Tool Review: Blade and Bit Cleaners
If cleaning your saw blades and router bits sits near the bottom of your "to-do" list, you may be shortening the life of your carbide cutters. We tested eight products and several home remedies to see which work fastest and safest.
The crud that inevitably builds up behind the carbide teeth and cutters on your saw blade and router bits is more than just an unwelcome nuisance. It affects the quality of your work by requiring more feed pressure to make the cut and burning the edges. In fact, cutters and blades with excessive buildup are sometimes mistaken for dull. A thorough cleaning often can rejuvenate a cutter's performance faster (and cheaper) than sending it to the sharpening shop. Keeping your cutters clean has another less obvious benefit. Left unchecked, resins and pitch from wood and adhesives from man-made products (such as plywood and MDF) can corrode the blade or router-bit body and deteriorate the carbide. Such deterioration hastens dulling.
Commercial blade and bit cleaners and home remedies run the gamut from mild to dangerous. Pay special attention to those that are flammable and/or corrosive: Those products can cause bigger problems than a dirty blade if mishandled or misused. Even if a product label doesn't specifically instruct you to do so, protect your hands and eyes. The fumes from some products are strong enough to catch in the back of your throat. With these products, wear a respirator and work in a well-ventilated area.
Bear these tips in mind for piloted bits: Blade and bit cleaners can rob router-bit bearings of their lubrication, which leads to premature bearing failure. Before cleaning the bit, spin the bearing by hand to ensure it turns freely. If it spins easily, remove it and set it aside; otherwise discard it and get a replacement. When the bit is clean, reinstall the bearing and treat it with a high-speed router-bearing lubricant.
After cleaning your blades and bits, inspect the cutting edges for cracks or chipping, and discard any cutter showing such damage. When in doubt, toss it out. Finally, protect them with a coating of a rust-preventative product, such as those reviewed in WOOD magazine, issue 154. Boeshield T-9 (boeshield.com, 800/962-1732) earned top honors in that test.
Top Cleaner: Empire Blade Saver
Learn the results of our testing of Boeshield Blade and Bit, CMT Formula 2050, Empire Blade Saver, Lenox Wood Pitch Cleaner, OxiSolv, Pitch RX, Sprayway Saw Cleaner, Woodcraft Resin Remover, carburetor cleaner, citrus-based cleaner, Formula 409, oven cleaner, and Simple Green in the April/May 2006 issue of WOOD magazine, or download the review.
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The test for cleaners is not in april MAY issue. What issue is it in?????
2/26/2011 03:30:32 PM Report AbuseI agree with your commit. Baited adds like this make me want to revoke my subscription!
9/21/2010 08:20:10 PM Report AbuseAMEN !
9/18/2010 10:08:19 PM Report AbuseI hate your offering me this article and then wanting me to pay for it. Hey, I'm a subscriber. If that's not good enough for you, don't try to enhance your bottom line with bogus crap like this!
9/17/2010 08:12:29 PM Report Abuse