(03-10-2021, 06:22 PM)katlorine Wrote: Hello!

I am a relative beginner, and I've just started working with a brand new circular saw (Craftsman, V20, 6 1/2" circular saw). 

At first it was doing just fine while I was cutting some 2x4s, but after 3 cuts the wood started smoking and the halfway thru that 4th cut it would not go any farther thru the piece of wood at all. I took a break for the day thinking I had just put too much stress on it or something, but it wouldn't continue the cut the next day either. Then I thought maybe I had gotten the wrong battery and it wasn't getting enough power, but I checked and that wasn't it. Then I thought maybe I had the wrong type of blade for wood, but that doesn't seem to be the case either. Besides some blurring of the text on the outside of the blade, it doesn't seem to be damaged. There isn't a wobble on the blade either, so it shouldn't be the tool itself. 

I have double and triple checked everything I can think of at this point, and I cannot figure it out. The tool, battery, charger, and blade are all brand new. Does anyone have any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

(03-10-2021, 08:56 PM)Aram Wrote: No offense (really) but I'll ask just to get it out there. Is the blade mounted in the correct orientation?

(03-11-2021, 12:34 AM)chips ahoy Wrote: Good point,also sounds like the blade needs sharpening.New blades are not sharp,so get the blade sharpened.

Mel

(03-10-2021, 07:33 PM)lift mechanic Wrote: It is possibly blade pinch. Start the cut and go until you can see the cut behind the saw. Stick a wood wedge, shim shingle or a flat screw driver in the cut. this will relieve the blade pinch. It could be something else but this is pretty common. I keep a shim shingle on my table saw fence to use if I see the kerf closing up as I cut.

(03-10-2021, 08:56 PM)Aram Wrote: No offense (really) but I'll ask just to get it out there. Is the blade mounted in the correct orientation?

(03-11-2021, 08:19 AM)AHill Wrote: The wood is too wet / has too much moisture content.  The blade heats things up, then the wood expands, closing in on the saw.  Either let the wood dry out more (could take several months) or as lift-mechanic suggested, put a wedge in the gap behind the saw to prevent it.  Keep in mind that when wood is wet, there will still be shrinkage, warping, twisting, or all the above as the wood dries.  If this is a project that requires nice, square joints, I highly recommend waiting until the wood has dried to a moisture content around 8%.  You can find moisture meters online at places like Woodcraft, Lee Valley, and even Amazon.