thank you for your reply! i don't know if this changes anything, this saw hasn't seen over a dozen hours in action since i bought it new, and the brushes look new. the repairman checked the motor, said it "looks like its never been hot", and brushed me off. yet the thing wont cut. is there a reason why the blade would want to cut out of a straight line, jamming itself this way? thank you for your reply! i don't know if this changes anything, this saw hasn't seen over a dozen hours in action since i bought it new, and the brushes look new. the repairman checked the motor, said it "looks like its never been hot", and brushed me off. yet the thing wont cut. is there a reason why the blade would want to cut out of a straight line, jamming itself this way?