Mm

-MIKE-

25/03/2009 7:30 PM

Best way to clean band saw blades?

So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.

What's the best way to get that rust off?
With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply


This topic has 16 replies

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 2:10 AM

"-MIKE-" wrote:

> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty
> rusty.
> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
> What's the best way to get that rust off?


Phosphoric acid such as found in Navel Jelly or Osphro, but don't
expect the resulting blade to cut anything.

Lew

Cs

Chinaren

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 2:01 AM

On Mar 26, 8:30=A0am, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
> What's the best way to get that rust off?
> With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
> that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.
>
> --
>
> =A0 -MIKE-
>
> =A0 "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
> =A0 =A0 =A0--Elvin Jones =A0(1927-2004)
> =A0 --
> =A0http://mikedrums.com
> =A0 [email protected]
> =A0 ---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

just use it once.
then sharpen it .
and keep using it

DM

Dan Major

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 8:14 AM

On Mar 25, 7:30=A0pm, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
> What's the best way to get that rust off?

I use a very coarse terrycloth towel and WD-40. The rougher the towel
the better. It is just abrasive enough to remove the rust (woth the
help of the WD-40) but is nor abrasive enough to actually scratch the
surface. This metod won't be of much use if there is pitting or heavy
rust. It also works on firearms that have light surface rust. It
will clean the rust without removing the blueing (and stuff like Navel
Jelly or oxalic acid certainly *will* remove the blueing!).

CE

"C & E"

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 9:51 AM


"-MIKE-" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
> What's the best way to get that rust off?
> With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
> that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.
>
>
> --
>
> -MIKE-
>
> "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
> --Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
> --

A bit more involve but easier on the blades is electrolysis. Yea, I know
that it remind you of moustache hair on granda but, no, it's not the same.
Try here http://woodworkstuff.net/RustRemoval.html
The last link is of no use unless you need to make washing soda but it's
available everywhere. I prefer link number 2 but they're both useful.

Cc

"CW"

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

25/03/2009 6:09 PM

If they are rusty, they ARE dull.

"-MIKE-" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
> What's the best way to get that rust off?
> With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
> that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.
>
>
> --
>
> -MIKE-
>
> "Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
> --Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
> --
> http://mikedrums.com
> [email protected]
> ---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

ST

Steve Turner

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

25/03/2009 10:36 PM

-MIKE- wrote:
> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
> What's the best way to get that rust off?
> With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
> that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.

I've never tried it, but my inclination would be to install the blade
(without too much concern for adjusting it) then run it while pressing
some 220 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper against each side (and perhaps the
back) of the blade. Affixing the sandpaper to something that would keep
your fingers clear of the area might be a good idea too. :-) Of
course, this isn't going to clean the teeth, but I would think that
cutting some scrap wood (and maybe sharpening them as you mentioned
elsewhere) would help clear out most of the loose rust in the "toothal"
area.

--
Any given amount of traffic flow, no matter how
sparse, will expand to fill all available lanes.
To reply, eat the taco.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboyee/

ww

whit3rd

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

28/03/2009 11:58 AM

On Mar 25, 5:30=A0pm, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
> What's the best way to get that rust off?
> With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
> that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.

It's more likely the rust will stain your workpiece than that it
involves enough material to really hurt the blade.

Mount the blade, make a few cuts in a scrap, and finish up by
holding a pencil eraser against the non-cutting faces of the blade.

It might help to wipe down the clean blade with a waxy cloth or
bunch of waxed paper before putting it away.

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

25/03/2009 9:03 PM

CW wrote:
> If they are rusty, they ARE dull.
>

I hear ya.
But I'm the kind of guy that will sit and watch TV or listen to Jazz,
with a file and a blade and just go to town. I've sharpened *wood*
bandsaw blades to like new condition.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

25/03/2009 9:15 PM

> Phosphoric acid such as found in Navel Jelly or Osphro, but don't
> expect the resulting blade to cut anything.
>
> Lew
>

LOL!
OK Lew, cause I'm just cleaning the to look at 'em. :-)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

25/03/2009 9:19 PM

Phisherman wrote:
>
> If rags and kerosene don't remove it, try a product containing oxalic
> acid (Bar Keepers Friend, Zud, navel jelly, etc). I'd probably toss
> the blade if the rust made deep pits or with missing/damaged teeth.

