Cleaning band-mill blades before sharping

[vfauto]

 :P Does anyone have a solution that you can dip your blades into for a period of time to take the rust and pitch off before sharpening?  ???

[kelLOGg]

I have 2 galvanized tubs , the smaller inside the larger, with diesel in the larger. A heavy weight in the smaller inside tub keeps it from floating. I can place up to 3 coiled bands between the two tubs and the gallon or two of diesel covers the bands. It will easily dissolved pine sap in minutes. I doubt it will do much for rust - sawing a log with a rusty band is a good way to clean that. I keep it covered when not in use and I haven't replaced or added diesel in years.
fI the description isn't clear I can post pics.
Bob

[pineywoods]

Cleaning the crud off blades before setting and sharpening is a good idea. Setting in particular will be affected by buildup on blades.

[WH_Conley]

The way I do it is take a LONG handled wire brush, put engine in gear, turn lube wide open, place blade against blade for a couple of seconds. Blade is clean. Light specs of rust don't hurt. Heavy rust, put the blade back on the mill and find the worst firewood grade log you got and make a couple of cuts with plenty of lube.

[GAB]

Heavy rust, put the blade back on the mill and find the worst firewood grade log you got and make a couple of cuts with plenty of lube.

Aha - there is a use for poor grade logs.
Gerald

[woodmills1]

On my drag type sharpener any crud will cause more friction and cause more face grind and less back grind.  These blades do not cut as well.  I have 2 solutions, scrape off the crud, or take two passes on the sharpener.

[beenthere]

From WH

The way I do it is take a LONG handled wire brush, put engine in gear, turn lube wide open, place blade against blade for a couple of seconds.

Is that brush against blade ??

[Chuck White]

I have pretty good luck cleaning the blades by opening my lube valve wide open for about half a minute before removing it from the mill, then just give it a quick rub-down with a rag sprayed with WD-40 or something similar or ATF.

[WH_Conley]

Yeah beenthere. Need to proofread. Brush against blade. Need to stand to the outboard side too. Never had it happen, but, if the blade caught the brush it would be pulling it away from you instead of throwing it at you.

[petefrom bearswamp]

I use Chuck's method.
If heavy to pitch, I spray lightly with diesel when the blade is running.
Doesnt seem to bother the v belts

[Chuck White]

I thought maybe he meant blade against blade because some wire brushes (Stanley) has a blade at the end of the wire brush!

[Solomon]

If they are really nasty and rusty, get yourself a plastic tub or one of those pans for morter, a car battery charger a couple coat hangers, a sacrificial hunk of steel like an old wheel cylinder, and a couple of pounds of washing soda.
Search Youtube for  ( cleaning parts washing soda battery charger)  Or something like that.   Watch the videos, You will think  " Wow!  that's slicker than Cat S@&$ on a cement floor !  )    :P   🇺🇸

[AnthonyW]

I have used several additions (pinesol, cascade, dawn) to water but not tried diesel (and won't just not in the mood) not much has helped keep the pitch off the wheel side of the blade. It doesn't look like pitch so much as compressed sawdust. Has anyone installed a brush in the head to try to keep some of the sawdust from getting pinched between the wheel and blade?

Because it is only on one side, I have been chucking a 4" wire wheel in my electric hand drill. With the right angle and pressure I can clean the 1 1/4" wide blade in a single pass. Though it is accomplished in 9-12" increments. I was thinking of building a more permanent jig. Something with a few roller guides, a small motor, and an old grinder with a wire wheel mounted.

[KirkD]

If they are really nasty and rusty, get yourself a plastic tub or one of those pans for morter, a car battery charger a couple coat hangers, a sacrificial hunk of steel like an old wheel cylinder, and a couple of pounds of washing soda.
Search Youtube for  ( cleaning parts washing soda battery charger)  Or something like that.   Watch the videos, You will think  " Wow!  that's slicker than Cat S@&$ on a cement floor !  )    :P   🇺🇸

I have done that before de-rusting old cast iron pans. Works great....

[Larry]

Search Youtube for  ( cleaning parts washing soda battery charger)  Or something like that.   Watch the videos, You will think  " Wow!  that's slicker than Cat S@&$ on a cement floor !  )    :P   🇺🇸

Of course the easy way would be to search right here on the forum. :D :D

Larry's de-ruster

Having said that I sometimes use Evapo-Rust.  It does a good job and is reusable.  Besides that the inventor is a almost neighbor.