Keeping Carving Burrs from Clogging Up

[JRutten]

How can I keep my carving burs from clogging up when using them on wood fillers or epoxy?

[Donsexton]

I don’t have the answer mine do that to. I do have a theory of why, when the bit gets hot it tends to melt the ground up putty making it sticky. Have you noticed the same thing happens to sandpaper?

[Merle Rice]

Try putting chalk on before you use it. I do this with files and that works for me. Worth a try. Merle

[JRutten]

Merle, I have put chalk on files to remove oil that some times causes them to clog when workng with metal. This works well but uses alot of chalk.

[JRutten]

Don, I am sure you are correct in your obsevations. I know it is a heat problem or using to fine of a grit on the burr. I have tried to use slower speed but then the bit won't work as it should. Too coarse of a cut and the result is chipping.

Thanks for your reply

[BobD]

You may try soaking the bits in oven cleaner (if they are diamond or carbide bits). That may melt the epoxy off.

I'd consider using inexpensive stones rather than diamond or ruby bits for the epoxy areas. If you can't remove the epoxy with a dressing stone, at least you aren't out the cost of a diamond or ruby bit.

Bob

[Doug Ridley]

Run it across the same piece of crepe rubber you use to clean your sanding belts.

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

Take a look at this :

Bur cleaning Brush from Smoky Mountain Woodcarvers

Dave

[JRutten]

Wesley, Thanks for taking the time to reply to my question. I checked out the web page as per your suggestion and it looks like it might have some possibilities. Initially when I first started the post I was looking for some innovative way to keep the burrs from clogging up in the first place so that I would not have to deal with the cleaning process. By reading the other responses I would guess that is not going to be possible.