Most of them just have light surface rust.
I already threw out the really bad ones.

I figured if they were still sharp (or I sharpened them), I just
don't want the rust coming off on whatever I'm cutting.

If it's not a good idea, no biggie.
I got such a good deal on the saw, I can buy new blades.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 12:13 PM

Steve Turner wrote:
> I've never tried it, but my inclination would be to install the blade
> (without too much concern for adjusting it) then run it while pressing
> some 220 grit wet-or-dry sandpaper against each side (and perhaps the
> back) of the blade. Affixing the sandpaper to something that would keep
> your fingers clear of the area might be a good idea too. :-) Of
> course, this isn't going to clean the teeth, but I would think that
> cutting some scrap wood (and maybe sharpening them as you mentioned
> elsewhere) would help clear out most of the loose rust in the "toothal"
> area.
>

Drummers think alike.... except for "toothal." :-)


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 12:36 PM

Leon wrote:
>> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
>> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
>> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>>
>> What's the best way to get that rust off?
>> With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
>> that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.
>>
>
>
> What kind of guides does you BS have. Stationary ceramic guides will clean
> them right up by simply running and cutting with the blade on the saw.
>

I didn't think of that. They are block guides.
Makes sense, since they are perfectly set up to only scrape behind the
toothal (tm: Steve Turner) area.


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

Mm

-MIKE-

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 12:38 PM

Dan Major wrote:
> On Mar 25, 7:30 pm, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:
>> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
>> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
>> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>>
>> What's the best way to get that rust off?
>
> I use a very coarse terrycloth towel and WD-40. The rougher the towel
> the better. It is just abrasive enough to remove the rust (woth the
> help of the WD-40) but is nor abrasive enough to actually scratch the
> surface. This metod won't be of much use if there is pitting or heavy
> rust. It also works on firearms that have light surface rust. It
> will clean the rust without removing the blueing (and stuff like Navel
> Jelly or oxalic acid certainly *will* remove the blueing!).


So, steel wool would be bad for the blades?


--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
--Elvin Jones (1927-2004)
--
http://mikedrums.com
[email protected]
---remove "DOT" ^^^^ to reply

md

mac davis

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 10:09 AM

On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:30:23 -0500, -MIKE- <[email protected]> wrote:

>So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
>They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
>Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
>What's the best way to get that rust off?
>With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
>that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.

Being basically lazy, I'd either trash them and buy news ones for $12 - 15
apiece, or just try using one on a piece of scrap..

IF the blade is still sharp (probably not if it's badly rusted) my only concern
would be rust on the wood I'm cutting, and being a turner, that isn't a big
deal..

I use a whetstone on each side and the back of new blades to make sure the weld
is ok... WITH THE SAW OFF... Hold the whetstone against the blade and turn the
upper wheel by hand..


mac

Please remove splinters before emailing

Lr

"Leon"

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

26/03/2009 9:24 AM


"-MIKE-" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
> They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
> Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
> What's the best way to get that rust off?
> With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
> that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.
>


What kind of guides does you BS have. Stationary ceramic guides will clean
them right up by simply running and cutting with the blade on the saw.

Pn

Phisherman

in reply to -MIKE- on 25/03/2009 7:30 PM

25/03/2009 10:13 PM

On Wed, 25 Mar 2009 19:30:23 -0500, -MIKE- <[email protected]>
wrote:

>So, this band saw I just picked up came with about 15 blades.
>They probably sat in the garage for a few years and got pretty rusty.
>Right now, I have them soaking in some lubricant spray.
>
>What's the best way to get that rust off?
>With my imagination, I was thinking of maybe cutting through something
>that would be abrasive, but it would certainly dull the blades.


If rags and kerosene don't remove it, try a product containing oxalic
acid (Bar Keepers Friend, Zud, navel jelly, etc). I'd probably toss
the blade if the rust made deep pits or with missing/damaged teeth.


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