Replies

1. 
   IanC | May 26, 2003 03:15am | #1

   Wanda, Try oven cleaner.  I lay the blade in an old pizza pan and spray on the cleaner.  Wait 20 or 30 minuites, rinse with a hose and dry. Blade looks like new.  

2. 
   CreativeWood | May 26, 2003 07:23am | #2

   For whatever it is worth, I have been using Simple Green for the last 5 or 6 years and have had no negative results.

   I spray it on, wait about 5 minutes or so, then take a rag and wipe off the gunk.

   Works every time!!

   God Bless.......

   Raul S

   Creative Woods.

3. 
   RANGERP75R | May 26, 2003 08:34am | #3

   wanda

      I like Raul, use the simple green. If you have really let the pitch build, you may have to go to the aggressive oven cleaner. I quit using it after a manufacturers rep told me it can weaken the carbide in the teeth. True or not, your guess is as good as mine. ha..ha..

   sarge..jt

4. 
   AlanTurner | May 26, 2003 06:58pm | #4

   OxySolv, from Woodowrkers Supply works great.  Non toxic, water based.  Spray it on and wait about 30 sec.  Old toothbruch or brass bruxh and you're done.  Rinse it off, dry it, and you are good to go.  Perfectly clean.

5. 
   JohnWW | May 26, 2003 07:59pm | #5

   Oven cleaner is highly corrosive, toxic stuff, basically lye in a spray can, from a medical point of view it is far worse than strong acid, especially if you get it in your eyes.  If you get lye on aluminum it will etch the metal fairly quickly.

   I've read in a couple of places that the lye also corrodes the binder in the carbide making the teeth dull quicker.  Simple Green works well, with far less risk, as do a number of other heavy duty detergents, I'd try them first before resorting to oven cleaner.

   John W.

1. 
   HowardAcheson | May 26, 2003 09:05pm | #6

   I agree, don't use oven cleaner.

   Here is a response from Freud on the subject.

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   Definitely avoid oven cleaner and other caustics. They attack the cobalt binder in the carbide and can lead to carbide failure (translates to tiny missiles of carbide at 100+ mph). Also, Freud and some other brands of blades have a tri-metal brazing foil that uses copper alloy for a cushioning layer. The copper can also be affected by these cleaners (translates to larger missiles of carbide). We recommend soaking overnight in kerosene in a vented container and using a stiff nylon bristle brush to clean. Teflon coated plates will clean up with a soapy cloth (except for the teeth as mentioned earlier). There are commercial blade cleaning products that are not caustic but we don't officially sanction them. I've personally used Simple Green concentrate with good results.

   Charles M

   Freud, Inc.

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