Cleaning up old saws for resale?

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Rockfarmer

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Nov 30, 2008
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Templeton Ma.
Hey guys! I have 4 old Stihl saws that Id like to "clean up" for e-bay or craigslist sale. These saws are strong runners and have done everything Ive asked of them, Im confident that there worth some money. Thing is, 30 yrs of dried bar and chain oil mixed with sawdust just wont come off and just make the saws look tired. I tried a little parts blaster, elbow grease, diesel fuel, ect. How do you guys clean these things up with running them through the dishwasher :) Thanks!! B
 
I use Castrol Super Clean straight/not diluted.
With all the covers off the saw and intake blocked off (zip lock bag cut to size with a rubber band around it) spray the saw down with Super clean let it sit for about 30-40 seconds (left on to long it will dull paint and plastic) give it a scrub down with a plastic bristled brush and hose off.
From the sounds of how dirty yours are you will see the best results with a stream cleaner.
 
Hopefully tomorrow it will be above freezing and I can do a little washing outside :)

Were supposed to be in the 60s this weekend but everything will be a mud hole from all the ice thawing, good luck! im personally a Purple Power fan, a little elbow grease and a water hose without blasting it.
 
Simple green or Castrol super clean, my best luck is with Castrol yours should be zero problem. They are spotless to begin with compared to stuff I have cleaned using the above in the past. good luck

Yes, those are pretty clean. But there's not anything that will clean that brown staining of the paint.
 
Mineral spirits of naphtha parts washer fluid is very gentle to all saw parts. Cuts the grease like no ones business. That's what I use to prep everything on my site.

I prefer it to water based degreasers as it leaves a nice protective coating on the parts as well.
 
IMG_5131 (Large).JPGI've had some success with carb cleaner on yellowed and stained white paint used on old Stihls. Be VERY careful as it will remove a fine layer of paint, ie the paper towel showed a little bit of paint transfer. Don't use it on labels etc. The spray can stated that it contained acetone 28%, which probably did most of the work, and methanol 18%.

The case on the left had carb cleaner, on the right just petrol.

Good luck
 

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