Blade Cleaning

Try letting it sit in Simple Green for the night.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

naptha is what i use to clean glue, pitch, on every blade. Handsaws, planes,etc. Works well

-- Pretzel L8agn

I’ll second the Simple Green. It works wonders, though I have to hide it from the wife who keeps wanting to use it in the house (how am I supposed to find it there?).

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

I use spray on oven cleaner and let it sit for 10-15 minutes.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

Ditto on the Simple Green. It has cleaned up my blade every time.

-- http://ragtimewoodwork.blogspot.com/

Simple green is good, but try this and you can find it at home depot. It’s called Krud Kutter. spray it on, let it sit for a few minutes and usually just wipe it off. the really hard stuff you can use a brass brush on. the brass is softer than steel so it won’t scratch it.

-- Joey, Magee, Ms http://woodnwaresms.com

I have used oven cleaner on mine a few times, but will give the simple green a shot ans it is much better for me and the enviorment. I have never thought to use it for blades. We keep a gallon jug around for everything else.
Thanks for the heads up.

-- Frank Auge---Nichols NY----"My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked, but it is price competitive."

It’s odd that the Boeshield cleaner wasn’t able to cut it. Was this the first time using it? If not, has it ever been successful in the past?
When I was researching blade cleaners after buying a decent blade I wanted to keep for a long time, I came across so many differing opinions on the safety of using oven cleaner and simple green on your carbide tip blades. The consensus though was that there was too much danger in breaking down the compound that held the carbide tips on. So I erred on the side of caution and bought the blade cleaner from Rockler. It has gotten everything off my blades. But as for the question as to why the boeshield didn’t work, dunno…

-- David, Lakeland, FL - GO BOLTS!!!

What type(s) of wood had you been cutting – anything unusual?

I have found that Lestoil works better than anything else I’ve tried. Acetone would probably work well, but would be a little concerned about the flammable fumes.

But I am surprised that the Boeshield didn’t work well.

JimC

Orange oil works too, also biodegradable and you can dilute it afterward and pour it on your fire ant mounds!

-- North Texas

Greased lightning takes the pitch and residue off any blade in minutes… works like a champ for me…

-- Tom's Workbench - http://tomsworkbench.com

and don’t forget the krud kutter. works pretty good.

-- Make things with wood.

Thanks folks for all of the advice! I have krud Kutter on hand, will try that next rime.

I have been cutting primarily Red Oak, Maple, Maghoney, some pine, lots of Plywood, and I think the culprit, laminations with TiteBond III.

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

Oven cleaner – its free from the kitchen, just don’t tell the wife

Any citric acid (orange, lemon, lime) works well and its environmentally friendly. Invest in a copper (they make them for cleaning suede shoes) or bronze brush, its harder than nylon, but not hard enough to damage steel or carbide.

-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)

Pine will do it too.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Ok let me pay this favour forward. Arm and Hammer Washing soda is the fastest and best cleaner out there for saw blades. A box of this will last a lifetime and works better than anything I’ve tried and I’ve tried them all. Add a tablespoon to some warm water and soak your blade in it for 10 minutes or so. A gentle cleanse with an old toothbrush and it’s new again. No effort, no scubbing, no expensive wasteof time, no kidding.
Go for it.

-- Paul

sure you grabbed the right container??
just had to say it.

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

Anyone else heard that oven cleaners can deteriorate the glue that bonds the carbide teeth? Maybe a myth, but I’ve seen it written in many places.

-- Jeff, South Carolina

Jeff, I think that is an urban legend. (?) It is nasty stuff though. I have found the new ‘blue can’ oven cleaner for self cleaning ovens to be much nicer stuff to use. You don’t have to wear gloves or anything.

I still like simple green myself to get 90% of it off.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

The oven cleaner has a chemical in it that “can” soften the brazing that holds the teeth on. I have been told this by a few guys that sharpen blades for a living. Just the idea of it having a chance is more then enough to keep me from using it.

I have not tried the Arm and Hammer approach while it may be worth a shot.

I have used oven cleaner , somtimes with the aid of a brass wire brush with good results, and agree with those who have used this method. It may be a little messy but cardboard scrap or paper towels under the blade works.
I do not use gloves but this is a matter of choice.

Norm.

” exceptions to the rule should not become the rule “

WD-40 cleans a lot of residue.

-- Maplewood, MN

I repeat this thread is no longer valid. Arm and Hammer super washing soda, warm water,wait 10-30 minutes, gentle cleanse…...done. As a matter a fact I should buy 50 pounds of this stuff, portion it off and sell it as blade cleaner at 50 times the price !!! Trust me on this jocks, it’s the best thing going.

-- Paul

CMT blade cleaner is the best I’ve ever used…..

JC

-- Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known. -Carl Sagan

I have had problems like this when cutting plywood. For that reason I have a sepate blade (40 tooth) for only plywood and when I am done, i soak it in naptha for a few minutes, then hit it with a soft brisle tooth brush and it cleans right up.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

i use simple green. its less expensive (like the router mats they cost like 20 dollars at Rockler and i just use the ones i get at a food store for 5$) and it works great.