Usually, table saws are used to cut different materials, especially wood, regularly. As a result, the blade gets dirty with wood dust and other dirt almost every day. Besides, the grease used in the saw blade deteriorates the situation. So, your blade sometimes gets stuck, loses its sharpness, and other problems arise. But no worries! In this article, I will provide you with a clear idea about how to clean a table saw blade at home.
Tools Needed to Clean a Table Saw
Before we jump into the main discussion, I would like you to prepare all the materials and tools needed for the cleaning process. So here are the main things you need to clean your table saw blade:
- A wrench: Keep a wrench to detach and reinstall your blade.
- A tray/bowl: aluminum or plastic tray or bowl is needed to keep your blade in and do the cleaning.
- Two brushes: You need a brass brush and a soft-bristle brush for cleaning.
- Blade Cleaner/Laundry Detergent: There are numerous branded blade cleaners available in the market. You can choose the non-toxic ones for cleaning. If budget or availability is an issue, laundry detergent would be the best alternative.
- Solution/ warm water: there are some branded solutions in the market, but I would suggest you use warm water for the process we will follow.
- Normal water: you need some normal water for rinsing off the blade.
- Gloves: For extra safety, you can use hand gloves
- Clothes/paper towel: keep a piece of cloth or paper towel for wiping the blade.
Removing the Table Saw Blade
Before starting the task, you need to remove the blade from the table saw safely. Here’s how you can do it properly. Firstly, Unplug your saw’s power cord and make sure it’s not connected to electricity or any other sort of power supplier. Then remove the throat plate and blade guard to access the blade properly. Now raise the blade to its highest point if your saw has that option. The next task is to loosen up the arbor nut. If you have those special wrenches provided with the saw, you can easily do it. Use one wrench to hold the arbor and use another one to turn the nut counterclockwise and loosen it up.
If you don’t have these wrenches, you can use a long adjustable wrench and a piece of wood to complete the task; in that case, you will have to hold the arbor nut with the wrench and set the wood piece on the top of the blade, adjust it with a tooth and then keep pushing until the nut loosens up. Had there is any confusion, use the manual for clarification.
Step by Step Guide to Clean a Table Saw Blade
There some quite some ways to clean up your table saw blade. You can clean it with those branded blade cleaners. In that case, you will have to go through a product evaluation and buy one at a high price. But it is really easy to clean up with these artificial cleaners. You have to spray the cleaner on your blade teeth and other parts, wait for some time, and then wipe it out with a hand towel or piece of cloth. You can also buy and use green solutions to clean up your blade. In that case, you have to sink your blade into the solutions for some time, clean with a wire brush, and then rinse off with water. Another option is using a steel/wire brush to clean up the dirt and stain from your blade’s teeth. But it’s highly detrimental to the blade as it may lose sharpness. We highly discourage you from following this method.
However, in this article, I will discuss mainly discuss how you can clean up your table saw blade with liquid laundry detergent and water. This is the method we are going to follow today. Because detergent is available to every household, pretty much everyone can afford this option. So, let’s jump into the main discussion on how you can clean up the blade step-by-step.
Step 1: Fill the tray/bowl with warm water and detergent
Firstly, Pour some warm water into the tray or bowl. But the water should not be too hot. Then pour a cup of normal laundry detergent into the water. Now you have to mix the detergent properly with the water. You can stir up the water with a spoon or something. You can also use your hand if you are wearing hand gloves. Make sure the detergent has been mixed properly with all the water.
Step 2: Put the saw blade onto the bowl
Now it’s time to soak the blade into the same bowl/tray poured water and detergent earlier. Here it would be best if you were a bit careful about your hands getting cut by the blade’s teeth. Use both of your hands to hold the blade. You can use one hand to put a finger into the blade’s middle hole and the other hand to hold it from the outside part. Put the blade in the middle of your bowl. Then you have to keep it there for at least thirty minutes.
Step 3: Swish the water around the blade
After keeping the blade in the detergent mixed with warm water, most of the dirt will get isolated from the blade. So, the first step of cleaning is to swish the water around your blade. Also, use your hand to clean the middle part of the blade. Don’t use your hands to clean up your teeth. After you are done with this, reduce the amount of water to clean up with a brush easily in the next step.
Step 4: Use your brush to remove the dirt and stains
As I instructed before, you need to have two different brushes to make the process easier. So firstly, use the soft bristle brush to clean the basic and almost isolated dirt from the teeth and middle part of your blade. Gently scrub all parts of the blade with this brush. When you feel most of the blade has been cleaned out, swish the water around again.
It’s time to clean the greasy and hard dirt from the blade’s teeth. Use the brass wire brush and scrub around the teeth and other parts. You have to put a little bit of pressure into the brush while scrubbing and cleaning. Put one of your index fingers into the blade’s hole and put the thumb finger to hold the blade. And use another hand to scrub with the brush. So that it does not move away while cleaning.
Step 5: Clean with normal water
Once you feel most of the dirt has been isolated and scrubbed away from the blade, it’s time to clean it up with normal water. Firstly, pour out the dirty detergent mixed with water. Then pour normal clean water and rinse off the blade properly. You can use your hand, or the sift bristle brush again and clean the blade properly. You can change the water one more time if you feel like doing it.
Step 6: wipe the blade with a paper towel
Now that you have cleaned the dirt with normal water, it’s time to lift out your blade from the tray. You can put your fingertip through the middle of the blade, then use your hand to grab and pick it up.
Now keep it on the surface or wherever you feel convenient and rub all parts of the blade with a dry paper towel until it gets dry. Don’t let your fingers directly contact the blade’s teeth. After wiping out the water, please keep it for getting dry properly.
Step 7: Reinstall the blade into your saw
The final step is to reinstall your shiny, clean and sharp blade into the table saw. Firstly, hold the blade properly and set it to the arbor. Make sure the blade’s teeth are pointing at you, not against you. They put the nut into the arbor and keep twisting it until it gets properly tightened up. Phew! You’ve completed the whole process!
Caution to be Taken while Cleaning a Table Saw Blade
- Ensure that the table saw is detached from the power source while removing and reinstalling the blade.
- Wear hand gloves if you are allergic to detergent or other types of chemicals used in the cleaning. Also, It helps to keep your fingers safe.
- Use the brass wire brush carefully. It might injure your hand.
- Keep your fingers as far as possible from the sharp teeth while cleaning.
- All the table saws are not of the same type. Take help from your manual while detaching or installing the blade.
Bottom Line
It would help if you cleaned your blade at least twice or thrice in a year. If you don’t’ clean it for a long time, it will not go through the wood while cutting; it will burn and make a rough cut. So, need to clean your tool timely. Besides, who doesn’t like a clean tool to work with! Following the discussed steps will help you clean it effectively with home materials. Hope the article was helpful. Happy cleaning!