OPERATOR'S MANUAL PLATE JOINER JM81-1 DOUBLE INSULATED Your new tool has been engineered and manufactured to Ryobi's high standard for dependability, ease of operation, and operator safety. When properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance. WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, the user must read and understand the operator's manual before using this product. Thank you for buying a Ryobi Product. SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 2 General Safety Rules .................................................................................................................................................. 3-4 Specific Safety Rules ...................................................................................................................................................... 4 Symbols ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5 Electrical .......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Features ...................................................................................................................................................................... 7-8 Adjustments .............................................................................................................................................................. 9-10 Operation ................................................................................................................................................................. 11-16 Maintenance ............................................................................................................................................................ 17-19 Accessories ................................................................................................................................................................... 19 Troubleshooting ............................................................................................................................................................ 20 Service Information ....................................................................................................................................................... 22 INTRODUCTION Spline joinery is one of the strongest methods of joinery used in woodworking. When glue is properly applied to a spline and to the joint area of the wood pieces being connected, a large surface area receives the adhesion properties of the glue. This forms a very strong joint. Traditional spline joinery requires cutting slots with a router or table saw. Small, thin strips of wood must then be cut to fit inside the slots and act as splines. Newer methods of spline joinery use a plate or biscuit joiner to cut precise mating oval slots in adjoining boards. Your new plate joiner is a fast, simple, and accurate plunge cutting tool that can be used for this purpose. It can be used to cut slots in hardwood, softwood, plywood, particle board, and other pressed woods. Football shaped wafers, called biscuits, are then placed inside the slots with glue and used to help line up adjoining surfaces. When a water based glue is used, the biscuits swell in the joint, making an extremely strong and firm bond. White glue, yellow glue, carpenters glue, hide glue, and aliphatic resin glue are examples of water based glues.This bonding technique has traditionally been limited to making edge-to-edge joints. However, with the use of your new plate joiner, biscuits can now be easily used to connect butt, miter, and T-joints. Biscuit joining can be as strong as mortise and tenon, tongue and groove, standard spline, and doweled joints. In most cases the material around the biscuit will break before the biscuit itself will break. A greater surface area is exposed to glue in a biscuit joint, making the seams stronger. WARNING: Do not attempt to use this tool until you have read thoroughly and understand completely the operator's manual. Pay close attention to the safety rules, including Dangers, Warnings, and Cautions. If you use this tool properly and only for what it is intended, you will enjoy years of safe, reliable service. Look for this symbol to point out important safety precautions. It means attention!!! Your safety is involved. WARNING: The operation of any tool can result in foreign objects being thrown into your eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Before beginning operation, always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields and a full face shield when needed. We recommend Wide Vision Safety Mask for use over eyeglasses or standard safety glasses with side shields. Always wear eye protection which is marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1. Page 2 GENERAL SAFETY RULES WARNING: Read and understand all instructions. Failure to follow all instructions listed below, may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious personal injury. switch or plugging in tools that have the switch on invites accidents. Remove adjusting keys or wrenches before turning the tool on. A wrench or a key that is left attached to a rotating part of the tool may result in personal injury. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Proper footing and balance enables better control of the tool in unexpected situations. Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Dust mask, nonskid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing protection must be used for appropriate conditions. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Contain long hair. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be drawn into air vents. Do not use on a ladder or unstable support. Stable footing on a solid surface enables better control of the tool in unexpected situations. SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS WORK AREA Keep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered benches and 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 bystanders, children, and visitors away while operating a power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose control. ELECTRICAL SAFETY Double insulated tools are equipped with a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other). This plug will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install a polarized outlet. Do not change the plug in any way. Double insulation eliminates the need for the three-wire grounded power cord and grounded power supply system. Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ranges, and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is grounded. Don't 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 to carry the tools or pull the plug from an outlet. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges, or moving parts. Replace damaged cords immediately. Damaged cords increase the risk of electric shock. When operating a power tool outside, use an outdoor extension cord marked "W-A" or "W". These cords are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric shock. TOOL USE AND CARE Use clamps or other practical way to secure and support the workpiece to a stable platform. Holding the work by hand or against your body is unstable and may lead to loss of control. Do not force tool. Use the correct tool for your application. The correct tool will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it is designed. Do not use tool if switch does not turn it on or off. Any tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be repaired. Disconnect the plug from power source before making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the tool. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting the tool accidentally. Store idle tools out of the reach of children and other untrained persons. Tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users. Maintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained tools with sharp cutting edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control. Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, and any other condition that may affect the tool's operation. If damaged, have the tool serviced before using. Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained tools. Use only accessories that are recommended by the manufacturer for your model. Accessories that may be suitable for one tool, may become hazardous when used on another tool. Keep the tool and its handle dry, clean and free from oil and grease. Always use a clean cloth when cleaning. Never use brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum-based products, or any strong solvents to clean your tool. Following this rule will reduce the risk of loss of control and deterioration of the enclosure plastic. PERSONAL SAFETY Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating a power tool. Do not use tool while tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment of inattention while operating power tools may result in serious personal injury. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Contain long hair. Keep your hair, clothing, and gloves away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be caught in moving parts. Avoid accidental starting. Be sure switch is off before plugging in. Carrying tools with your finger on the Page 3 GENERAL SAFETY RULES SERVICE Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed by unqualified personnel may result in a risk of injury. When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow Maintenance Instructions may create a risk of shock or injury. SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES Hold 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 make exposed metal parts of the cutting tool "live" and shock the operator. Make sure your extension cord is in good condition. When using an extension cord, be sure to use one heavy enough to carry the current your product will draw. A wire gage size (A.W.G.) of at least 14 is recommended for an extension cord 50 feet or less in length. A cord exceeding 100 feet is not recommended. If in doubt, use the next heavier gage. The smaller the gage number, the heavier the cord. An undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of power and overheating. Inspect for and remove all nails from lumber before using this tool. Following this rule will reduce the risk of serious personal injury. Drugs, alcohol, medication. Do not operate tool while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or any medication. Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or serious personal injury. Save these instructions. Refer to them frequently and use them to instruct others who may use this tool. If you loan someone this tool, loan them these instructions also. ADDITIONAL SAFETY RULES Know your power tool. Read operator's manual carefully. Learn its applications and limitations, as well as the specific potential hazards related to this tool. Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock, fire, or serious injury. Always wear safety glasses. Everyday eyeglasses have only impact-resistant lenses; they are NOT safety glasses. Following this rule will reduce the risk of serious personal injury. Protect your lungs. Wear a face or dust mask if the operation is dusty. Following this rule will reduce the risk of serious personal injury. Protect your hearing. Wear hearing protection during extended periods of operation. Following this rule will reduce the risk of serious personal injury. Inspect tool cords periodically and, if damaged, have repaired at your nearest Authorized Service Center. Constantly stay aware of cord location. Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock or fire. Check damaged parts. Before further use of the tool, a guard or other part that is damaged should be carefully checked to determine that it will operate properly and perform its intended function. Check for alignment of moving parts, binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, mounting, and any other conditions that may affect i ...