Cleaning years of resin off chainsaw bars.

[Beezvet]

Here's a real basic question; what does everyone do to clean an old bar of years of caked/baked on resin? I use a wood chisel to get most of it off, then a wire wheel and finally gas or cleaner. Anyone have a better quicker idea?

 

[TheJollyLogger]

Just soak it in gas overnight first. Let the solvent do the work.

 

[Mad Professor]

Softwood resin diesel soak.

 

[Beezvet]

Just soak it in gas overnight first. Let the solvent do the work.

Exactly what I hoped to hear. I never considered it; thanks!

 

[Matts Mower and Saw]

Exactly what I hoped to hear. I never considered it; thanks!

Use a mixture of Red Devil lye and water in a five gallon bucket. Use protective gear, it's caustic !

 

[Beezvet]

Use a mixture of Red Devil lye and water in a five gallon bucket. Use protective gear, it's caustic !

Sounds interesting. Where would I find Red Devil lye...hardware store?

 

[thenne1713]

Here's a real basic question; what does everyone do to clean an old bar of years of caked/baked on resin? I use a wood chisel to get most of it off, then a wire wheel and finally gas or cleaner. Anyone have a better quicker idea?

Experiment with DAWN, SIMPLE GREEN, WD40, OR SKIN-SAFE OVEN CLEANER AEROSOL? It can be AMAZING to see what simple soap can do that petro solvents will not touch. Gasoline as cleaner is an invitation to skin/ nerve poison, and/or explosion/ fire risk from a light switch. Good Luck.

 

[Mad Professor]

Sounds interesting. Where would I find Red Devil lye...hardware store?

Toilet bowl cleaner. Sodium hydroxide flakes.

 

[Mad Professor]

Experiment with DAWN, SIMPLE GREEN, WD40, OR SKIN-SAFE OVEN CLEANER AEROSOL? It can be AMAZING to see what simple soap can do that petro solvents will not touch. Gasoline as cleaner is an invitation to skin/ nerve poison, and/or explosion/ fire risk from a light switch. Good Luck.

Diesel works better than gasoline, is less volatile and less flammable.

We used that in a lumber mill to remove pitch on the roller feeds, on the edgers, when we were cutting white pine.

One other thing better to clean up sooner than later. The resins/sap will polymerize with time, just like bio-bar oils

 

[Beezvet]

Experiment with DAWN, SIMPLE GREEN, WD40, OR SKIN-SAFE OVEN CLEANER AEROSOL? It can be AMAZING to see what simple soap can do that petro solvents will not touch. Gasoline as cleaner is an invitation to skin/ nerve poison, and/or explosion/ fire risk from a light switch. Good Luck.

Good ideas and we have 3 of the 4 mentioned in the house.

 

[Beezvet]

Toilet bowl cleaner. Sodium hydroxide flakes.

Thanks, got it

 

[Beezvet]

Diesel works better than gasoline, is less volatile and less flammable.

We used that in a lumber mill to remove pitch on the roller feeds, on the edgers, when we were cutting white pine.

One other thing better to clean up sooner than later. The resins/sap will polymerize with time, just like bio-bar oils

Thanks. I've got about 9 or 10 old bars that came as part of an auction. So I'm paying for someone else's sins.

 

[Breckinridge Elkins]

Such complicated and dangerous answers.
Mineral spirits or WD-40 work fine. Not nearly as dangerous as lye or oven cleaner. Not as flammable as gasoline.
edit: or turpentine. Made from the same stuff as the pitch itself (and I like the smell).

 

[Stradbash]

If you’re talking about the resin from conifers, alcohol will dissolve it quickly. A Scotchbrite pad/sponge will speed things along some. I do this regularly in another situation and it’s much faster than mineral spirits or similar solvents.

 

[Beezvet]

Such complicated and dangerous answers.
Mineral spirits or WD-40 work fine. Not nearly as dangerous as lye or oven cleaner. Not as flammable as gasoline.
edit: or turpentine. Made from the same stuff as the pitch itself (and I like the smell).

Thanks, and I'll try it. Luckily (or not), I've got enough old bars to try several things.

 

[Stradbash]

Alcohol will be faster than turpentine.
If you have several, I’ll suggest putting them in a bag with a cup of alcohol and letting them sit for an hour or two.
When I’m cleaning various resins off things I do this, and then put a cup of household ammonia in with the alcohol for a few minutes. You can then rinse off everything easily with alcohol or water and they will be quite clean. Of course doing this outside makes it a little more pleasant.

 

[Beezvet]

Yep, I'll bet it does (make more pleasant). Good idea about the ammonia, too. Thanks.

 

[muddy42]

I occasionally use hot water and dish soap. I use an abrasive scourer on any deposits. I avoid getting the bar nose too wet and rinse and dry everything immediately by hand and then on the radiator. This cleans and degreases well.

 

[capetrees]

WD-40

or OFF bug spray.

 

[user 188535]

WD-40

or OFF bug spray.

Bug spray? For me, I just spray EVERYTHING on my saws off with the air compressor every week and I also spray WD-40 on everything that might have bio oil on it before I blow. I like Stihl Bio Plus for my carving saws, as well as sometimes cutting firewood. When I store my saws longer than a month, I let the saw idle with the clutch cover off as I let Stihl Premium oil run through and get rid of the bio stuff before cleaning. I also leave the oil tank full of Premium bar and chain oil. I like Bio Plus bar and chain oil when A LOT of oil may spray at me like when carving.