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Removing tree sap from saw

| Posted in General Discussion on May 22, 2003 02:41am

Without going into self-abusing details, I need to remove a significant quantity of tree sap from the bottom of the sole plate on my Porter Cable circsaw.  I scraped most of it off with a putty knife and then tried laquer thinner, which did nothing.  I have mineral spirits and pinesol available…will either work, or should I get something else?

 

Do it right, or do it twice.

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  1. YesMaam27577 | May 22, 2003 02:56am | #1

    Use the mineral spirits to get the sap off of the saw.

    And from now on, don't use the saw to get the sap out of a tree!

    Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.
  2. FrankB89 | May 22, 2003 03:55am | #2

    Well, old timber fallers here in the Pacific Northwest, in the pre-chainsaw days and those long "misery whips" were the saws of choice, one item always carried in the fallers rucksack was a bottle of turpentine for removing pitch from the saws.

     

  3. CAGIV | May 22, 2003 04:11am | #3

    Bug and Tar remover from the local auto parts store

    Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professional build the Titanic.

  4. Piffin | May 22, 2003 04:14am | #4

    my choices, in order of superiority - but use what ever is handy.

    turpentine

    WD-40

    mineral spirits

    Pine Sol is for when the customers dog lifts his leg over your saw.

    .

    Excellence is its own reward!

  5. User avater
    MikeS | May 22, 2003 04:19am | #5

    Of couse you could just use the sap to hold sandpaper to the plate so you can cut and sand all in one process :)

    Mike
    It's O.k. to think out of the box,           Just don't walk off of the plank!
  6. RW | May 22, 2003 05:08am | #6

    I think the turps makes sense, considering it's origin. I was thinking about how I degunk my saw blades. EzOff does the trick on them in about one second, though some Knots folks say I'm going to hell for it with a carbide tooth stuck in my forehead.

    "The child is grown / The dream is gone / And I have become / Comfortably numb "      lyrics by Roger Waters

  7. Ronbaby | May 23, 2003 07:12pm | #7

    Ive heard oven cleaner does the trick....might be that EzeOff stuff the poster before me was talking about. I dont clean ovens though.

    1. FastEddie1 | May 24, 2003 12:09am | #8

      Thanks for the advice.  I had mineral spirits / paint thinner readily available so I tried that next, and the sap came off with just a little effort.

      Do it right, or do it twice.

    2. CAGIV | May 24, 2003 01:25am | #9

      Oven cleaner is about that most rancid evil sh!t in the world, I cleaned the oven of my last apartment before we moved out and my lungs felt like they wanted to collapse.

      I'd rather spray lacquer without a respirator in a closet with the door shut then use that stuffNever be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, Professionals build the Titanic.

      1. FrankB89 | May 24, 2003 02:56am | #11

        DW used to love oven cleaner...her favorite was "Mr. Muscle"....well, some errant spray splatter from Mr. Muscle left her with a couple of scars on her arms...

        Mr. Muscle is an A##hole and is no longer allowed in my house! 

  8. daddoo | May 24, 2003 02:48am | #10

    Easy Off Over Cleaner. Period.

    When all else fails, use duct tape!

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