Miter Saw Smoking- Causes and Troubleshooting 1. There are several reasons for this to happen which we will discuss in detail here. You can identify this due to a wood-like smell caused by the burning. The other reason and the more common one for this could be that the smoke is coming from the interaction of the blade with the wood. You will have to take it to a proper service center or ship it there. This produces a chemical like the smell and indicates that there is something wrong with the saw itself. It could either come from inside the saw itself due to a problem with the motor. The first thing you have to identify is where exactly the smoke is coming from. This is a very common problem and while it is not a simple one, it can be easily solved with a little research. If your miter saw starts smoking often and you find yourself asking why is my miter saw smoking? Then don’t worry because you’re not alone. After you identify the problem, work through the steps and try to find a solution. This is not inherently dangerous to anyone, but you should still try to fix it as soon as possible. Well, it’s hard to give a straight answer to that because there are a few reasons for the smoke to occur in the first place and it could either be the saw itself or just the blade causing the smoke. What could possibly be the reason? Is it something you have to worry about or ignore for the time being? You’re doing some sawing and you notice that your trusty Dewalt Compound miter saw smoking. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.