Unclogging Structured Carbide Bits

[davidinsarasota]

My structured carbide bits (Like Kutzall) were clogging pretty badly, especially on an oil soaked part of part of my carving. I use the burn technique I learned here, although I scaled back to a standard Bic lighter from my propane torch because the extra heat is unnecessary and could be hard on the bit.

This technique works well for transforming the stuck wood into char that is then easier to remove, but the toothbrush sized wire brush's thin wires did not remove the char very well and the wires would get pulled out of the handle and get stuck in the carbide.

A chainsaw carver I met at a recent roundup suggested a 'card file' of the type used for cleaning clogged files. The card file has shorter stiffer bristles and works great for this.

[Lynn O. Doughty]

When mine get clogged I just toss them in the woodstove. Have been doing this for years and see no damage to the bit. Works great!

[carvingbarn]

I use the card file on my bits too. the one I have has the short wire bristles one one side and a stiff brush on the other. It works well.

[Robson Valley]

As I was figuring out how to shape abalone shell (grind stone: 1,000rpm/drill press), the stone plugged up quite quickly. While running, a quick touch to the stone with a Lee Valley crepe rubber block worked magically! Trick from my furniture-building neighbor who does enormous amounts of power sanding. . . keeps the sanding belts from plugging up, then heating up then cooking.
Could that work with a carbide bit? The rubber seems to grab all the crud in an instant.

[Donsexton]

Have any of you used that orange bit and blade cleaner that wood craft sells? That stuff dissolves hard cooked on wood resin like no body's business. I spray it on allow it to sit for a few then brush with my file card and my SaburrTooth bits are clean.

[Claude]

Oven cleaner works, also - just soak overnight, then rinse. Cleaned the purpleheart resins out of the burrs.

Claude

[davidinsarasota]

RV, I just got one of crepe rubber blocks I'll give it a try. Others, I have to unclog several times a session soaking and ovens are out of the question. Flick of the bic and the card file do the trick.