Lye bath to clean saw blade teeth and saw chain

mdvaden

It needs to be kept closed in storage tightly if used, but lye (like for drains) makes a powerful tool cleaner.

The sharpening shop where I left my chains and saw blades at before we moved south, left the metal sitting in a lye solution overnight.

Then with rubber gloves, they pulled them out with metal grippers and rinsed the metal clean. Sometimes they scrubbed lightly.

Goggles may be a good idea.

I mixed up some myself, in a plastic pan with a tight sealing lid to clean my pruning saws from time to time.

Few other things clean the pine pitch and dried sap - not even carburator cleaner.
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M. D. Vaden of Oregon

Photos - Largest Redwoods: Atlas Grove & Grove of Titans

Sugar_Ape · Rowan Tree Joined: 06 Jul 2006 Posts: 121

Great tip M.D. I'd guess that this solution is dangerous? Should a face mask be used when working with it?

Thanks.

mdvaden · Posted: Tue Nov 28, 2006 11:39 pm Post subject:

It's not like it's explosive.

Even some grocery stores sell it here.

Basically like a drain cleaner.

It's a powder usually - just pour in water and mix to dilute.

It's just that it can make skin and eyes sting if it spashes.

But it's relatively safe for adults to use.
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M. D. Vaden of Oregon

Photos - Largest Redwoods: Atlas Grove & Grove of Titans