How to Keep your Sawmill Blades Clean Before Sending them for Sharpening.
If you want to get the most out of your sawmill blade sharpening service, keeping your blades clean before you send them in is a big help. Not only does it speed up the sharpening process, but it also helps protect the equipment we use and ensures you get the best edge possible.
At Cutting Edge Sawmill, we’re happy to clean dirty or rusty blades when needed—but if blades come in with heavy rust or buildup, there will be a $4.00 cleaning fee per blade.
Here’s how to keep your blades in good shape and avoid that extra cost.
🛠️ Why Clean Blades Matter
Before we can sharpen a blade, it has to be free of:
- Heavy rust
- Sap or pitch buildup
- Hardened debris
- Caked-on dirt or sawdust
Blades with buildup can clog up our sharpening equipment, wear down grinding wheels faster, and affect the final edge. Clean blades = cleaner cuts.
Easy Ways to Clean Your Sawmill Blades
Here are a few simple ways to clean your blades at home or at the mill:
1. Scrub with a Wire Brush
After removing the blade, give it a good scrub with a wire brush or wire wheel to remove loose rust and sawdust.
2. Soak in a Blade Cleaner
You can soak blades in a mix of:
- Hot water + degreaser (like Simple Green)
- Or a purpose-made blade cleaner
Let them sit for 15–30 minutes, then wipe off the residue with a rag or brush.
3. Use a Rust Remover
If your blades have light surface rust, a product like Evapo-Rust or WD-40 Rust Remover Soak can work wonders. Follow the directions and always dry the blade thoroughly afterward.
4. Dry and Store Properly
After cleaning, wipe blades dry and store them in a dry spot to avoid flash rust. You can even wipe them down with a light coat of oil if they’ll be sitting for a while.
💵 A Heads-Up About Extra Rust Cleaning Fees
We want to give every blade the care it needs—but extremely rusty or neglected blades require extra time and special treatment. To help cover this, we charge $4.00 per blade if excessive rust or buildup is present.
Cleaning them ahead of time keeps your costs down and helps us serve more sawmill folks quickly.
✉️ Ready to Send in Your Blades?
If you’re shipping or dropping off blades for sharpening, a quick cleaning ahead of time makes a big difference. And if you have any questions about the process, we’re always happy to help.
📦 Visit CuttingEdgeSawmill.com to get started or contact us for shipping instructions.
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