Cleaning table saw blades

[Mike Stelts]

I've been using oven cleaner spray to occasionally clean my carbide saw blades. I guess everyone has self-cleaning ovens, because cheap cans aren't in the supermarket anymore.

What's an alternative that's just as cheap and easy?

[Jon Grider]

Some blade manufacturers caution against using oven cleaner to remove gunk from your carbide blades. They claim it can damage the bond between the carbide tooth and the plate. I use Simple Green to clean mine and have never had an issue with it, however there has been some debate on using Simple Green as well pertaining to loosening the teeth. I try to limit the exposure time to S.G., and use an old toothbrush to scrub the teeth and rinse well.

[glenn bradley]

I've been using oven cleaner spray to occasionally clean my carbide saw blades. I guess everyone has self-cleaning ovens, because cheap cans aren't in the supermarket anymore.

What's an alternative that's just as cheap and easy?

Cheaper. Yellow L.A.Awesome at the 99 cent stores around here has worked better than anything else I have tried over the years. A couple of dollars worth will last a year. I have a shallow pan that I set the saw blade in, spray around the outer edge with the product, wait a few minutes and then run a brush around the teeth, flip the blade and run the brush around, then rinse and dry. The whole operation takes just a few minutes.

[Aaron Rosenthal]

I've been using the blade and gunk cleaner from Lee Valley. A small bottle, diluted, with a soft brass brush cleans wonderfully. I also try and spray the blades etc. with a lubricant (Bostich, Boshield, whatever) every few days.

[Stephen L King]

I use a flap wheel on a saw polisher to clean blades before I sharpen them. Carbide tips are silver soldered on using special jigs with heat sinks. I have the equipment to do it but no one wants to pay for it to be done. Most blades are cheap enough anymore that they barely want to have them sharpened. Blades can be missing several tips and still cut reasonably well.

[Mike Stelts]

The concept of cheap seems to mean different things to different people:

LA Awesome - $1/qt ($1.60 for the first bottle to get the sprayer attachment)
Simple Green - $4/qt.
Lee Valley - $25/qt.
Saw Polisher - didn't take time to research this one...

I'll think I'll start with $1/qt. and work my way up from there, until I something works as quickly and easily as oven cleaner did.

[Robert Engel]

Krud Kutter works great.

[Jim Allen]

I've used Oxiclean for years, oil changing plastic pan, sprinkle a little Oxiclean then cover with hot water, let sit tell the water cools down enough the scrub with a brass brush and rinse. Depending on the brand of saw blade you might lose some of the markings on the blade.

[Jim Dwight]

I use CMT's blade cleaner. It comes in a spray bottle and works well. Plus, I am confident it will not hurt my blades and there is no need to rinse afterwards. I clean blades in a lunch tray, purchased through Amazon. It is about the right size, cheap, and isn't influenced by the cleaner. If I have let the crud buildup go, as I usually do, I have to use a brass brush but if not as long, a toothbrush is enough. Not sure about relative cost but a spray bottle costs less than $10 and lasts a long time.

[mike stenson]

I use CMT's blade cleaner. It comes in a spray bottle and works well. Plus, I am confident it will not hurt my blades and there is no need to rinse afterwards. I clean blades in a lunch tray, purchased through Amazon. It is about the right size, cheap, and isn't influenced by the cleaner. If I have let the crud buildup go, as I usually do, I have to use a brass brush but if not as long, a toothbrush is enough. Not sure about relative cost but a spray bottle costs less than $10 and lasts a long time.

This is what I've been using too.. except I just use the lid from a 5gal plastic bucket. $150 blades, probably worth the $10 over 2-3 years (actually longer for me).

[David Kumm]

Purple cleaner. Dave

[Osvaldo Cristo]

When cleaning my saw blades, from both table and band saw, I try first just to use a brass brush. It works most of the time.

In Brazil most of our woods are very hard and resinous. It means a lot of work to maintain cut edges clean from gum.

On the occasion when either it doesn´t work or is very difficult, I use the old WD-40 previously to work with the same brass brush after a pair of minutes. It always works. I guess isopropyl alcohol would work also but I never tried it, yet.

I use the same technique for all wood cutting tools, including drill and router bits.


I've been using oven cleaner spray to occasionally clean my carbide saw blades. I guess everyone has self-cleaning ovens, because cheap cans aren't in the supermarket anymore.

What's an alternative that's just as cheap and easy?

[Dave Sabo]

There’s another thread on here about simple green not being suitable for sawblades / carbide. The upshoot is there are many different formulas of SG and some are safe while others are not. I don’t remember all the specifics , but do recall the orig. Simple Green is not got for blades.

LA Awesome has been mentioned as suitable for Freud carbide by a Freud rep or engineer before.

[Mike Stelts]

I just tried LA Awesome and it worked as well as oven cleaner. A couple spots here and there don't come off with a steel brush; but, 99% clean. The irony is that the dollar store had oven cleaner about five items away. - it turns out LA Awesome is cheaper than my old cheap fix. Better yet, Freud endorsed its use. Sawmill Creekers just saved me $2/quart over my old technique. With the savings, I can finally buy a SawStop. Next time, I can try Osvaldo's Nothing brand - maybe I jump to a 5 Hp SawStop with that savings.

[Robert Hayward]

Have never used the LA Awesome but do use Charlies Soap All Purpose Cleaner. Not only for gummed up saw blades but everything around the house.
https://www.amazon.com/Charlies-Professional-Biodegradable-Non-Toxic-Concentrate/dp/B07L6QSC7N/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIw6_szrj76wIVWuDICh3AKQCNEAAYASAA EgLF1fD_BwE&hvadid=177820339171&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9012375&hvnetw=g&hvqmt=e&hvrand=8868711661026801392&hvtargid=kwd-20181592997&hydadcr=21472_9712422&keywords=charlie%27s+soap+all+purpose+cleaner&qid=1600732353&sr=8-3&tag=googhydr-20

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[Jason Lipmyer]

I use Simple Green. Let it soak overnight and wipe it off in the morning, works great and is pretty cheap.

[Mike Henderson]

I've been using dishwashing soap and water. I use a pan and put a small amount of water in it and add dishwashing soap. Let the blade soak for a while and then brush the blade off. So far, I've gotten clean blades.

Mike

[Randall J Cox]

I just use whatever the wifey uses at the kitchen sink for general cleaning. Also have used simple green. Seems to me any type of regular soap in water, let sawblade sit overnight and comes nice and clean. When dry, I use paste wax on it. I use a plastic tub, after the wife once found a sawblade soaking in her kitchen sink..... ha ha Randy

[Mike Stelts]

The last three posts tell us that patience is the answer.

[Bernie Kopfer]

I’ve been using CMT cleaner for years. Bought a gallon and just refill the spray bottle. I like a product that is nontoxic and biodegradable, and works well.

[Kyle Iwamoto]

I use 409. Am I the only one? Spray on, wait a few minutes and brush it off.
Patience is not one of my virtues....
Sometimes I leave the blade on, spray with WD-40 and brush off when I do pine. That sap comes off with WD.

[Bob Hinden]

I also use CMT Blade & Bit Cleaner. I spray it on both sides of the blade, let it sit for 5 minutes, then wipe it off. Quick, easy, and no harmful solvents.

Wood Craft has it on sale, see https://www.woodcraft.com/products/formula-2050-blade-bit-cleaner-18-ounce