Cleaning pitch off Saw blades

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 1:46 am

wgander wrote:I've been satisfied with oven cleaner. I let it sit for a few minutes and then wipe the blade with a green 3M pad. A thorough rinse with fresh water and towel dry: blade looks new.
The video says caustic stuff can weaken the bond of carbide tips but cites no facts and I don't know if there's any truth to that.

I don't know if I would want a carbide tip buried in my forehead to prove it!!!:D

wgander · Post by **wgander** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:24 am

but...is there any truth to it?
Just because someone says its possible doesn't mean it's true.
Many people just express their opinions as fact. We used to refer to such statements as old wives tales; I prefer to refer to them more accurately as opinions, usually of ignorant or prejudiced people.

beeg · Post by **beeg** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 2:06 pm

wgander wrote:but...is there any truth to it?

And he does have a vested interest in the Rockler product.

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 6:52 pm

[quote="wgander"]but...is there any truth to it?
Just because someone says its possible doesn't mean it's true.
Many people just express their opinions as fact. We used to refer to such statements as old wives tales]
If you noticed the smiley face on my post you should know I was joking. Or at least I thought so. That being said, I am one to err on the side of safety, so, if you don't mind, I don't think I will take your doubt as being the truth. Maybe it does and maybe it doesn't, but as I said, I don't want to be the one with a saw tooth planted in my forehead to prove that it does weaken the bond.

fixit · Post by **fixit** » Sat Oct 17, 2009 11:12 pm

Woodcraft sells a bottle of pinkish colored blade cleaner in concentrate form. You mix it with water. Let a blade soak in it for about five to ten minutes and use a toothbrush (or other soft bristle brush) to go over the blade tips. Removes build up easily and is re-usable. I have a batch I've now used for at least five blade cleanings and it is still going strong. All I do is empty the sediment from the container after pouring the clean solution into the pan the next time I'm soaking the blades.

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 1:27 am

fixit wrote:Woodcraft sells a bottle of pinkish colored blade cleaner in concentrate form. You mix it with water. Let a blade soak in it for about five to ten minutes and use a toothbrush (or other soft bristle brush) to go over the blade tips. Removes build up easily and is re-usable. I have a batch I've now used for at least five blade cleanings and it is still going strong. All I do is empty the sediment from the container after pouring the clean solution into the pan the next time I'm soaking the blades.

Yep! That's the stuff I use and it works very well, thank you.

Believe it or not it's name is "Woodcraft Premium Resin Remover". Sorta quaint, huh? I have a little round, plastic lazy Suzan that the blades just fit into. Just immerse the blade for a few minutes (longer if real dirty) and brush off with a brass brush or even a (stiff) tooth brush will do. Repeat if needed. No caustic substances or breathing apparatus needed. Works great on router bits also. Just be sure to remove any bearings before immersing the bit or you will remove the lubricant and ruin the bearing.

tdubnik · Post by **tdubnik** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 4:50 am

I use Oxi Clean. I just mix it up and pour it into a container that my blade will fit in. Soak for an hour or so and they wipe clean. No noxious fumes at all.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:33 am

This test of oven cleaner on carbide tips seems to indicate what The Wood Whisperer claims (as well as dozens of other web sites that only seem to offer anecdotal evidence - if any) may not be so:

http://www.carbideprocessors.com/carbid ... leaner.htm

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Sun Oct 18, 2009 9:42 am

Anyone have any experience using mineral spirits bath to remove the pitch? Several websites claim it works.

heathicus · Post by **heathicus** » Mon Oct 19, 2009 12:25 pm

wgander wrote:but...is there any truth to it?
Just because someone says its possible doesn't mean it's true.
Many people just express their opinions as fact. We used to refer to such statements as old wives tales]

I asked Mark (The Wood Whisperer) about his oven cleaner comment and provided the link to the page I previously liked to in this forum that stated oven cleaner did NOT effect the carbide or the braze alloy. I asked what he based his comment on, and this was his reply:

&quot wrote:It could very well be one of those overblown myths that get repeated so many times, people think its absolute truth. Sort of like PVC blowing up shops and never using varnish on a cutting board. But years ago, I read an article or something from the President of Freud where he stated that common oven cleaner attacks the tri-metal brazing they use. So for me, if one pres. of one particular blade manufacturer states that it could be a problem for their particular blades, that’s cause enough for me to take caution with any blade. And part of the reason for this defaulting to caution without much further investigation, is because the less harmful alternatives are so easily accessible and work really well. So I figure, why use something so caustic as oven cleaner when Simple Green and citrus cleaners do the job quite nicely. Of course that’s just my opinion.

The only reference I could find to the Frued comments are on NewWoodworker: http://www.newwoodworker.com/clnblades.html

Since his comment and the evidence to the contrary were discussed here, I thought his response should be shared here as well.

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Cleaning pitch off Saw blades

caustic and carbide