Brand new circular saw smells like burning and stutters

Hey all, just got a new circular saw (DeWalt DWE575) and on the first cut it starts fine but then bogs down and makes this weird grinding noise. Smells like burning too. I'm using a brand new Diablo blade. Any ideas? Is it the saw or something I'm doing wrong?

DeWalt is the best, no doubt. But even the best can have issues. Check the blade direction – it might be on backwards. Also, make sure the arbor nut is tight. If it's loose, the blade can wobble and cause that. If that checks out, could be the motor brushes – but that's unlikely new. Try a different outlet or extension cord, could be voltage drop.

Honestly, I'd return it. New saw should not do that. But before you do, make sure the blade flange is seated properly. And don't force it – let the saw do the work. You might be pushing too hard, which can stall it and cause burning. If it keeps happening, get a Makita instead 😉

I've seen this before – sometimes the blade guard gets stuck and rubs against the blade. Give it a little push to see if it moves freely. Also, check the base plate – if it's warped, it'll cause binding. But if it's new, I'd lean towards a defect. Probably defective motor. Exchange it.