Guard and control apparatus for safe operation of a rotary cutter

A guard and guard control apparatus for a rotary cutting power tool, where the power tool includes a housing and a housing-mounted on/off switch that can be activated when a user grasps the housing, comprising:

• a guard mechanism for at least partially enclosing a rotary cutting element of said power tool, including a fixed guard member that is fastened to the power tool, a retractable guard member coaxial with the fixed guard member that is rotatable with respect to the fixed guard member, and an extension spring for biasing the retractable guard member toward an un-retracted position that fully encloses said rotary cutting element;
• an auxiliary handle affixed to the housing of the power tool and grasped by the user to stabilize and support said power tool;
• and
• a control apparatus including a spring-biased member on the auxiliary handle that is depressed by the user when the user grasps the auxiliary handle, and latching elements linking said spring-biased member to the retractable guard member so as to hold the retractable guard member in a desired retracted position so long as said user continues to depress said spring-biased member by grasping said auxiliary handle and, and to allow the retractable guard member to return to the un-retracted position under the bias of said extension spring when the user releases the auxiliary handle and said spring-biased member.