Installing or removing saw blade
CAUTION:
• Always clean out all chips or foreign matter adhering to
the blade and/or blade holder. Failure to do so may
cause insufficient tightening of the blade, resulting in a
serious personal injury.
• Do not touch the blade or the workpiece immediately
after operation; they may be extremely hot and could
burn your skin.
• Tighten the saw blade securely. Failure to do so may
cause a serious injury.
• When you remove the saw blade, be careful not to hurt
your fingers with the top of the blade or the tips of
workpiece. (Fig. 6)
Before installing the blade, make sure that the blade
holder is in the released position.
To install the blade, insert the blade (teeth facing forward)
into the blade holder until it latches. The blade holder
moves to the fixed position by itself and the blade is
locked. Pull the blade lightly to make sure that the blade
does not fall off during operation.
CAUTION:
• Do not open the tool opener excessively, or it may
cause tool damage. (Fig. 7)
To remove the blade, push the tool opener forward as far
as it will go. This allows the blade to be released.
NOTE: In case that it is difficult to remove the jig saw
blade:
Turn the cutting action changing lever to the position "III"
and move the jig saw blade holder to the bottom before
pushing the blade clamp lever to the released position. To
move the jig saw blade holder to the bottom, return the
blade clamp lever fully to the fixed position once and
slightly switch on the tool several times.
NOTE:
• Occasionally lubricate the roller.
Hex wrench storage (Fig. 8)
When not in use, store the hex wrench as shown in the
figure to keep it from being lost.
Cover plate (Fig. 9)
Use the cover plate when cutting decorative veneers,
plastics, etc. It protects sensitive or delicate surfaces from
damage. Fit it on the back of the tool base.
Anti-splintering device (Fig. 10)
For splinter-free cuts, the anti-splintering device can be
used. To install the anti-splintering device, move the tool
base all the way forward and fit it from the back of tool
base. When you use the cover plate, install the anti-
splintering device onto the cover plate.
CAUTION:
• The anti-splintering device cannot be used when
making bevel cuts.
Dust extraction
The dust nozzle (optional accessory) is recommended to
perform clean cutting operations. (Fig. 11)
To attach the dust nozzle on the tool, insert the hook of
dust nozzle into the hole in the base. (Fig. 12)
10
To secure the dust nozzle, tighten the clamp screw at the
front of the dust nozzle.
The dust nozzle can be installed on either left or right side
of the base. (Fig. 13)
Then connect a Makita vacuum cleaner to the dust
nozzle.
OPERATION
CAUTION:
• Always hold the base flush with the workpiece. Failure
to do so may cause blade breakage, resulting in a
serious injury.
NOTE:
• 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.
(Fig. 14)
Turn the tool on without the blade making any contact and
wait until the blade attains full speed. Then rest the base
flat on the workpiece and gently move the tool forward
along the previously marked cutting line.
When cutting curves, advance the tool very slowly.
Bevel cutting (Fig. 15)
CAUTION:
• Always be sure that the tool is switched off and the
battery cartridge is removed before tilting the base.
With the base tilted, you can make bevel cuts at any angle
between 0° and 45° (left or right). (Fig. 16)
To tilt the base, loosen the bolt on the back of the base
with the hex wrench. Move the base so that the bolt is
positioned in the center of the bevel slot in the base.
(Fig. 17)
Tilt the base until the desired bevel angle is obtained. The
V-notch of the gear housing indicates the bevel angle by
graduations. Then tighten the bolt firmly to secure the
base.
Front flush cuts (Fig. 18)
Loosen the bolt on the back of the base with the hex
wrench and slide the base all the way back. Then tighten
the bolt to secure the base.
Cutouts
Cutouts can be made with either of two methods A or B.
A) Boring a starting hole: (Fig. 19)
• For internal cutouts without a lead-in cut from an edge,
pre-drill a starting hole 12 mm or more in diameter.
Insert the blade into this hole to start your cut.
B) Plunge cutting: (Fig. 20)
• You need not bore a starting hole or make a lead-in cut
if you carefully do as follows.
1. Tilt the tool up on the front edge of the base with the
blade point positioned just above the workpiece
surface.
2. Apply pressure to the tool so that the front edge of the
base will not move when you switch on the tool and
gently lower the back end of the tool slowly.
3. As the blade pierces the workpiece, slowly lower the
base of the tool down onto the workpiece surface.
4. Complete the cut in the normal manner.