Scribed shoulders for tenons into round legs, ie pedestal tables.
I would think Whitehill tools would have blanks or most saw doctors would have a source.
This is the bottom block from my TM/3
The angled edge is the top, it is to give relief behind the cutting edge.
Cutters are handed for top and bottom blocks you can't switch them round.
Bottom on left, top on right
all bottom
Blanks
How long have you left it powered up?
The hum and resistance sounds to me like the electric brake, this will engage when first powering up the saw, it should cancel out after 20 or 30 seconds then you should be able to start the saw.