How to Clean a Table Saw Blade

Dirty saw blades can be cleaned at home.

Table saw blades take a beating and pick up lots of gunk and grime during use. Dirty blades are not as effective and do not cut properly. You could choose to dispose of dirty blades and buy new ones; however, table saw blades are expensive. If you want to save money by cleaning your table saw blades, you can do so using a bucket, a scrub pad and a cleaner made for the purpose.

Things You'll Need

• Large plastic bucket
• Marbles
• Saw blade
• Cleaning agent
• Scrub pad
• Water
• Rag

Instructions

1. Fill the bottom of a large plastic bucket with no more than one layer of marbles or glass craft beads. The number of marbles needed will depend on the size of the bucket. You want enough marbles to keep the saw blade from resting on the bucket’s bottom, but few enough that it still rests flat in the bucket.

2. Place your table saw blade into the bucket so that it is laying flat on the marbles.

3. Add your chosen cleaning agent. Home supply stores sell cleaners specifically designed for cleaning saw blades. Choose one of these. Although there are other cleaning methods, these store-bought cleaners are specifically designed for the blades and prevent damage that may occur with other cleaners. Use the amount recommended by the package instructions. Add enough cleaner to cover the blade completely.

4. Leave the blade in the cleaning liquid to soak for a minimum of 20 minutes. The cleaner will work to release any caked-on grime.

5. Remove the blade and use a scrub pad or plastic bristle scrub brush to remove any grime still attached to the blade.

6. Rinse the blade in running water.

7. Dry the blade completely using a clean rag. You do not want to leave any moisture on the blade or it may rust.

Tips & Warnings

• While handling the blade, wear leather work gloves to protect your hand from cuts.

• Never scrub your blade or scrape it with any metal cleaning tool. This could cause scratches or wear on the blade. Wearing on the blade can result in serious injury to you.

References

• NewWoodworker.com: Cleaning Circular Saw Blades
• ToolCrib.com: Ultimate Guide to Cleaning Saw Blades