Simple Green for Cleaning Blades?

[Kev Godwin]

Does anyone use Simple Green to clean blades?

Okay to use? Does it need to be diluted or can it be used full strength?

Thx.

Kev

[Joe Spear]

I just cleaned my WWII with Simple Green yesterday. I take a little Simple Green in a can and dilute it with the same amount of water. Then I take a stiff nylon bristle brush (the kind that looks like a big toothbrush) and dip it in the solution. Holding the blade in my hand or flat on a table, I flip the brush so the solution gets onto the teeth. (You could dip a sponge or rag and dab it on.) I wait a half a minute and then start to scrub the sides of the teeth, one side of the blade and then the other, and the top of the teeth. A few passes with the brush, and the gunk comes off the teeth.

I clean my blades pretty often, so I never have a lot of buildup. If you let your blades get really dirty, you might have to soak in the solution for five minutes of so. Then scrub.

When the teeth are clean, rinse in plain water. I do it under the faucet of my slop sink. Then I wipe with a rag to dry, spray with WD-40, and wipe again with another dry rag.

There has been the concern that Simple Green is one of the substances that will deteriorate the carbide or brazing that holds it on the plate. I haven't had that happen, but then I also don't soak my blades for hours or days.

For me, there is more of a chance I might drop the blade and break off a few teeth that way. Be careful: hold it over something soft, don't let it slip, and don't cut yourself when you're scrubbing.

[Mike Circo]

I've used it for years with no issues.... well one.

I spray both sides of the blade and soak it in the lid of a 5 gallon bucket. Use a short 5-10 minute soak, then I use a soft brass brush to gently remove the tougher crud.

The oops was once I forgot the blade was soaking and left it for a long time, and it kind of stained the blade. Cosmetic only, but still shows that it is a real chemical.

easy to use, low odor and seems to do the trick.

[Pat Germain]

The manufacturers of Simple Green claim it can cause carbide to leech out. They recommend using the aviation version of Simple Green for carbide. But I've never seen the aviation version.

I've never heard of anyone having any actual problems when using Simple Green on carbide. And, based on previous discussions here and elsewhere, a lot of people have been using Simple Green on carbide for a long time.

[Kev Godwin]

Pat,
....carbide to leech out....:confused:? Does that mean it will weaken the teeth? Will I get hit with a .22 caliber bullet (flying carbide tooth)? That doesn't sound good. I looked on their website and didn't find any such warning. Maybe I missed it.

----
I've used SG for lots of cleaning and really like the product. I thought it would have been a delicate and non-destructive cleaner for blades.

???? Suggestions or advice ????
Kev

[glenn bradley]

I have also read what Pat refers to. The recommended product, by the maker, is "Extreme Simple Green" which sounds like it would be harsher but, apparently is not. Anything that will cause a reaction in the brazing is undesirable. As usual, there will be claims to using EZ-Off for 30 years without a problem but, I'm OK with using recommended cleaners more often as opposed to unrecommended cleaners.

There have been a few magazine reviews of cleaners showing many task specific products to be no better than general cleaners. I think the caution comes in when a chemical reaction is known to occur and therefor makes the product, not recommended. This doesn't mean a tooth will fly off at 100 mph if you use Formula 409. It just means there are products that are known to do no harm.

[Scott Busse]

I use washing soda on my blades.

[Dave Sweeney]

Been using Simple Green to clean my blades for years without any problems whatsoever. One precaution that I do take is I don't let the blade soak for much longer than 5 minutes in the Simple Green.

[Matt Day]

I used simple green to clean my blades and it worked well.

Tip - I used a frisbee to soak them. It fits about perfect.

[jerry cousins]

i do the same with simple green - but was told that even after drying to use air to blow out any remaining water.
jerry

[scott spencer]

If you spray it on, brush the teeth, and rinse it off within a matter of a few minutes there should be no issues whatsoever, but because several other degreaser sprays work just as well and don't have the same issue, there's really no reason to specifically seek out using Simple Green....409, Fantastic, Greased Lightning, LA's Totally Awesome, and Goo Gone are just of the sprays that work equally well.

[Maurice Ungaro]

I use the CMT Blade & Bit Cleaner
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/cmt2050bladeandbitcleaner18oz.aspx

[Chris Tsutsui]

What about sodium or potassium hydroxide? This alkali chemical is used for creating paper because it can break down wood fibers, as well as being used for stripping paint.

For $12 you can get a gallon of oven cleaner from smart & final.

It doesn't harm the carbide or stainless steel and it dissolves pretty much any burnt on cellulose residue left behind.

I have used simple green before and it does a pretty sub par job at cleaning a saw blade.

[Pat Germain]

Forrest recommends kerosene to clean their blades. It's cheap and effective, but I never got around to buying a specific kerosene can and getting if filled just to clean blades.

I used Simple Green to clean some blades just a few weeks ago and it worked amazingly well; better than 409.

[Ted Miller]

I use orange hand cleaner, brush it on let it sit for 10 minutes, clean off under warm water with a toothbrush.

You would be surprised the guys that think their blades are dull when they actually just need a cleaning...

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

around the web there are claims that the Military has found simple green to be destructive.
They show up on auto and bicycle and air craft forums.

The Military page they link to does not exist.
Whether it's because it's just old or never existed is anyone's guess

The claims insist that it's destructive to metal, and more specifically others say it's hard on aluminum.

Simple Green is a Sodium Metasilicate. water, and Limonene compound. Sodium metasilicate is a very harsh base. The company lists the ingredients as trade secrets on their MSDS sheet.

