BOSCH GKS 18V-68 GC Cordless Circular Saw Instructions

: June 12, 2024
: Bosch

Table of Contents

Safety Instructions
Safety instructions for circular saws
Product Description and Specifications
Product features
Technical data
Fitting
Operation
Maintenance and Service
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

BOSCH GKS 18V-68 GC Cordless Circular Saw Instructions

Safety Instructions

General Power Tool Safety Warnings
WARNING Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations and specifications provided with this power tool. Failure to follow all instructions listed below 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 or moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase the risk of electricshock.
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 a 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 in the 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 turningthe 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 and clothing away from moving 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.
Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use of tools allow you to become complacent and ignore tool safety principles. A careless action can cause severe injury within a fraction of a second.

Power tool use and care

Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power tool for your application. The correct power tool will dothe 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 remove the battery pack, if detachable, 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 and accessories. 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.
Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean and free from oil and grease. Slippery handles and grasping surfaces do not allow for safe handling and control of the tool in unexpected situations.

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 fromother 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.
Do not use a battery pack or tool that is damaged or modified. Damaged or modified batteries may exhibit unpredictable behaviour resulting in fire, explosion or risk of injury.
Do not expose a battery pack or tool to fire or excessive temperature. Exposure to fire or temperature above 130°C may cause explosion.
Follow all charging instructions and do not charge the battery pack or tool outside the temperature rangespecified in the instructions. Charging improperly or at temperatures outside the specified range may damage the battery and increase the risk of fire.

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.
Never service damaged battery packs. Service of battery packs should only be performed by the manufacturer or authorized service providers.

Safety instructions 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 the workpiece in your hands or across your leg while cutting. Secure the workpiece to a stableplatform. It is important to support the work properly to minimise body exposure, blade binding, or loss of control.
Hold the power tool by insulated gripping surfaces, when performing an operation where the cutting toolmay contact hidden wiring. Contact with a “live” wire will also make exposed metal parts of the power tool “live” and could give the operator an electric shock.
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 offcentre, 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.

Lower guard function

Check the lower guard for proper closing before each use. Do not operate the saw if the lower guard does not move freely and close instantly. Never clamp or tie the lower guard into the open position.If the saw is accidentally dropped, the 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.
The lower guard may be retracted manually only for special cuts such as “plunge cuts” and “compound cuts”. Raise the lower guard by the retracting handle and as soon as the 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 the 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 allow the chip ejector to come into contact with your hands. You may be injured by rotating parts.
Do not use the saw above the level of your head. Doing so will mean you have inadequate control of the power tool.
Use suitable detectors to determine if there are hidden supply lines or contact the local utility company for assistance. Contact with electric cables can cause fire and electric shock. Damaging gas lines can lead to explosion. Breaking water pipes causes property damage.
Hold the power tool firmly with both hands and make sure you have a stable footing. The power tool can be more securely guided with both hands.
Do not operate the power tool when stationary . It is not suitable for operation with a saw table.
When performing plunge cuts which are not rightangled, secure the guide plate of the saw so that it will not shift sideways.In the event of a sideways shift, the saw blade may become jammed, which could lead to kickback.
Secure the workpiece. A workpiece clamped with clamping devices or in a vice is held more secure than by hand.
Always wait until the power tool has come to a complete stop before placing it down. The application tool can jam and cause you to lose control of the power tool.
Do not use HSS saw blades. Such saw blades can easily break.
Do not saw any ferrous metals. Hot chips may ignite the dust extractor.
Wear a dust mask.
In case of damage and improper use of the battery, vapours may be emitted. The battery can set alight or explode. Ensure the area is well ventilated and seek medical attention should you experience any adverse effects. The vapours may irritate the respiratory system.
Do not open the battery. There is a risk of short-circuiting.
The battery can be damaged by pointed objects such as nails or screwdrivers or by force applied externally. An internal short circuit may occur, causing the battery to burn, smoke, explode or overheat.
Only use the battery with products from the manufacturer. This is the only way in which you can protect the battery against dangerous overload.

Product Description and Specifications

Read all the safety and general instructions.
Failure to observe the safety and general instructions may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious injury. Please observe the illustrations at the beginning of this operating manual.

Intended use
The power tool is intended for making straight cuts in wood with and against the grain and mitre cuts in wood while resting firmly against the workpiece. With the Bluetooth® Low Energy Module GCY 42 inserted, power tool data and settings can be transferred between the power tool and a mobile device by means of Bluetooth® wireless technology.

