mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 324
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Post by mikeinsjc on Jan 13, 2019 14:15:50 GMT -5
I would like to do a better job cleaning my saws, in particular my big one. I can only think of two options, both of which involve using a pressure washer. I could use water, quickly blow it semi-dry with a leaf blower, fill it with oil and run it to coat everything. Or I could pressure wash it with mineral oil. I think the higher viscosity of the oil would not be a problem. I haven't used a pressure washer enough to know if the latter would work given the washer would have to suck the oil from a bucket as opposed to the inlet being at house water pressure.
I thought about using a Hudson-type garden sprayer but suspect that would not provide enough pressure to blow the muck off. I am open for ideas.
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Post by Lapidaryrough / Jack Cole on Jan 13, 2019 14:22:55 GMT -5
Car wash / Self sever. per work needed. scrape out the jasper before pressure washing. engine de-greaser.
Rain Gear.
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 324
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Post by mikeinsjc on Jan 13, 2019 17:05:10 GMT -5
36" saw, about 2200 pounds 24", about 350-400
How exactly would this work?
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Post by parfive on Jan 13, 2019 17:26:51 GMT -5
36" saw, about 2200 pounds 24", about 350-400 How exactly would this work? Not clear what you mean. How would what work?
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Post by rockjunquie on Jan 13, 2019 18:25:42 GMT -5
I guess he means they are pretty big and heavy to be toting to the local car wash.
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agatemaggot
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2006
Posts: 2,195
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Post by agatemaggot on Jan 13, 2019 18:39:57 GMT -5
Ever other guy I know has a pressure washer in their garage, borrow one for the price of a 12 pack of their favorite beer. Most pressure washers won't weigh more than 50 lbs. or there about . If you find a power washer the same guy may also have a portable Air compressor also, not a big problem , just blow dry when done !
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Post by pauls on Jan 13, 2019 19:43:10 GMT -5
Just be careful not to aim the high pressure water at bearings or anything that you might want to move or remove in future, water will get in and inspite of all the oil will rust things. If you are doing a full dismantle go ahead and blast everything, it's nice to work on clean stuff, though when you do you will be surprised how far inside things the water has gone.
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 324
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Post by mikeinsjc on Jan 13, 2019 19:53:36 GMT -5
Any thoughts on using the pressure washer with oil? Think that would work?
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Post by pauls on Jan 13, 2019 20:24:00 GMT -5
Any thoughts on using the pressure washer with oil? Think that would work? Wow thats a million dollar question, yes it would probably work, would it attack the seals and O rings inside the pump, possibly. Degreaser from the auto parts store, and garden hose might be safer.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 13, 2019 23:46:44 GMT -5
Definitely wouldn't try it with oil, it will definitely damage a pressure washer pump. The saws in the shop at a friends 55+ mobile park in Mesa get pressure washed every time they're cleaned. I see no problem aside from either shielding or avoiding direct spray into any bearings, and wearing a disposable rain coat when you do it. Obviously, I would remove the blade too.
The blow out with your leaf blower or a compressed air gun would also be good.
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zarguy
fully equipped rock polisher
Cedar City, Utah - rockhound heaven!
Member since December 2005
Posts: 1,791
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Post by zarguy on Jan 14, 2019 2:15:03 GMT -5
I have hot water at the sink in my garage. I hook up a hose to it, then to a car washing nozzle that gives a fine, focused spray. Not as high pressure as a pressure washer, but it does the job. I clean my 14" saw this way about every 3rd cleanout. Lynn
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minerken
Cave Dweller
Member since August 2013
Posts: 466
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Post by minerken on Jan 14, 2019 8:43:33 GMT -5
a ton seems awfully heavy even for a 36" saw
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Fossilman
Cave Dweller
Member since January 2009
Posts: 20,666
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Post by Fossilman on Jan 16, 2019 12:09:39 GMT -5
I bought a nice pressure nozzle for my garden hose, I use it to wash out my interior box of my saw... Works great, wipe it out good and start filling it up, for the next go around...
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,630
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Post by NRG on Jan 17, 2019 13:06:09 GMT -5
Any thoughts on using the pressure washer with oil? Think that would work? It would without a doubt trigger the overpressure switch and shut down operation.
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NRG
fully equipped rock polisher
Member since February 2018
Posts: 1,630
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Post by NRG on Jan 17, 2019 13:07:55 GMT -5
I'm curious why anyone would need to be so thorough when cleaning a saw. The first cut ruins all the work. Clean oil I get. Better cooler cuts and blade longevity. But the box having a bit of rock snot? Meh
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Tommy
Administrator
Member since January 2013
Posts: 12,592
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Post by Tommy on Jan 17, 2019 13:14:17 GMT -5
I'm curious why anyone would need to be so thorough when cleaning a saw. The first cut ruins all the work. Clean oil I get. Better cooloer cuts and blade longevity. But the box having a bit of rock snot? Meh Yeah I was kind of wondering curious about this too. I'm not sure I would try to get a saw *that* clean even if I was selling it.
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Post by Rockoonz on Jan 17, 2019 21:05:45 GMT -5
I'm curious why anyone would need to be so thorough when cleaning a saw. The first cut ruins all the work. Clean oil I get. Better cooloer cuts and blade longevity. But the box having a bit of rock snot? Meh Yeah I was kind of wondering curious about this too. I'm not sure I would try to get a saw *that* clean even if I was selling it. When I'm working on them and doing a serious disassembly I like to have them extra clean, the rest of the time it's too much extra work for me.
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Post by greig on Jan 18, 2019 15:01:00 GMT -5
From personal experience (using a tile saw to cut rocks), I'd suggest the way to keep a saw clean is to rinse it clean with fresh water after every use. Some of the rock sludge hardens like epoxy and almost nothing will remove it if allowed to sit for too long. If your saw is already dirty (mine is), then I don't see the harm leaving it that way. A power washer might help, but the force required (by getting so close with the power nozzle) to remove the really stuck on stuff, might actually harm something important. I would not think of spraying oil, because of the cost and it would probably create a huge mess from the overspray.
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mikeinsjc
spending too much on rocks
Member since June 2010
Posts: 324
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Post by mikeinsjc on Jan 22, 2019 20:51:40 GMT -5
I want to clean it because its dirty, and I like clean stuff. You don't apply that " it'll just get dirty again" line to your car, clothes or house do you? Or, maybe you do.
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