Keeping your saw clean

[Philbert]

I first put some aluminum duct tape on the front of my Husqvarna 353 to extend the heat shield a bit near the polymer parts. Worked pretty well.

I also add it to the front of my chain grinders to protect them from thrown grit and metal: thought they would be ‘sacrificial’ layers, but the grit cleaned off that stuff much easier than the painted / powder coated surfaces.

I clean adhesive goo off a lot of things I buy used. Some adhesive removers will also remove paint, or melt plastic, so I try a few different products: ‘Goof Off’ and ‘Goo-Gone’ are available at most home centers / hardware stores. My favorite is ‘3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover’, especially, the citrus version. These have to be obtained from commercial distributors.

Philbert

 

[beautex]

I had good success in selling a couple of saws this past year, mostly because I kept them in good shape. And Clean! Keeping them clean is a lot of work, and not as effective as I would like.

Anybody use tape to keep the front of the chassis (under the muffler) clean? This area gets saw dust blasted, and with green wood the wood chips can seem to be almost glued on with epoxy. Packaging tape, duct tape, anything else to try?

When I was selling my ms290, the caller remarked how good the saw looked. When I told him it was 10 years old, and I cut about 10 cords a year, the guy got real quiet and said, "Okay, I'll think about it and let you know". Of course I never heard from him again. Bottom line; Buyers like clean used saws.

It may very well be...

But it's also visited by some of the strangest m'fers on the planet...

I had good success in selling a couple of saws this past year, mostly because I kept them in good shape. And Clean! Keeping them clean is a lot of work, and not as effective as I would like.

Anybody use tape to keep the front of the chassis (under the muffler) clean? This area gets saw dust blasted, and with green wood the wood chips can seem to be almost glued on with epoxy. Packaging tape, duct tape, anything else to try?

When I was selling my ms290, the caller remarked how good the saw looked. When I told him it was 10 years old, and I cut about 10 cords a year, the guy got real quiet and said, "Okay, I'll think about it and let you know". Of course I never heard from him again. Bottom line; Buyers like clean used saws.

How about RainX or BugOff

 

[Philbert]

Nothing wrong with keeping your working tools looking nice. Of course, some guys never wash their cars or trucks either.

I also add it to the front of my chain grinders to protect them from thrown grit and metal:

‘Goof Off’ and ‘Goo-Gone’ are available at most home centers / hardware stores. My favorite is ‘3M General Purpose Adhesive Remover’, especially, the citrus version.

Philbert

Cheap, clone grinder, but I have done the same with my ‘good’ grinders too.

Philbert

 

[fields]

Im all for keeping my saws clean... and will clean them every night before using them the next day.... My go to cleaner- Meguires hot rims, Wheel and tire cleaner

 

[redpowerd]

One of my saws after I clean it.

Yup, takes maybe a half hour, and may save half day on the bench or half week in the saw shop. Plus you have pride in ownership, higher resale, and confidence in a cooler runner next time you take it to the bush.

 

[Bill G]

Anybody use tape to keep the front of the chassis (under the muffler) clean? This area gets saw dust blasted, and with green wood the wood chips can seem to be almost glued on with epoxy. Packaging tape, duct tape, anything else to try?

So is your primary concern sap and sticky chit or sawdust? If it is sap and sticky chit then everyone is missing a simple fix....... I assume you do not mind a few minutes of cleaning at the end of the day do ya. If so I got your answer......

 

[KASH]

So what is the magic answer Bill ?.Smear the area with grease and wipe it off at the end of the day?
Kasah

 

[Bill G]

So what is the magic answer Bill ?.Smear the area with grease and wipe it off at the end of the day?
Kasah

Well by gosh YOU figured it out quick. Excellent . Coat that sucker in gun grease and clean daily....... That sap will come right off. After collecting hundreds of saws I.can tell you the oiliest dirty nasty ones clean up the best. Let 3M keep their tape, buy some grease and support the Arabs... By gosh they sure need it..
.

 

[Bill G]

Hang on I got another idea.... It will keep you clean too

 

[Canyon Angler]

Smear the area with grease and wipe it off at the end of the day?

I was actually thinking this would be easier (if a bit messier) than tape. Kinda like greasing a cookie sheet! And you wouldn't need any super-exotic high-tech grease...drain oil would prolly work fine. Plus, no glue from the tape to have to dikk around with afterwards. (Is glue easier to remove than sap?)

