How to Clean Saw Blades in 5 Steps

Using a circular saw with a dirty blade can lessen the effectiveness of the tool and ultimately set back your project. Over time, pitch and resins build up on the cutting edges of saw blades. This effectively coats the edges, making the blade act as though it is dull. Friction and heat increase, cutting is more difficult, and the resulting cut edges are not as clean as they could be. While it may seem counterintuitive, dull blades are more dangerous than sharp blades. Blades that cut at maximum efficiency reduce the strain on a saw's motor (and on the user, when it comes to handheld saws). Fortunately, cleaning your saw blades is about as easy as rinsing off a razor blade.

A Quick Cleaning

Simple Green is an all-purpose cleaner that should be diluted for regular saw-blade cleaning, although it can be applied straight from the bottle for more serious gunk buildup. Follow these steps for a quick regular cleaning:

1. Mix one part of Simple Green with three parts water in a shallow container.
2. Remove the saw blade from your circular saw, being careful of the sharp teeth.
3. Place the blade into the cleaning solution and let it soak for a few minutes.
4. Scrub the blade's teeth and any gunky areas with a toothbrush or a small brass brush until they are clean.
5. Rinse the blade in water and pat it dry with paper towels before re-installing it in your saw.

How Often to Clean Saw Blades

Even if you don’t use your circular saw very often, it's still a good idea to give its blade a quick cleaning two or three times a year. Your saw blade will need to be cleaned at more regular intervals if it's used for more intense projects like remodeling work that requires regular use of the saw over several months.

Before You Begin

Take the opportunity to closely examine the tip of each tooth on the blade. If a lot of the teeth are damaged or getting dull, consider sharpening or replacing it. While steel saw blades can be sharpened (or at least touched up) with a triangular metal file, blades with carbide-tipped teeth must be professionally sharpened, although it's usually more cost-effective to buy a new saw blade.