Product features

The numbering of the product features refers to the diagram of the power tool on the graphics page.
Overview

Lock-off function for on/off switch
On/off switch
User Interface a)
Auxiliary handle
Adjusting lever for mitre/bevel angle preselection
Wing bolt for parallel guide
Scale for mitre/bevel angles
Cut mark 45° (0° on GKS 18V-68 GC)
Cut mark 0° (45° on GKS 18V-68 GC)
Spindle lock button
Parallel guide
Retracting blade guard
Base plate
Adjusting lever for retracting blade guard
Wing bolt for mitre/bevel angle preselectiona)
Protective guard
Cutting depth scale
Chip ejector
Rechargeable batteryb)
Cover for GCY 42 Bluetooth® Low Energy Module
Bluetooth® Low Energy Module GCY 42b)
Button for cutting depth preselectiona)
Lever for cutting depth preselection
Handle (insulated gripping surface)
Saw spindle
Mounting flange
Circular saw bladeb)
Clamping flange
Clamping bolt with washer
Rechargeable battery release buttonb)
Hex key
Dust/chip boxb)
Pair of screw clampsb)
Battery charge indicator (user interface)a)
ECO mode indicator (user interface)a)
Speed preselection button (user interface)a)
Speed setting/mode indicator (user interface)a)
Smartphone symbol (user interface)a)
Power tool status indicator (user interface)a)
Temperature indicator (user interface)a)
Guide railb)
Extraction hoseb)
Connection piecea)b)
Groove for Bosch and Mafell guide rail systemsa)
Groove for Festool and Makita guide rail systemsa)
a) only for GKS 18V-68 GC
b) Accessories shown or described are not included with the product as standard. You can find the complete selection of accessories in our accessories range.

Technical data

A) Measured at 20–25 °C with rechargeable battery ProCORE18V 8.0Ah.
B) Depends on battery in use
C) Limited performance at temperatures < 0 °C
D) The mobile terminal devices must be compatible with Bluetooth® Low Energy devices (version 4.2) and support the Generic Access Profile (GAP).
E) The signal range may vary greatly depending on external conditions, including the receiving device used. The Bluetooth® range may be significantly weaker inside closed rooms and through metallic barriers (e.g. walls, shelving units, cases, etc.).

Rechargeable battery

Bosch sells some cordless power tools without a rechargeable battery. You can tell whether a rechargeable battery is included with the power tool by looking at the packaging.

Charging the battery

Use only the chargers listed in the technical data. Only these chargers are matched to the lithium-ion battery of your power tool.
Note: Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries are supplied partially charged according to international transport regulations. To ensure full rechargeable battery capacity, fully charge the rechargeable battery before using your tool forthe first time.

Inserting the Battery
Push the charged battery into the battery holder until it clicks into place.

Removing the Battery
To remove the rechargeable battery, press the battery release button and pull the battery out. Do not use force to do this. The rechargeable battery has two locking levels to prevent the battery from falling out if the battery release button is pressed unintentionally. The rechargeable battery is held in place by a spring when fitted in the power tool.

Battery charge indicator
The green LEDs on the battery charge indicator indicate the state of charge of the battery. For safety reasons, it is only possible to check the state of charge when the power tool is not in operation. Press the button for the battery charge indicator or to show the state of charge. This is also possible when the battery is removed.

Recommendations for Optimal Handling of the Battery
Protect the battery against moisture and water. Only store the battery within a temperature range of −20 to 50 °C. Do not leave the battery in your car in the summer, for example. Occasionally clean the ventilation slots on the battery using asoft brush that is clean and dry. A significantly reduced operating time after charging indicates that the battery has deteriorated and must be replaced. Follow the instructions on correct disposal.

Fitting

Only use saw blades the maximum permitted speed of which is higher than the no-load speed of the power tool.

Using the Bluetooth® Low Energy Module GCY 42
Read the corresponding operating instructions for information about the Bluetooth® Low Energy Module GCY 42.

Inserting/changing the circular saw blade

Remove the battery from the power tool before carrying out work on the power tool (e.g. maintenance, changing tool, etc.). The battery should also be removed for transport and storage. There is risk of injury from unintentionally pressing the on/off switch.
Wear protective gloves when fitting the saw blade. Danger of injury when touching the saw blade.
Only use saw blades that match the specifications given in this operating manual and that are tested and marked in accordance with EN 847-1
The permitted speed of the application tool must be at least equal to the maximum speed marked on the power tool. If accessories run faster than their rated speed, they may break and fly off.
Do not use abrasive wheels as the application tool under any circumstances.