Hang on I got another idea.... It will keep you clean too

I tried that...but every time I hit the throttle, the chain cut through the latex and I had to re-condom!

 

[Gamma Woods]

One of my saws after I clean it.

Not good enough. Repaint your clutch cover.

 

[KASH]

That was just a wild guess purely out of the blue.I guess if you have an old slow heavy saw you could say you are greasing the pig.
Kash

 

[Bill G]

That was just a wild guess purely out of the blue.I guess if you have an old slow heavy saw you could say you are greasing the pig.
Kash

Yes indeed you could.. Well now the more I think of it down here in the good ole USA we are supposed to strive to me more inclusive and have more compassion. We are told to be "politically correct" I am not sure calling an old slow heavy saw would fit what we are supposed to say. I mean really.... terms like "old" "slow" and "heavy" those could be considered very offensive and hurt some ones feelings. OHHHH do not even get me started on the term "pig" that is terrible.....

 

[Bill G]

Ya know it seems some folks have poked fun at the OP. (myself included). Now we must remember a saw is a tool. As a young boy (or girl) gotta be P.C. here.... I am sure your Dad (or Mom) gave many of us the same advice. In order to lead a good life one of the things you must do is keep your tool clean. Do not use it where you should not. If you do get it dirty for gosh sakes make sure you scrub it good and clean. A tool that is properly kept clean will treat you better than one you keep getting dirty so folks wrap your tool and KEEP IT CLEAN

 

[Canyon Angler]

wrap your tool and KEEP IT CLEAN

Daily polishing helps!

 

[Wood Doctor]

Every time a guy brings in a dirty saw for me to restore, it usually has old mixed fuel in the tank. I dump this into a wide glass olive jar with a good lid and save for use with a toothbrush and a paper towel to clean his saw and perhaps a dozen more. Gasoline is a whale of a cleaner, but you have to store it with respect.

 

[Lanedrew]

Usually after a full day of cutting, I like to remove the bar and chain, and then take a paint brush and a container of diluted purple degreaser and brush all the oily nastiness off the saw and clutch cover, as well as the bar and chain. Then I hit it with compressed air to finish it off. Lastly I reassemble the saw and wipe it down with some SC1 high gloss coating spary, it’s made for ATV plastics but I use it on just about everything, including the interior of my truck, makes the saw look brand new. Depending on how nasty the saw gets I also remove the recoil occasionally and clean around the flywheel and what not

 

[Bill G]

Daily polishing helps!

No doubt about that. Just remember to switch hands and alternate directions. The key is ....wax on....wax off. Repeat repeat repeat

 

[Bill G]

..... I dump this into a wide glass olive jar with a good lid and save for use with a toothbrush and a paper towel to clean his saw and perhaps a dozen more. Gasoline is a whale of a cleaner, but you have to store it with respect.

There is no doubt about that but depending on your shop it can get a little smelly. That reminds me of the early to mid 1980's. A bunch of guys that would deer hunt our place would come out on the weekends to cut firewood. Most did not even burn wood they just did it to get away from their wives or their wives wanted to get rid of them. It was funny watching some of them fuel their saws. They would fill them then literally pour a pint of fuel all over the saw. I asked what they were doing and they said cleaning it off. Well that was something I wanted no part of. Gas can be a good cleaner but dumping it on a saw them firing it up is a disaster waiting to occur. A dimple frayed plug wire is all it would take

 

[Wood Doctor]

There is no doubt about that but depending on your shop it can get a little smelly. That reminds me of the early to mid 1980's. A bunch of guys that would deer hunt our place would come out on the weekends to cut firewood. Most did not even burn wood they just did it to get away from their wives or their wives wanted to get rid of them. It was funny watching some of them fuel their saws. They would fill them then literally pour a pint of fuel all over the saw. I asked what they were doing and they said cleaning it off. Well that was something I wanted no part of. Gas can be a good cleaner but dumping it on a saw them firing it up is a disaster waiting to occur. A dimple frayed plug wire is all it would take

Gasp! That's why I never use that much mixed fuel. An olive jarful (about 10 ounces) will last me a month or more and clean a dozen or more dirty saws when using a small brush. A tight lid keeps the fumes down.