TELEPHONE HOTLINE UPDATE

• Emerson Tool Co. (ETC) is providing a repair kit consisting of a new blade guard or $100 to owners of certain Craftsman® 8-inch, 8¼-inch, 9-inch, and 10-inch Radial Arm Saws. Sears sold the 8-inch, 9-inch, and 10-inch saws from 1958 through 1992. The 8¼-inch saws were sold from 1990 through 1995. Is my saw part of this recall? 12 inch saws are not eligible for kit OR Rebate.
  
  
• These saws were sold without a guard that covers the entire blade. Some consumers have contacted the blade or have been hit by wood kicked back by the saws, resulting in amputations, fractures and lacerations.
  
  
• The kit will be provided to owners whose 10-inch saws are retrofitable with the kit. If the saw is not retrofitable (certain 10-inch and all 8-inch, 8¼-inch and 9-inch Saws), the owner must return the radial arm saw carriage/motor assembly to Emerson to receive the $100.

Additional Facts

• For anyone who owns a Craftsman® 8-inch, 8¼-inch, 9-inch, and 10-inch Radial Arm that cannot be retrofitted, ETC will provide $100 for the return of the radial arm saw carriage/motor assembly. Enter your model number in the “Check RAS Model” link, or call toll-free (800) 511-2628. Sears should not be contacted, as ETC is handling this program.
  
  
• ETC believes that its radial arm saws have always represented the state-of-the-art at the time they were manufactured and distributed. Prior to 1992, ETC's radial arm saws included active guarding devices such as the nose-blade guard and the anti-kickback pawls. When used in accordance with the operating instructions that accompany each saw, these guards provide the necessary protection needed for their safe operation. In 1992, ETC developed a complete blade guarding system and immediately began including it as standard equipment on all its radial arm saws, with the exception of certain 8-1/4" model saws that do not accept the guard. This proven guarding system does not require as much action on the part of the saw operator to achieve protection.

See Press Release below and the Installation/Removal section.

IS YOUR RADIAL ARM SAW INCLUDED?

CPSC, Emerson Tool Co. Announce Recall of Craftsman® Radial Arm Saws Sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Emerson Tool Co., of St. Louis, Mo., is recalling about 3.7 million Craftsman® radial arm saws for repair. These radial arm saws were sold without a guard that covers the entire blade. Consumers have come into contact with the blade or have been hit by pieces of wood kicked back by the saws, resulting in severe injuries.

CPSC and Emerson have received about 300 reports of injuries while using these saws. Injuries include hand and finger amputations; lacerated hands, arms and fingers; fractured hands and fingers; and facial injuries.

Emerson is offering a free repair kit that provides a complete blade guard. Consumers should stop using their Craftsman® radial arm saws immediately and call Emerson Tool Co. to determine if their saw is recalled and to ensure that they have proper safety and use instructions. Consumers should have the model and serial numbers of their saw available when they call.

The recalled Craftsman® 8-, 8¼-, 9- and 10-inch radial arm saws have a model number beginning with 113, usually located on the base of the saw. The brand name "Craftsman®" and store name "Sears" are written on the saws.

Sears stores and catalogs sold the 8-, 9- and 10-inch saws from 1958 through 1992. The 8¼-inch saws were sold from 1990 through 1995. The saws sold for between $100 and $700, depending on the model, year purchased and accessories.

For older model saws and others that cannot accept the new guard, Emerson will provide $100 for the return of the saw carriage. Consumers must contact Emerson to receive a free repair kit or to return their saw carriage/motor assembly. Saws should not be returned to Sears.

The new guarding system provides a substantial safety improvement over guarding systems manufactured before 1993. Even if consumers have purchased a lower guard for their saw, they should still replace it with the new guard system.

For more information, call Emerson at (800) 511-2628 anytime, or visit the firm's web site at www.radialarmsawrecall.com.

To see a picture of the recalled product(s) and/or to establish a link from your web site to this press release on CPSC's web site, link to the following address: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml01/01031.html. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. For information on CPSC's fax-on-demand service, call the above numbers or visit the web site at http://cpsc.gov/about/who.html. To order a press release through fax-on-demand, call (301) 504-0051 from the handset of your fax machine and enter the release number. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's web site at http://www.cpsc.gov.

Receive Press Releases by Email: To subscribe to this convenient service, send an email containing your full name, position, organization, mailing address, email address, phone number and fax number to: kdulic@cpsc.gov.

IS YOUR RADIAL ARM SAW INCLUDED?

TELEPHONE HOTLINE UPDATE

Consumers with questions about their Craftsman® 8-inch, 8¼-inch, 9-inch, and 10-inch radial arm saws should call (800) 511-2628 Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (EST). We apologize to those who have been unable to get through and thank everyone for their patience.