I got some powder sodium metasilicate that I got in a little 1 ounce bag from Ace Hardware sold as a paint brush cleaner. I used it as instructed on some natural bristle brushes that were well clogged with old paint.
It cleaned 'em up, got the pain out, and destroyed the brushes.

The bristles were partially dis-corporated by the harsh base. they went limp and never regained any of their original stiffness making the brushes useless. They were expensive brushes when new.

[Jim Summers]

I have used SG for years with no issues. I, like others, have never seen Xtreme SG.

HTH

[Curt Harms]

There have been corrosion issues attributed to the use of harsh cleaners. I suspect the problem comes from not removing the chemical from cracks, nooks and crannies. The point being that commercial cleaners ARE corrosive to metal, especially if not removed promptly and completely.

[Joe Spear]

I have used simple green before and it does a pretty sub par job at cleaning a saw blade.

As I wrote above, Simple Green does a quick and thorough job of cleaning blades, not sub par at all. Other things also work, although some manufacturers recommend against sodium hydroxide (lye) or other oven cleaners. That said, many people use those things with no apparent harm.

[Larry Frank]

Not too long ago there was a similar thread discussing cleaning of saw blades. I had used oven cleaner before but had stopped using it because I heard that it might attack the carbide. However, someone on the forum who was involved with cabide materials let me know that this is not true and there is not evidence for such a corrosive attack. I am back using oven cleaner. The only downside is that one has to be careful as it can burn your skin or eyes.

[John Thompson]

Simple green for around 8 years with no problems.. get it on.. brush with a semi-stiff bristle brush and get it off with paper towels. I won't use oven cleaner as I am in the shop 5 days a week and constantly have nicks and cuts on my hands. I apply SG without gloves and it has no effect on the open nicks and cuts. The oven cleaner is nasty stuff and would require rubber gloves. I don't particularly care to breathe the fumes either.

[JohnT Fitzgerald]

Tip - I used a frisbee to soak them. It fits about perfect.


Brilliant! we have frisbees all over the place (we're on an Ultimate team), and that never once dawned on me...

[Bill Arnold]

I've used SG for years to clean saw blades and all kinds of other stuff. I use about a 1/1 mix with water for blades. I place a blade in an old pizza pan with a small lip around it, pour on the SG mix, let it soak a while then brush with a brass or nylon bristle brush.

[Byron Trantham]

I've been using Simple Green for years - no problems. I use 50/50 from a spray bottle. I spay the teeth on one side flip it over and spray the other side. Then go back the first side and begin scrubbing with a brass bristle brush. The time it takes to spray both side is usually that is need to get the crud off. I rinse them very well and then dry them with a towel. It still amazes me how much sharper the teeth feel after a good cleaning. BTW, I clean mine at the start of every job.

[Kev Godwin]

Based on the responses to my original post, I just finished cleaning one TS blade and one BS blade. This SG worked absolutely wonderful.:D

I didn't leave it on the blade very long and the build-up came off very easily with a small nylon bristle brush. No fumes like oven cleaner either. Thanks for the comments!!!!
Kev

[Joe Spear]

Cut away! Cleanly.

[Kev Godwin]

I went to do some more blade cleaning - this time on my jointer and on the benchtop planer. I wish I would have asked this question years ago....

This SG works better than more expensive stuff I used for years. Bonus - it doesn't hurt my hands or fingers.

One problem - the LOML told me to return the bottle to the upstairs domestic station. Tomorrow I'm going to pick up one of those gallon re-fill jugs.:) This works really good!

I'm not going to be paranoid by the "leeching of the carbide....". I couldn't find any viable sources for such claims. If there is such documented concern, please post for the benefit of all Creekers. Thx.
Kev

[Charles McCracken]

Kev and all,

Kerosene is the recommended solvent to clean Freud carbide tips. Soak overnight in a sealed container and brush clean with a stiff nylon bristle brush. Some time ago I posted images taken with a SEM of damage done to carbide by a commercially available bit and blade cleaner. It is not myth or legend that strong caustics and strong acids will deteriorate carbide. This link should take you to the information that Simple Green has published on the matter:
http://www.simplegreen.com/solutions_cleaning_tips.php?sid=&action=artikel&cat=15&id=126&artlang=en&highlight=carbide&application=Blades,%20Carbide%20and%20Saw%20Blades

[Maurice Ungaro]

Charles,
Thank you for providing the link to that page. It seems that most of us, myself included, tend to think that what may have worked for us in the short term, works for all.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I'm not going to be paranoid by the "leeching of the carbide....". I couldn't find any viable sources for such claims. If there is such documented concern, please post for the benefit of all Creekers. Thx.
Kev

Check THIER website. They caution you to not soak the blades.

[Kev Godwin]

Charles M. and Kyle,
Thanks for posting that response!!! I had looked on their website and didn't find such answers. I guess I didn't search good enough....

I will do the quick spray-rinse-wipe routine from now on. I sure won't soak the blades for a long time.

Thanks again!:)
Kev

[Rick Steverson]

Interesting,

Simple Green suggests trying black coffee to soak and clean baked on pitch instead of soaking in SG. Anybody try that one?

Unfortunately, I'm a tea drinker and there isn't any coffee at my house.

[Pat Germain]

Sounds like waste of perfectly good black coffee. What's next, suggesting we soak our blades in beer. Perish the thought! :eek:

Seriously, since coffee is acidic, I can see how it would work. Of course, then so to would cherry Kool-Aid. That stuff will make the nastiest of brass fitting shiny and new looking.

[Chris Christenberry]

I've used Simple Green on my saw blades and router bits for years. No problems to date.

[Michael Trivette]

I use pine sol to clean pine sap and grass stains out of cloths
Works well for cleaning blades too.

Prolly not as quick as simple green though