Just like everything else that gets used, table saw blades get dirty. Whether it's sap or burnt on sawdust, a dirty blade results in a poor quality cut and a really dirty blade can actually be dangerous to use.

These steps demonstrate quick and simple tips to clean table saw and circular saw blades.

A sharp and clean blade is much safer for the tool and operator. In most cases when a blade starts to seem dull all it needs is a good cleaning and it's like new again. Of course you still want to make sure you're using a sharp blade so you don't damage your tool or yourself.

The process to clean a table saw blade is fairly simple and you probably already have everything you need.

Things you need include:

Water
Laundry detergent
Plastic or soft wire bristle brush (brass works best) - https://amzn.to/2H0dfv7
Aluminum pan - https://amzn.to/2H083v1

Also here's a link to the video that's posted above. It will open it in a new tab and you can follow along on how I made this project.

Step 1: Remove the Blade and Submerge

First things first, make sure you unplug your saw before removing your blade!

With your blade removed, place it in an aluminum pan and completely submerge it in water. Next you can add some laundry detergent. I used a 12"x18" pan and about a cup of laundry detergent.

Note: if your blade is really dirty, it's a good idea to remove the bulk of the dirt with a stiff wire brush before placing it in the pan with water

Step 2: Stir and Wait

This next step is exactly as the title implies. Stir the detergent in the water and wait 5-10 minutes for it start working.

A good safety tip for stirring the liquids is to place your finger in the center hole of the blade and move it in a circular motion. You can also use the brush to help in this step. Remember the teeth can still cut you so its a good idea to keep your fingers away from them. An even better idea is to stir the liquids before you put the blade in the pan.

Step 3: Scrub-a-dub-dub

Time to remove all that dirt. Using a plastic or soft wire bristle brush, you can start scrubbing the dirt off. I found a brass brush was the most affective for this.

Step 4: Dry Your Blade

After removing the unwanted dirt, it's very important to fully dry your blade. Water and steel aren't the best of friends and you don't want your blade to develop rust.