How To Clean A Table Saw Blade: 4 Easy Steps!

Learning how to clean a table saw blade requires going through four steps; scrubbing off the dirt, making and using your cleaning solution, drying your blade, and ensuring rust resistance. All these are necessary to keep your table saw blade in peak condition.

Of course, that doesn’t mean that’s all that might be wrong with the saw. You may also want to check the alignment. For that, learn how to align your table saw blade.

Still, since you might want to check out detailed descriptions of cleaning saw blades, we recommend watching a video for a practical perspective:

And after you’ve kept a regular cleaning schedule, you can note that your blade won’t grow dull so easily, nor will its lifespan be reduced! That sounds like a great deal, right? So, without further ado, let’s jump to the steps you need to follow.

Step 1) Scrub Off The Obvious Dirt On Your Blades.

First, closely examine the teeth of your circular saw blade. Watch out for rough or dull edges; if any are found, sharpen them up. However, if the degree is too great, then there may be a need for your table saw blade, specifically the said teeth, to get professionally sharpened.

After your blade has sharp teeth again, use a brush (preferably a bristle brush) to scrub off the gathered dirt and pitch as much as possible. But don’t worry if the tough grime doesn’t come off! For that, we have the next few steps.

Step 2) Make Your Cleaning Solution.

Pour hot water into an Aluminum pan and add laundry detergent to it. Hot water is a better solvent than cold water; this, alongside consistent stirring, will help make the blade-cleaning process faster.

Place the dirty saw blade into this solution once it has settled and continue to stir. This will allow the dissolved detergent to react against the dirt, grime, and pitch, removing them from the steel of the saw blade.

Here is an easy tip: place your finger in the center hole of the saw blade and move the entire steel in a circular motion. Keep it gentle and not too hard to stop the water from splashing. Be wary of the carbide-tipped teeth, as even in water, they can still cut you.

After some time, once you see that enough dirt has been dissolved, remove the clean blade.

Step 3) Dry Your Saw Blade.

Now that the major dissolving has done and the dirt softened, it’s time to dry your saw blade. Place it on a clean towel and use another to dry it off quickly.

Emphasis on quickly, as the unnecessary presence of water can cause the metal to rust, and rusting is a process that, when it begins, does not stop. For more thoroughness, we recommend an air compressor or a dryer to remove traces of moisture.

In extreme cases, you can even use an oven cleaner. However, they can be dangerous and damage the blade teeth. Let’s stick to the air compressor.

Once again, just remember that the saw blades are very sharp. Be extra careful when scrubbing your towel, and later brush over each tooth. They might cut you, or their edges might get dulled.

Step 4) Must be Rust Resistant.

As we said above, rusting is a process we want to avoid in the steel of your circular saw blades. Yes, we dried it off quickly, but there is a more technical way to protect your blades.

If you prefer to make do with traditional house cleaners for your saw blades, we suggest you use these Rust Inhibitors. A few sprays should do the trick, and this time, you can simply leave the blade to dry.

Note: Considering size and thickness also affect the rusting process, familiarize yourself with blade thicknesses – here’s a guide on how thick a table saw blade needs to be.

FAQs

What Happens If I Ignore Cleaning Saw Blades?

For starters, after a long time using the blade without cleaning it, resin builds up on your table saw, reducing effectiveness and hence the quality of cutting by the motor saw blade.

Speaking of which, your saw’s motor may also need more efficiency due to pitch buildup, hence reducing the overall lifespan of your table saw. To top it off, more heat and friction may cause your table saw blade to face higher resistance while cutting wood.

We wouldn’t want to let something as useful as a table saw go to waste like that, now would we? After all, clean saw blades are your best friends in the woodworking industry.

How Often Should I Clean My Saw Blades?

Even if you do not use it more than a few times, the blade should still be cleaned at least 3 to 4 times a year. However, if the saw blades are frequently used in large-scale projects, then cleaning them should be among the daily routines of your workers.

If you’re worried about how heavy your table saw might be – and therefore the more difficulty in dealing with it – learn more before you choose the table saw itself with a guide on table saw weights.

On the other hand, if you already own a table saw, learn how to adjust a table saw instead so you can handle it better, no matter the size or weight.

What Supplies Do I Need To Clean My Saw Blades?

Cleaning saw blades might be a delicate business, but in truth, anyone can do it with the right resources and knowledge. A word of advice; do check your manufacturer’s website for specific instructions regarding your table saw blade model.

From blade motors to saw blades themselves, their design will be different, but the more relevant information for you is their requirements. Such details about your table saw are mentioned in the manuals that come alongside the blades mention such details about your table saw.

Besides that, the cleaning procedure is simple, general, and fairly straightforward. Here are the tools you will need for blade cleaning:

Hot Water.
Aluminum pan or any suitable shallow container.
Laundry Detergent.
Toothbrush or brass brush.
Paper Towels

What Do If My Blade Has Already Rusted?

If you can no longer use your table saw blade, it might be time to replace it. You can keep the process of cleaning and rust resistance in mind for the next blade to maximize usage.

We recommend checking out various processes of changing the blade to ensure you can change it correctly. In fact, you might be interested in our guide on changing a Ryobi table saw blade or changing a table saw blade without a wrench.

Conclusion: How To Clean A Table Saw Blade?

By the time you come back, your blades shall give out glimmering shines. Place the circular blades back in the saw, and it will be just like those new, clean saw blades you buy straight from the retailer.

In a way, you’ve given your blades the rest they so much deserved. Now, you can say that they are truly ready to do the dirty work for you. Check out the Spruce for a similar perspective as well!

However, dirty work means a dirty blade, so make sure you learn how to clean a table saw blade with this article’s help. It will always be here to help you give a good cleaning.

Happy wood cutting!

For more table saw knowledge, learn about “How High Should A Table Saw Be?”