cleaning router bits

[TheUnicorn]

can anyone reccomend a good cleaning product for router bits please.

its just DIY and fairly occasional use, so I don't need great quantities,

can I infact just clean of residue with white spirit, turps, wd40 etc, or is a specialist cleaner definately required?

thank you

 

[rogxwhit]

There are all kinds of special lotions in little bottles, and I believe little brushes too all badged for router bit care. Probably at exorbitant prices. I always use wd40 just because its a handy multi-purpose thing to have around - might be better options, dunno - you can get a 5 litre quite economically, plus the squeeze dispensers to which I tend to add a straw to the spout.

 

[TheUnicorn]

There are all kinds of special lotions in little bottles, and I believe little brushes too all badged for router bit care. Probably at exorbitant prices. I always use wd40 just because its a handy multi-purpose thing to have around - might be better options, dunno - you can get a 5 litre quite economically, plus the squeeze dispensers to which I tend to add a straw to the spout.

thank you

 

[thetyreman]

I use white spirits usually, meths works in most cases, you don't need any specialist cleaners, pine can be annoying when you hit a knot how much sap can get onto the bits.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

I use cellulose thinners mostly but some use oven cleaner.

 

[TheUnicorn]

Do I need to soak or just wipe over?

 

[thetyreman]

wiping it should remove most of the residue....

 

[Fergie 307]

I use cellulose thinners mostly but some use oven cleaner.

Plus one for cellulose thinners, dissolves most things, oil, grease, most types of paint. Also good for cleaning tools used to mix car body filler and similar. Just dont get it near anything plastic, unless you want to dissolve that of course

 

[Orraloon]

Oven cleaner. Leave it on for a bit to disolve the gunk then wipe off or stiff brush if required . Same goes with tablesaw blades. Acetone and some thinners can work at times but tend to evaporate before the job is done.
Regards
John

 

[Seascaper]

can anyone reccomend a good cleaning product for router bits please.

its just DIY and fairly occasional use, so I don't need great quantities,

can I infact just clean of residue with white spirit, turps, wd40 etc, or is a specialist cleaner definately required?

thank you

Hello,
I use the same cleaner that I use for my hedgecutter. One sprays it in and the brown resin dissolves and it then easily wiped clean with a rag, it also has an additive to stop corrosion, it is a green bio product. One can use it on your circular saw blades, chainsaw bar etc
Regards

 

[the great waldo]

I use this stuff Amazon.de from Ballistol it works great and quickly too. Saw blades and router cutters and doesn't feel aggressive like acetone or nitro thinners.
Cheers
Andrew

 

[Thingybob]

Oven cleaner. Leave it on for a bit to disolve the gunk then wipe off or stiff brush if required . Same goes with tablesaw blades. Acetone and some thinners can work at times but tend to evaporate before the job is done.
Regards
John

+1 Used ovencleaner for years spray can 99p saw blades and tips like brand new just do it outside or well vented area quite strong at first ,I wear rubber gloves as it desolves grease do es what it says on the tin

 

[Sideways]

The cutters are steel and tungsten carbide. Feel free to try any solvent you like, it may lift off any paint from the cutter but who cares ?
CMT Orange spray that removes resin from sawblades works just as well on router cutters.
Cellulose thinners should be very effective, but is volatile so less good if you are doing the job indoors. Lidl sell smallish cans of thinners from time to time if you don't want to buy and store a full gallon can.

For brushes, Halfords sell a multipack of 2 nylon, 2 steel and 2 brass small brushes for a modest price (used to be £3 ?). Those little brushes are handy for lots of jobs and Halfords were as cheap as any ebay seller when I last looked.

 

[TheUnicorn]

thank you all for the advice, I tried some ovenmate today, which conviniently come with it's own brush, and I have to say it did the job brilliantly.

I then washed it off, dried and gave a quick squirt of wd40 to push any moisture off, so a little bit round in circles.

Is there a clever way to wash off the oven cleaner without water, white spirit maybe? I don't like to mix chemicals unless I know what they are likely to do to each other. Kaboom comes to mind.

 

[Thingybob]

thank you all for the advice, I tried some ovenmate today, which conviniently come with it's own brush, and I have to say it did the job brilliantly.

I then washed it off, dried and gave a quick squirt of wd40 to push any moisture off, so a little bit round in circles.

Is there a clever way to wash off the oven cleaner without water, white spirit maybe? I don't like to mix chemicals unless I know what they are likely to do to each other. Kaboom comes to mind.

I just wipe it off with paper roll