Makita USA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced a recall of 180,000 Makita circular saws. According to the CPSC, the saws' lower blade guard can jam, bringing the user in contact with the saw blade.
The recalled saws are 7 1/4-inch circular saws with a blue-green housing. Model number 5740NB appears on the silver blade guard, and the name "Makita" appears on the blade guard and on a silver plate on the motor housing. Retailers sold the saws from April 1998 to November 2002 for between $99 and $119.
Saws with an "N" before the serial number and a blue dot on the shipping carton are not part of the recall.
So far neither Makita nor the CPSC has received a report of an injury caused by the saw, CPSC spokesman Scott Wolfson says. However, the CPSC warns consumers to stop using the saws immediately.
Free repairs are available at any Makita factory service center. The company will arrange for pickup or shipping if service centers are inconvenient, Wolfson says. For more information on the recall, contact Makita USA at (800) 462-5482 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.