Okay, most builders just use em and toss em, but for you guys/gals that are using high end of finish blades and bits, what are you cleaning them with. Especially, who’s selling the best router bit cleaners? I seem to have spent a small fortune on router bits lately, and I’d like them to last a while.
Thanks as always for your input.
Replies
I've used this and it seems to work
http://shop.woodcraft.com/Woodcraft/product_family.asp?family%5Fid=4011&gift=False&Gift=false&mscssid=019AA5D9E3A3A4A96A355C03356774DE
If you use a brush to clean them, do not use anything course, Strongest I would recommend would be soft brass bristles
I like to use an old tooth brush.
Okay, oven cleaners it is. Anybody use a lubricant to keep blades and bits gum free longer, like the ones sold in hardwood stores, or is that wishfull thinking?
I've tried lots of different things over the years to clean my saw blades, all with mixed results. Then I read somewhere that Easy-Off oven cleaner works better than anything else. I tried it, and haven't bought another cleaner since.
Word to the wise, Easy-Off is some nasty stuff. (Maybe why it works so well.) I use the stuff outside, lay the blades/bit on a piece of newspaper on the driveway, and using chemically inert gloves (heavy rubber things you can buy at the hardware store) spray it on. Let it sit for a few minutes, then wipe it down with paper towels and a brass bristle brush. Discard towels and newspaper in a plastic bag directly in the trash, rinse brush with clean water. (Don't let little kids near this stuff, the sodium hydroxide is nasty.)
This works a whole lot better than any solvent-based cleaner. Of course, it's wicked nasty stuff, so it should.
I've tried oven clean, it works great, but like you said its wicked nasty stuff....
Some real nasty sht.View ImageGo Jayhawks..............Next Year and daaa. Blues View Image
Also be certain to wear goggles when using the oven cleaner. Sister wound up in ER for a day a few years ago, oven cleaner in the eyes. She swore she had some real damage, was scared she was blinded or at least blind"er", it hurt so bad. Said it was about the worst thing she ever felt. Luckily turned out to be no permanent damage.If everything seems to be going well, you've obviously overlooked something.
oven cleaner
ditto on the oven cleaner........I give a clean blade a coat Dri-coat, it slicks them up nicley and keeps them from getting gummed up again.
I have found that by the time that the blades or bits are gummed up, it is time to sharpen them. There are some exceptions to this rule. My sharpening guy cleans before sharpening. No reason to thow blabe or cutters away unless it is cheaper to buy new