How to Clean and Maintain Saw Blades

In the long run, dulling teeth will eventually reduce the cutting performance of your table saw blades. But an even quicker and more insidious culprit is built-up, burned-on gunk. It makes dirty blade teeth wear out faster than clean teeth.

Here's why. Cutting resinous woods releases pitch, which sticks to the teeth and blade body, creating friction. Friction turns to heat, and that heat becomes extreme at the cutting edges where it can break down the carbide teeth on the molecular level. As burned-on pitch continues to build up on all the contact surfaces of the teeth, the problem just compounds itself, exacerbating heat.

Pitch deposits also can throw the blade off balance like a car tire, where wobbling at the rim of the blade will lead to poor cutting quality and even more heat buildup. A clean blade dissipates heat more evenly and spins true. So, an occasional cleaning is definitely worth the effort whenever you begin to see brown or black burned-on deposits forming anywhere on the blade.

What’s the Best Way to Clean a Saw Blade?

There are many nontoxic, specially formulated saw blade cleaners on the market that work effectively. But oven cleaner or other strong chemicals are bad choices, regardless of how well they seem to remove saw blade grime. Strong acids and bases, for instance, are too caustic. They can deteriorate the blade coating and weaken the cobalt that binds the carbide particles of the teeth together. Even if you can't see the results of chemical damage from using the wrong blade cleaner, that doesn't mean it isn't happening

Neutral pH cleaners are best. Even a mild dish detergent and warm water can remove pitch deposits. Simply soak the blade until the burned-on residue softens, then gently scrub the teeth and blade with a nylon- or brass-bristle brush. For added convenience, this saw blade cleaning kit includes everything you need to clean circular saw blades from 6-1/4" to 12" in diameter and stores neatly when not in use. Just add your favorite liquid blade cleaner.

Most of all, be patient. You may need to repeat the process a few times, but eventually all the buildup will come off. Once the blade is clean, dry it thoroughly and apply a rust-preventative spray, such as Bostik BladeCote, to help protect it and keep it cutting smoothly.

How Can I Tell When My Blades Need Sharpening?

A telltale sign that a clean blade might need to be sharpened is that wood feels harder to cut when you push it through the blade, and the saw seems to labor more than it used to during cutting. Scorching and swirl marks on the wood can also indicate dulling teeth. It's a good idea to occasionally inspect the teeth with a magnifying glass when the blade is clean. Look for chipped edges. If you find damaged teeth, consider sending the blade out for professional sharpening and repair.

Is Sharpening Worth the Cost?

If you purchase premium-quality blades, having them sharpened by a reputable blade service can be well worth the cost. The thicker the teeth are, the better. Pro-quality blades with thick teeth can often be resharpened several times before the teeth are spent. It typically costs less than $30 to sharpen a blade. That's a bargain compared to buying a new one and spending perhaps two or three times as much. Blade manufacturers often can recommend authorized sharpening services that can keep your blades in tiptop shape.

Protect Your Blade Investments

While carbide teeth retain those sharp edges for a long time, the material is nevertheless brittle and won't stand up to a drop on the floor. So, keep your spare saw blades in a storage rack or box of some sort when they're not installed on the saw. They should be isolated from each other to prevent the teeth from making contact. One excellent option to consider is Rockler's Saw Blade Storage System, which organizes five blades in a space-saving dock that can be mounted to a wall or under a cabinet near the saw.