Maintaining Saw Blades

With use, all saw blades get dull and dirty and require sharpening and cleaning. Some, such as scroll and band saw blades, can be cleaned, but because they have so many teeth, replacing them is more cost effective than sharpening them. Table and miter saw blades, on the other hand, easily can be cleaned and sharpened, although carbide-tipped blades require less frequent sharpening than high-speed steel blades. Both types will cut truer and last longer if kept clean and stored properly.

Cleaning blades

Saw blades pick up pitch and gum from the wood they cut. If you cut a lot of softwood, the blades can pick up resin as well. Any buildup on your blades will decrease cutting efficiency and sometimes cause burning and ragged cuts. Consider making a blade-cleaning kit that includes a shallow pan large enough for the blade, a toothbrush, rubber gloves, a can of pitch and gum remover, and a cloth. Keep some contractor’s paper or old newspapers on hand, as well, to protect surrounding work surfaces.

To clean a blade, put on rubber gloves, and place the blade in a pan. Spray on one coat of pitch and gum remover, and wait the recommended time. After it has set, scrub the teeth of the blade with a toothbrush to remove stubborn deposits. Use a cloth to wipe off excess residue; then flip the blade and clean the other side. When you’re finished, wipe both sides clean one more time.

Sharpening Carbide-Tipped Blades

It’s best to have this done by a professional who has experience working with carbide. If you don’t know of a local sharpener, consult a local woodworking club or saw-blade manufacturer. Make sure to use a sharpening service recommended by a woodworker.

Sharpening High-Speed Steel Blades

As with any other high-speed steel blade in your workshop, such as a plane or handsaw blade, a high-speed steel saw blade could be sharpened. You should have this done professionally, because if you don’t sharpen every tooth identically and set, or bend, each alternative tooth perfectly, the blade will not run true. The blade can pull to one side if one or more teeth protrude; even worse, these teeth will do all the cutting and dull quickly leaving a jagged cut. Touch-up sharpening can be done by pressing a slim taper file against the tooth so it aligns with the bevel. Then take one or two passes with the file to create a fresh edge.

Proper storage

Finally, you can increase the life of any saw blade by storing it properly. This includes replacing a blade in its original packaging or setting it in a simple storage rack. Both of these methods keep the teeth from coming in contact with metal. When teeth touch, high-speed steel versions will dull, and carbide-tipped blades will fracture or chip.