Chop Saw Inrush Current Limiter?
Given that it is a brushed motor, your idea should work.  I would be tempted to put a light bulb in parallel with the resistor, to give you a visual indication that the saw has spun up.

(Note that the fact that it's a universal motor means that it's going to pull a lot of current on startup, or when it's stalled -- a too-fast circuit breaker would definitely pop).