metal dust build-up (?) in cut off saw

Disassemble as much as possible, then knock it out with a drift and a hammer. It should be fairly brittle, but be careful you don't crack the guard. Maybe prising with a chiselly-shaped piece of mild steel. It is (as you described) a powdered metal conglomeration which has sintered into place.

-- Jeff R.

I used to have stalagmites grow where the saw spit the red hot chips. Sometimes it would grow big enough to touch the blade. A smack with a hammer on a long screwdriver knocked it loose. I was always afraid that it would cut loose at the right moment and kayo me, but it was fun watching it grow until I thought it was big enough to hurt me.

Steve

It's simply a buildup of fused sparks. It breaks off easily, take a long rod and tap on it in various directions with a hammer. You'll soon learn to live with it. A little $8 air hammer with a chisel bit really takes the stuff out.

GWE

Why bother?

Gunner

Political Correctness

A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical liberal minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a turd by the clean end.