New ts55 blade question:

[Steve641]

Hi All. Just a quick question. I just received my new ts55. Question is, do I need to remove and clean the blade before first use? There seems to be some kind of substance on the blade. I believe it’s to prevent rust while sitting in inventory. I tried to do a search first, but didn’t come up with anything. Just wondering what you guys do. Thanks in advance.

 

[ScotF]

Hi All. Just a quick question. I just received my new ts55. Question is, do I need to remove and clean the blade before first use? There seems to be some kind of substance on the blade. I believe it’s to prevent rust while sitting in inventory. I tried to do a search first, but didn’t come up with anything. Just wondering what you guys do. Thanks in advance.

Yes - it is cosmoline to protect from rust. Take it off and clean it with a blade cleaner.

 

[Steve641]

That’s what I was looking for. Thanks so much.

 

[Alanbach]

If you don’t have blade cleaner on hand you can use paint thinner or mineral spirits.

 

[Birdhunter]

Mineral spirits are safer than paint thinner in my opinion and work well. Just wear safety glasses and really wash your hands afterwards.

Sounds silly, but be sure you have the blade correctly oriented when reinstalling it.

 

[Alanbach]

[member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] - Haha! not silly at all! A couple of years ago a neighbor called me and asked if I would come over and help him figure out why his table saw was not cutting properly and burning the wood terribly. He had just replaced his older right tilt table saw with a brand new left tilt saw. When he bought the new saw he also bought a brand new Forrest blade. When he installed it he put it on label side out as he had always done on his right tilt saw. He did not pay attention to the direction of rotation so the blade was backwards. In one pass he stripped every carbide tooth of that blade effectively ruining it. Like I said, not silly at all!