Cleaning Saw blades

[Throwback7r]

What does Festool suggest to clean the saw blades for the Ts and Kapex?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Any cleaner made specifically for blades can be used to remove resin and pitch from the blade.

 

[sancho57]

I use crud cutter or trend pitch cleaner

 

[John Bates]

I recommend CMT Orange blade and Bit Cleaner, spray on wait five minutes, wipe off with a cloth, no wire brushing required!

 

[Sparktrician]

I recommend CMT Orange blade and Bit Cleaner, spray on wait five minutes, wipe off with a cloth, no wire brushing required!

+1!  Simple Green does well, too.

 

[tjbnwi]

I also use the CMT cleaner.

Check Simple Green's website, they only recommend one of their cleaners for saw blades. You should avoid the others.

Tom

 

[Brandon]

I like the CMT stuff as well

 

[ZolnerMD]

This is correct. Only the "Simple Green Pro HD" should be used to soak saw blades. Strangely enough, it's purple; I've used it regularly for years and it does a terrific job.

Check Simple Green's website, they only recommend one of their cleaners for saw blades. You should avoid the others.

Tom

 

[Musatoved]

I use this product works really well on blades and router bits  I am really happy with it
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000984/3402/Blade-and-Bit-Cleaner-8-Ounce-Pump-Spray.aspx

 

[The Woodworkers Club]

We go through Gallons of a product called Pitch RX. (We clean our blades daily because of the 150 member demand we have in our shop)

We sell it in our retail store as well. $18.99 a bottle

PitchRx® removes pitch, gum and resin from blades, bits, planer and jointer knives, shaper and moulding bits, carving burrs, files and more. For small pitch build up just spray it on, rinse off and dry thoroughly! For more heavily soiled cutting edges, place in container and soak for 2-3 minutes, agitating occasionally, rinse and dry thoroughly. Some build up may require the use of a toothbrush in addition to soaking, then rinse and dry thoroughly.

This product is:

    Biodegradable
    Silicone Free
    Non-Flammable
    Non-Abrasive
    Phosphate Free

 

[Throwback7r]

Ran to menards and picked up the CMT Orange cleaner did a great job! thanks for everyones help.

 

[bkharman]

I have used CMT for a while now and never noticed that they also recommend using it in an ultrasonic cleaner. Has anyone used one in this capacity?

I have one (wifey gave it up and prefers to hand clean) that I can use.

Let me know successes and failures alike.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[tjbnwi]

I place my blades in a taping compound bucket lid. Cover with CMT cleaner, soak 5 minutes, wipe, return product back to bottle.

I think the only advantage to the ultrasonic cleaner is no wiping needed.

Tom

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Just happened to see this in the WWJ email today and thought I'd share it. Never tried this method myself.

http://bcove.me/fqkcperb

http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/Ezine/Public/TricksoftheTrade.aspx

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I use the washing machine, gets a little loud on spin cycle though. 

 

[bkharman]

I use the washing machine, gets a little loud on spin cycle though.

Ha!

That made me really laugh out loud. My wife looked at me and I told her what it was about and I got the standard eye roll.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Any cleaner made specifically for blades can be used to remove resin and pitch from the blade.

I totally agree with Shane. I strongly suggest only considering cleaners formulated specifically for removing resin, glue and pitch from blades, bits, cutters and knives used in woodworking.

We must remember that we need not only to keep our blades clean and keen, we also must never transfer any substance to the wood which will interfere with finishing the wood. Back in the 1930s when I was being taught woodworking while I was a child using too much light oil to protect hand saws, chisels and plane irons from rust could cause voids when staining the wood. The nasty thing was you could not see the latent spots before it was too late!

During the first Festool End User Class taught by Steve Bace and Brian Sedgeley in Henderson, Steve mentioned dangers of using silicone lubricants because of the void danger. Later in the Solid Surface Class we came to understand why it is bad policy to mix wood dust with SS fabrication or SS dust with wood before it is finished.

Over the years I have used several special blade cleaners. When I resumed professional cabinet making in 2006 I followed the recommendation of my trusted Festool dealer who also sells CMT products. CMT Orange worked for me. But when I started to recruit my master cabinet makers in 2009 4 of the 6 preferred the Felder cleaner. The seven of us conducted tests while the new shop was being built in early 2010. For us the Felder cleaner has proven to work the best.

I did buy an industrial ultrasonic cleaning machine large enough to handle the 550mm blades of the Felder slider saw, using a round pan and the 24" planer/jointer knives with a different pan.

With respect to the blog, I personally shutter at the concept of using laundry detergent which requires a spray to prevent rust after drying. How could a substance which prevents rust not cause voids in a stain finish?

Everyone else's mileage will vary. Trust me, nobody on my payroll would try cleaning my blades with laundry detergent!

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Who said to use laundry detergent? 

 

[bkharman]

Who said to use laundry detergent?

In the WWJ link Shane provided above, they harp on it.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I was just sharing something I saw in the WWJ email newsletter. Don't shoot the messenger.  [tongue]