Blade Cleaning

[Neil]

What should I be using to clean my saw blades? And how often should this be preformed?

In addition, does anyone know of a good place to get blades sharpened on the west side of Toronto (Mississauga area)?

Thanks

Neil

[Mack C. in Brooklin ON]

Hi Neil; do a search on blade cleaning, it's been discussed here more times than I care to mention.

Here's an answer I posted some time ago.
Most guys I see posting here are using some kind of chemical solution. I've posted this product many many times but can't seem to get any one to try it. ARM & HAMMER Washing Soda dissolved in warm water cleans the pitch off a blade in seconds. about a tsp/tbsp to a qt of warm water. It's environmentally sound, ie no phosphates, NTA (?) or bleach. You might have to scrub with a used toothbrush to get inside the gullets.
You ask how often -- whenever your blade is dirty is the best answer I can give. You would probably need to clean more often if you are sawing softwoods rather than hardwoods because of the pitch in pine etc.

[Shelley]

Hi Neil, some swear on the use of oven cleaner for cleaning blades while others will warn that it will loosen the carbide tips. What I use, on not only my blades but on all of my tools and/bits etc to remove pitch build up and of course dirt, is a product called Mean Green. I think I got mine at HD......but it also could have been Walmart. The last time I bought it, I got the gallon jug.....I love this stuff! For blades with a lot of pitch build up, you can soak them for 15 minutes or so in a pie plate and then remove the pitch with a toothbrush. It they aren't too bad, you can generally get away with just spraying them and wiping them down. I clean them when they look dirty.......no set time schedule. A lot depends on the material you are using. I use a great deal of fir and pine so pitch is an issue. Sorry.......I am a little too far west of Toronto to be of any help to you with the sharpening services.
Oh yeah.......minus the dirt, this is what the bottle looks like.

Shelley

[scott in rochester]

I try to keep my blades pretty clean....not after each use, but frequently...about the time I notice pitch buildup.

I've had good success with several methods....most any home degreaser spray works well - 409, Greased Lightning, Simple Green, LA's Totally awesome. Have also had good luck with citrus cleaners like Goo Gone, and have had good success with Boeshield blade n bit cleaner, Easy Off, and even Dawn dishwashing detergent with warm water. Since the oven cleaner seems the messiest and has raised some controversy about it's abrasiveness, I don't bother with it anymore...too many good alternatives.

I use a cover from a 5 gallon pail as a tray, spray the blade, and hit it lightly with a brass brush or toothbrush....done in ~ 3 minutes.

[Brian52]

Hi Neil: I took Mack's recommendation and started using the Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. Totally awesome!! I clean up the blades with an old toothbrush, and save the solution. You can clean blades up to two or three times before you need to renew.

[Mack C. in Brooklin ON]

[quote=Brian52;129737]Hi Neil: I took Mack's recommendation and started using the Arm & Hammer Washing Soda. Totally awesome!! I clean up the blades with an old toothbrush, and

save the solution. You can clean blades up to two or three times before you need to renew.

Hi Brian; that's one on me, never thought of saving it!

[Brent in Montreal]

Hi Neil,

I use Lee Valley blade cleaner. Keep it in a Tupperware container and it's good for quite a few goes. I usually clean my blades after every project and sometimes after milling/before doing joinery if I see the blade has an exceptional amount of resin on it.

[OttawaP]

Mack made me a believer months ago. Cheapest and best way for sure, a good combo.

Paul

[Shelley]

Brent.....does your wife know you have it in a (as in one of her) Tupperware containers??!!! Geez man - I just had a Tupperware Party - first one in over 15 years and believe me although it is a great product and it will last you a lifetime they do not give that stuff away!

Wow.......our fearless leader really is.....fearless! :mrgreen:

On a serious note - you are probably correct with your maintenance of your blades. It is true that more often than not, blades are not necessarily dull but dirty. I really should get into that habit also. I generally do a fairly major cleaning of the shop after each projects completion - taking the air to the nooks and crannies - washing assembly tables and counters and more often than not - polish up the surfaces of my stationary tools but I think I am too lax when it comes to cleaning my blades. Hopefully I will get into the habit of proper maintenance now. But.......whatever my cleaner of choice - you won't catch me using Tupperware! :mrgreen:

I think I will try your Arm & Hammer Washing Soda Mack......sounds like a good alternative to other cleaners.

Shelley

[Bill Simpson]

[QUOTE=Shelley;129751]Brent.....does your wife know you have it in a (as in one of her) Tupperware containers??!!! Geez man - I just had a Tupperware Party - first one in over 15 years and believe me although it is a great product and it will last you a lifetime they do not give that stuff away!

Only a gender perfect Shemale would ever make a statement in public endorsing Tupperware. Not a man jack one that I know can stand the product.

[Brent in Montreal]

Hi Shelley,

Since she doesn't live here anymore, Tupperware has become a great shop accessory.

[john in tecumseh]

Hey guys !! that arm/hammer cleaner sounds good . another good idea is to use Bostik drycote in the blue spray can . I dry the blade and spin it slowly on a nail in the vise while spraying the teeth. just a little bit is enough. it stays clean longer. John

[Lost in the Woods]

Hey Mack, is the Arm and Hammer Washing Soda essentially baking soda in a solution you think. I'm wondering if I could just make my own wash by mixing baking soda and water and letting the blade soak. I bought a bulkish amount of baking soda umpteen years ago and have little use for it.

Kevin

[Mack C. in Brooklin ON]

[quote=Lost in the Woods;129764]Hey Mack,

is the Arm and Hammer Washing Soda essentially baking soda in a solution

Washing Soda and Baking Soda are not chemically identical. It seems to me if you search the cleaning threads someone chemically referenced the difference. I didn't retain that info since I didn't care. I just know to clean my blades with washing soda, and add a pinch of baking soda to my cakes.:lol:

[Lee Brubaker in Edmonton]

For easy pouring of reusable cleaners, get a tinfoil pie plate of appropriate size & simply pinch a pour spout into the rim.

Lee

[Billy]

I have to agree with Mack, washing soda is great and inexpensive.

[Jim Shaver, Oakville Ont.]

[quote=Bill Simpson;129753Only a gender perfect Shemale would ever make a statement in public endorsing Tupperware. Not a man jack one that I know can stand the product.[/quote]


Hey Bill,


What's a Shemale?

I use the method Mack described....works very well.

[Rick in Bothwell]

I've used oven cleaner in the past am now using Boeshield Blade & Bit cleaner. I've got nearly a full box of Arm & Hammer that I got for cleaning up some old planes with eletrolysis. Will have to give it a try for cleaning blades.

[Paul-Vienna]

What should I be using to clean my saw blades? And how often should this be preformed?

In addition, does anyone know of a good place to get blades sharpened on the west side of Toronto (Mississauga area)?

Thanks

Neil

Hi Neil, I used to get my blades sharpened at TJV on Kennedy Rd, just above Courtneypark, usually took a week did a great job
Regards
Paul

[Neil]

Can’t seem to find Arm & Hammer Washing Soda in my local Walmart or Loblaws. Does anyone know where I could purchase a box?