When I finally take the time to scrub hardened resin off my blades and bits, I’m always surprised at how much better they cut—cleaner, faster, with less burning. MicroJig’s BladeClean system makes the process simpler, so I’m likely to clean my cutters more often. It works with any common cleaner and includes everything you need to make your carbide edges sparkle again.

The covered tub contains two reservoirs for cleaning solution, one for blades and one for bits. The majority of the mixture goes into the main tank, which has a large abrasive pad on the bottom. Attach the included magnetic handle to any circular blade up to 12 in. dia., give it a few spins against the pad, and the gunk is gone. Flip the blade and repeat. It’s just as easy to spin the blade on edge to clean the tips too. The smaller reservoir and holder for router bits allows you to briefly soak them in the cleaning solution before scrubbing in one of two ways: with the included brass-bristle brush, or with a small polishing disk held in a rotary tool or cordless drill. You get five of the little disks, and they worked so well I didn’t need the brush, though it can be helpful for stubborn sap.

The whole system is very effective, and I love how it stores on a shelf in my shop, with the soapy cleaner inside and the accessories stored on top, all ready for use at a moment’s notice. The big blade pad is rated for hundreds of cleanings, and you can cut more of the small disks from any abrasive pad. 

—Asa Christiana is the author of Build Stuff with Wood (2017, The Taunton Press).

Photo: Asa Christiana

From Fine Woodworking #297

	Go clean your blades! Apart from reducing your cut quality, dirt and resin will dull your blades prematurely.
	3 Methods For Removing Rust Rollie Johnson demonstrates how to remove rust from your tools and keep it at bay.
	How to Clean a Router Bit Improve your cuts with a simple cleaning