Removing the saw blade (see figure A)

To change tools, we recommend that you place the power tool down on the front side of the motor housing.

Press and hold the spindle lock button (10).
Do not press the spindle lock button (10) while the saw spindle is moving. The power tool may become damaged if this happens.
Use the hex key (31) to undo the clamping bolt (29) in rotational direction ➊.
Swing the retracting blade guard (12) back and hold on to it firmly.
Remove the clamping flange (28) and the saw blade (27) from the saw spindle (25).

Fitting the saw blade (see figure A)
To change tools, we recommend that you place the power tool down on the front side of the motor housing.

Clean the saw blade (27) and all the clamping elements to be fitted.
Swing the retracting blade guard (12) back and hold on to it firmly.
Place the saw blade (27) on the mounting flange (26). The cutting direction of the teeth (direction of the arrow on the saw blade) must match the rotational direction of the arrow on the retracting blade guard (12).
Attach the clamping flange (28) and screw in the clamping bolt (29) in rotational direction ➋. Ensure that the mounting flange (26) and clamping flange (28) are installed in the correct position.
Press and hold the spindle lock button (10).
Use the hex key (31) to tighten the clamping bolt (29) in rotational direction ➋. The tightening torque should be 6–9 Nm, which corresponds to hand-tight plus ¼ turn.

Chip ejector (see figure B)

The chip ejector (18) can turn freely. An extraction hose with a diameter of 35 mm or a dust/chip box (32) can be connected to the chip ejector (18). To ensure optimum extraction, the chip ejector (18) must be cleaned regularly.

External dust extraction
Connect the dust extraction hose (42) to a dust extractor (accessory). You will find an overview of how to connect tovarious dust extractors at the end of these operating instructions. The dust extractor must be suitable for the material being worked. When extracting dry dust that is especially detrimental to health or carcinogenic, use a special dust extractor.

Operation

Remove the battery from the power tool before carrying out work on the power tool (e.g. maintenance, changing tool, etc.). The battery should also be removed for transport and storage. There is risk of injury from unintentionally pressing the on/off switch.

Operating modes

Remove the battery before carrying out any work on the power tool.

Setting the cutting depth (see figures D–E)

Adapt the cutting depth to the thickness of the workpiece. A space of less than the height of one full tooth should be visible under the workpiece.

Sawing with a parallel guide (see figure F)

The parallel guide (11) allows you to make precise cuts along the edge of a workpiece and cut strips with the same dimensions. Slide the guide rod of the parallel guide (11) through the guide into the base plate (13). Mount the parallel guide (11) with the wing bolt (6).

Sawing with an auxiliary guide (see figure G)

For working on large workpieces or for cutting straight edges, you can securely fasten a board or rail to the workpiece as an auxiliary guide. The circular saw can be guided along the path of this auxiliary guide with the base plate.

Sawing with the guide rail (see figures H – I)

GKS 18V-68 GC
You can use the guide rail (41) to produce straight cuts. The adhesive layer prevents the guide rail from slipping and preserves the surface of the workpiece. The guide rail’s coating allows the power tool to glide more easily. Place the circular saw directly on the guide rail (41). Fasten the guide rail (41) to the workpiece using suitable clamping devices, e.g. screw clamps, so that the narrow side of the guide rail (41) is facing the saw blade. The guide rail (41) must not protrude over the edge of the workpiece being sawn into. Switch on the power tool and push it gently in the cutting direction, guiding it evenly.

Maintenance and Service

Maintenance and Cleaning

Remove the battery from the power tool before carrying out work on the power tool (e.g. maintenance, changing tool, etc.). The battery should also be removed for transport and storage. There is risk of injury from unintentionally pressing the on/off switch.
To ensure safe and efficient operation, always keep the power tool and the ventilation slots clean.

The retracting blade guard must always be able to move freely and retract automatically. It is therefore important to keep the area around the retracting blade guard clean at all times. Remove dust and chips with a paintbrush. Non-coated saw blades can be protected against corrosion using a thin layer of acid-free oil. Remove the oil again before sawing as failure to do so will stain the wood. Resin or glue residue on the saw blade has a detrimental effect on the quality of the cut. You should therefore clean saw blades straight after use.

Great Britain
Robert Bosch Ltd. (B.S.C.)
P.O. Box 98
Broadwater Park
North Orbital Road
Denham Uxbridge
UB 9 5HJ
At www.bosch-pt.co.uk you can order spare parts or arrange the collection of a product in need of servicing or repair.
Tel. Service: (0344) 7360109
E-Mail: boschservicecentre@bosch.com