Hello all.
I have been sawing some curves in 5/4 poplar, with a new 1/8″ blade on the bandsaw. After a bit less than an hour, there was a pitch/dust buildup on the blade, and it was causing things to heat up.
What is a good way to get it off?
Thanks.
-Groucho Marx
Replies
I'd rely on my standby (drum-roll please) Simple Green. I'd coil the blade, tie it and put it in a shallow dish with Simple Green (or 409, Mr. Clean maybe), soak it for 10 minutes, apply and old toothbrush, rinse and use.
A lubricant on the blade may help keep the crud off the next time you need to cut the same way.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 12/7/2009 7:38 pm by forestgirl
A possible alternative to the Simple Green soak would be to moisten a rag with kerosene, fold it into a pad that can be placed around both sides of the blade while still mounted. With the saw off, and unplugged, slowly rotate the pulleys in reverse, drawing the blade through the pinched pad. Leather gloves, or pliers to hold the cloth loosely, might be a good idea, too.
apply some wax on it from time to time.
What kind of wax - furniture? Paraffin? And how would you apply it?
Just about any furniture wax can work....just apply it on both side of the blade with a rag , of course the saw should be OFF, sometimes i would just spray son some WD 40 while the blade is in motion.
cheers.
Thanks,
Tink
Or just a light film of vegetable oil if you don't want whatever makes WD40 special in your wood.
Don
I spray on that Dri-Cote stuff as the machine is running. Never created a problem.
Denny
Thanks man.
Suffolk Machinery (Timberwollf blades) and other manufacturers have a wealth of online info regarding the care and feeding of bandsaws and bands.
http://www.suffolkmachinery.com/six_rules.asp
http://www.suffolkmachinery.com/did_you_know.asp
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/woodworking-tips-library.aspx
If you work this material often, you may want to consult with them to see if there is a better band for you work.
As suggested, the band can be lubricated (after it is cleaned) with a light application of wax, cooking oil, etc
If you use cool blocks I think I have heard people say they put them right tight to the bands so some of the crud is scraped off.
Don
Edited 12/7/2009 11:06 pm by Don01
Thanks everyone for the replies and help. I will clean and wax and research.
Alex
Outside of a dog, a book is a man's best friend. Inside of a dog, it's too dark to read.
-Groucho Marx
I had someone recently tell me he uses the rubber block that cleans your sanding discs and belts. I have not tried this but if you give it a run post the results.
That's what I use -- the
That's what I use -- the neoprene blocks for cleaning sanding media. Works great, but it does chew up the neoprene a bit.
What type of blade are you using?
dan
What type of blade are you using?
dan
Just a note to those who care......WD40 and woodworking tools are a bad mix. The stuff in WD40 will prevent finish from being applied correctly to a finished woodworking project, and should be avoided.
There are many solutions to this problem, as has been noted. I use a hard block of paraffin wax, rubbed into the blade lightly with the tool running. I use the same on the soles of my hand planes. It ALWAYS goes without saying, but keep your fingers away from the blade, please!
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