Bur cleaning

[John_C]

I was given some good advice yesterday on the best method for cleaning burs. It came from Dallas at Old Texas Woodcarvers Shop. we were talking about ordering a few burs and he asked me how I cleaned them after using them. Being new at power carving I didnt have the best answer. he suggested a product commonly used for cleaning saw blades which I have. I had read about using oven cleaner and brass brushes but oven cleaner is toxic containing lye. I took my burs laid them in a plastic container and soaked them in the blade cleaner 4 hours later they were spotless. whatever wood was embedded in them had come out with the resin. the burs included steel carbide and ruby

[Callynne]

Oh.....I think I see what the problem is with the bur cleaner I tried.....I only soaked them fifteen minutes or so. A few hours would probably work better....if not....I happen to have some blade cleaner and I'll be sure to give it a try! Thanks John! Deborah

[Agoodknife]

Aint it funny, if you use a knife, you have to strop. If you use power, you have to clean the l'il bugger's. Great power tip !

[Dicky]

I was taught to burn the stubborn stuff out with a hand held propane torch. Only takes a minute and my typhhoon burrs seem none the worse for it.

[Donsexton]

I use this blade cleaner that woodcraft has it is orange in color and has a pleasant citrus smell and works well on my typhoon burrs and kutzall.

[wildhare]

I use the pink brush cleaner you use to clean acrylic or oil paint off your brushes. I just fill a cleaned plastic yougurt container with enough cleaner to coever the burs and add hot water. I set an old saucer on it to keep the heat in and about an hour later, I take a dental brush to them if anything is left in them.
And its easy on the hands too.
Wanda

[Lynn O. Doughty]

A propane torch is the answer or even better, during the winter I just put them in the shop stove for a bit and they come out brand new.

[Sharon of the Dell]

All my burrs are getting crusty buildup, thanks everyone for the tips on cleaning.I will put mine in the woodstove next time my husband is freezing in the middle of summer!!! too bad hot flashes wouldn't clean that stuff off, mine would be spotless!

[Rwenzoski]

Hello, A mechanics "File card" cleans almost anything out of structured carbide burrs in seconds, no heating necessary & I buy them here in Canada at Princess Auto for around $3
Thanks, Robbin

[Eddy-Smiles]

Hey Wanda! I tried your brush cleaner idea! Worked like a charm except that all my Typhoon burrs came out with out a speck of paint on them! It even crazed the plastic container that I had the burrs soaking in! No big deal except now I have to make sure that I don't have a coarse when I want a fine. What a gloppy mess!Ha! Ha!