Fax: (011) 6519880
E-Mail: