Has anyone built a band cleaner?

[Chuck White]

I set mine before every sharpening, without fail.

I have always found that, especially the teeth on the inside of the band are off quite a bit, the outside, so-so!

[drobertson]

Lots of good ideas here, I have thought about the same as well,  just how to do it, (quick as possible) I do like the drill press wire wheel technique. It doesn't take much to knock off the stuff that's left on, and in the gullet area,  I have always thought a brass wire brush was best for cutting edges.  I have been fortunate enough to get around 4 to 5 sharpenings without re-setting, so the good point Bibby brought up does not affect my application. This said, if the bands being sharpened are for personal use, not for customers, I would use the flush method and a brass brush just before band removal, otherwise some sort of gizmo will need to be made up to set up the blades and run them through,  this type of apparatus is open for all types of design techniques,  david

How do you get 4 or 5 sharpenings and not set them and have them cut flat ?

I reckon I am lucky, if you believe in luck,  this is not typical of every single band but close to it. I have only been doing this with the Cook's Super sharps,  david

[barbender]

I get about 3 sharpenings before I see any effects from not setting, compared to new. I take a very light grind.