How to Clean a Bandsaw Blade

Pitch dense wood can leave your bandsaw blade with a thick and sticky residue. Over time, residue buildup can hinder the effectiveness of the blade. Keeping your bandsaw blade clean will improve cutting ability and safe sawing. Several methods exist to clean these blades and restore them for safe use.

Things You'll Need

• Fume-free spray-on oven cleaner
• Rag
• Cotton cloth
• Garden hose
• Water
• Bucket
• Spray bottle, 12 oz.
• Orange citrus cleaner
• Kerosene
• WD-40 oil

Instructions

Oven Cleaner

1. Disconnect power from the band saw.

2. Spray fume-free oven cleaner onto the blade. Leave set for 30 seconds.

3. Spray the blade with a garden hose to remove the buildup and oven cleaner.

4. Wipe down the blade with a rag soaked in WD-40 oil.

Orange Citrus Cleaner

1. Dilute 1-1/2 oz. of orange citrus cleaner into a 12 oz. spray bottle 2/3 full of water.

2. Spray the bandsaw blade with the solution and allow to set for one minute.

3. Wipe the blade with a clean cloth.

Kerosene

1. Make sure the bandsaw is unplugged and carefully remove the blade from the bandsaw.

2. Fill a pail or bucket with kerosene.

3. Soak the bandsaw blade in kerosene over night in a secured garage or other storage area not accessible to children or pets.

4. Remove the blade from the bucket. Thoroughly rinse with fresh water and dry with a cotton cloth.

5. Wipe the blade with a rag soaked in WD-40 oil and reinsert blade in the saw.

Tips & Warnings

• Caustic chemicals in oven cleaner can corrode the binding agent connecting the carbide teeth to the bandsaw blade--be sure to wear protective gloves and thoroughly rinse all cleaner from the blade before using.

• Kerosene is extremely flammable. Always use caution when handling kerosene.

• Keep all chemicals out of the reach of children and pets.

References

• Sydney Wood Turners
• Wood Web