Cleaning blades ??

festoolviking

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Joined
Jul 7, 2009
Messages
361
Hi!

I finally got around to get the Panther blade for my TS55, first of all what a blade!
First try on 16mm MDF it ripped thru it like butter. I almost thought I've forgotten to plunge the saw.  [big grin]

Anyway, when I took off my 48T blade and had a closer look I realised it's quite "dirty", so now to the question:

What do you use for cleaning your blades?  ???

Festoolviking
 
CMT orange bit and blade cleaner. Depending how bad they are I'll use a tooth brush, nylon or brass bristle brush.
 
Alex said:
WD40 works great.
BBuild said:
CMT orange bit and blade cleaner. Depending how bad they are I'll use a tooth brush, nylon or brass bristle brush.

Thanks for the replies, I will start with WD40 and check the result. I'm not sure about a bristle brush, isn't there a risk of making the tips blunt? I'll start with a tooth brush.  [smile]

Here's a "before" picture:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/4zvx5zv8nhf3crs/Photo%202013-05-31%2021%2026%2041.jpg

Festoolviking
 
Yes that needs a cleaning!!!  I use the cmt orange as well!  Works great on router bits as well!  I do use a toothbrush but its not always firm enough to take off the crap that sticks to the blades.
 
festoolviking said:
I'm not sure about a bristle brush, isn't there a risk of making the tips blunt?  [smile]

Zero chance. But I don't think you'll need it, a tooth brush should do.
 
builderbob said:
Yes that needs a cleaning!!!  I use the cmt orange as well!  Works great on router bits as well!  I do use a toothbrush but its not always firm enough to take off the crap that sticks to the blades.

I can second (third) the CMT Orange cleaner. It works brilliantly, combined with an old toothbrush.
 
The CMT Formula 2050 works pretty darn well and smells good. It's also biodegradable and non-toxic.

Tom
 
jonny round boy said:
[I can second (third) the CMT Orange cleaner. It works brilliantly, combined with an old toothbrush.

Where did you buy it from? I can't seem to find a UK stockist.

Looks like Screwfix sold it at some point, but only in clearance now and seemingly no availability in any of the branches.
 
It seems like CMT products is a NAIE (not available in Europe), at least I can't find a reseller outside US and CAN from their website. Maybe there is a similar product available here that will do the same trick?  [sad]

Festoolviking
 
GarryMartin said:
jonny round boy said:
[I can second (third) the CMT Orange cleaner. It works brilliantly, combined with an old toothbrush.

Where did you buy it from? I can't seem to find a UK stockist.

Looks like Screwfix sold it at some point, but only in clearance now and seemingly no availability in any of the branches.

I bought it from Axminster a couple of years ago. Funnily enough, I was cleaning some blades recently & thought "It's running low, I must get some more". Went to Axminster to find they don't stock it anymore. Searched online, saw Screwfix had it on offer, but no stock anywhere. Then I looked elsewhere but couldn't find it anywhere!

I need to have another try today...
 
Just ordered some from Scott & Sargeant. I thought I'd have a look & see if there was anything else on there that took my fancy, and I came across these Maxifix Clamps.

I've used these in the past and they're awesome. I was thinking about buying some of the Bessey K body Revo's, in fact I very nearly pulled the trigger on some a few days ago, but I've just bought four of the Maxifix clamps instead!

That blade cleaner turned out to be very expensive indeed... [eek]

Edit: Don't buy these clamps, they're not the ones I thought they were. The 'proper' maxifix clamps are supplied by Wurth. These ones have arrived, and they appear to be a cheap copy. The bar is aluiminium, not steel, and it bends. They're going back!
 
OK, so I gave the WD40 a go.
First I took a plastic lid off a paint can and put the blade on it.
Sprayed on a lot and let i soak for awhile (does metal soak  ??? )
I also used a small brass bristle brush. I used the brush "following the grain" (tips), don't know if it matters.
The dirt was pretty hard to get off so....

Be careful if your doing the following:

I put a M6 bolt with a few washers and a nut thru the blade.
Then I put the blade in my push-drill, ran it backwards on the lowest speed (200rpm). Held the bristle brush (NO FINGERS  !!!) against the blade for a while, such an easy effort.

Unfortunately the printed green and yellow lines came off but I know what the blade is for.

Anyway here is the result:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/xs7nmi9c84npj0u/Photo%202013-06-01%2012%2021%2041.jpg

Festoolviking
 
I used to use Easy Off Oven Cleaner but, lately I found Simple Green to be much less messy for cleaning blades.

Jack
 
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