what do you use to REALLY clean up your saw with?

Mine gets used pretty good , not hard, but, a lot. So, its got junk on it from cutting wood, lots of it. some of it is discoloration, from use, tree sap, and who knows what, maybe some gas stains. So, whats the secret to keeping a saw looking good? I wash/wax my pickup after i use it to get wood, its a 2002 toyota and still looks pretty darned good. So, what do i use to keep my saws and other small power tools looking good? Like me weed whacker, my hedge trimmer, etc, etc. thanks
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I've used mayonnaise to get pine pitch off of my saws. Other than that, I use an old toothbrush to clear gunk from under the chain guard, and a rag to wipe it down when dirty.

 

Mainly an air compressor and vegetable oil/acetone mixture (homemade biodegradable wd40) same thing as trick shot spray. Seems to do a good job of getting the sap off.

 

Gasoline on a rag. Fill the tank, get a little on a rag, cork the tank, mop away.
I always have rags handy for fueling operations.
Sca

 

I use compressed air mostly and a rag. If I’m working on one I’ll use the brake cleaner that we use at work along with air.
Now if you’re talking about really making them look nice that’s a whole nuther deal. In fact I had to same question awhile back and started a thread on itGood looking saws

I’ve tried the pledge and it does pretty good. But I have never been very anal about keeping things super clean and shiny. I buy em to use but try to keep them in good shape. Everyone has their own level of nice and clean

 

Picture of that 1st gen I’ve got an 05 and try and wash it weekly. Never liked a truck so much.

for saws, I too use compressed air, tooth brush, little brake clean, and sometimes a little simple green. Probably should do more.

 

Mine get mostly just compressed air. If I get into evergreen sap, very hot water and Purple Power do the trick.

 

This works really good . Full strength for serious gunk. At the dollar store. The spray wax used after cleaning helps keep crud from sticking next time you cut. Don't spray your handle bar or trigger handle though.

 

I am pretty faithful with my maintenance on my saws and equipment.
After cutting before putting them away the get the compressed air treatment, if there is sap and what-not on them a little brake clean on a rag seems to do the trick.

 

I don’t wash my truck or clean my saws to the point where they “look good”. Just a cleaning that’s functional. I may be in the minority here but I worry more about maintenance than appearance as both my truck and my saws are just tools.

 

Im a lunatic about putting away a clean saw if I know it will be more than a couple days before needed again.
Compressed air first then I use a siphoning spray wand to use either mineral spirits or, my favorite, Crown camp fuel, to remove all the oily residue. I even remove the pull start cover and clutch cover and do those pieces as well. After assembly I use a product called Mudslinger from Amsoil that I wipe on. It's for treating plastic on dirt bikes and ATVs to help keep mud from sticking. It makes it hard for stuff to stick to the saw and helps rejuvenate old plastic. I learned of it from a member on a forum.

 

I use any combination of a small scrubbing brush, a screwdriver, a rag, brake cleaner, and compressed air. Speaking of compressed air my 20 year old craftsman 7 gallon ain't cutting it. Too noisy, too small, and terrible air flow. Looking to upgrade that. Also looking at a small 20 gallon parts washer.

 

I've seen that mudslinger product in an amsoil catalog recently, just never did any research on it. Sounds like it works well.

 

I ended up offing my parts washer and use an 18 qt roaster over so I can heat the solution. I use that for cleaning up nasty old vintage saw parts after scraping off what I can. I upgraded my air compressor as well. Tractor supply had a sale on a DeWalt 60 gallon upright with piston pump that uses oil. It was under $400 before tax. Definitely was a huge upgrade over the old 20 gallon oil-less noisemaker.

 

It has so far. Helps keep the pine pitch from sticking. Everything seems to come off easier. I put it on the entire exterior. Metal cases and all.

 

That looks great! Imagine me running with only 7 gallons and try to blow anything clean. 12 seconds later and the pump kicks on.....and this is an oil lubricated one but still loud as all hell.

I was going to go with the Husky C304H but then I read some commentary on how running 175psi on a 120v compressor was a recipe for an early death. And there's a reason it's the cheapest 20 gallon oil lubricated compressor with at least 5 scfm. So I'm still in the research mode. I don't need it for automatic sanding or cut off wheels......I just need to blow things dry and maybe once in a blue moon use it for nailing or spray painting (i.e. I used my old one to paint the truck bed liner onto the side steps of my Tacoma).

Right now I'm spending $3.50 a can on brake cleaner which does not last long at all. I swear some of these cans last half as long as others. But it sure gets the job done and is convenient.

 

Yes Brake Cleaner is probably not the cheapest option but I do agree about it being convenient and it works.
I also have a Safety Kleen parts washer that I use for some jobs.
Oil lube compressor is fine for what you will be using it for , I have had my 60 gallon for years and it just keeps going , check the oil once and a while and there is no reason it won't last.
The only drawback might be spray painting and possible oil residue from it , if you are going to paint they make filters for the airline for that.

 

Thank you. It was definitely one of my "why did I wait so long" type of upgrades.

As to the brake cleaner, I mathed out the cost per fluid oz of it vs the Crown camp fuel in the gallon can. Much cheaper and doesn't harm anything on the saw. I use a gallon or two a year with that spray wand. Mineral spirits works well, even a bit better? but it leaves an oily residue.

 

Yeah I was thinking of using TSC's PSC1000 solvent. Read that that works really well. I was leaning toward's HarborFreight's 20 gallon parts washer but then it's not even on their website anymore. I think a similar one is the Jegs parts washer here:

I don't need it to be too fancy and space is tight....but it's a good excuse to organize and get rid of crap I just don't need.

 

Never thought of Camp-Fuel
I have a couple gallons here that have been on the shelf for years , I use very little of it in my lanterns and Coleman stove so it has been here a while.