Cleaning gunk off~~~least toxic cleaner/solvent

Tom Dunlap

Tom Dunlap

Here from the beginning
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Retired in Minneapolis
Chainsaws always get covered with thick gobs of oil, dirt, sawdust and gunk, it's natural.

What solvents work to soften the gunk?

Things like 'Simply Green' seem to have a good reputation...but do they work on our gunk?

Brake and carb cleaner do work too but they're expensive and I wonder about toxicity when the loosened gunk gets blasted with compressed air.

Mineral spirits/Stoddard solvent like what's used in parts washers is cheap too. Low flamability is a plus!

Cleaning down into the nooks and crannies is what I'm trying to figure out.

We use veggie oil for bar lube and that gets caked on just like an old waffle iron ;)

Thanks
 
biodiesel is an excellent solvent (if you can find it) and non-toxic/biodegradeable, but be careful not to get it on any rubber parts (or clean it off immediately if you do). I think it's really the unprocessed methanol that breaks down the rubber, so quality fuel should be safe, but worth the effort to keep BD and rubber separate from each other as much as possible.
 
Challengers' MSDS says to keep it away from white metals and acids. It's active ingredient is potassium hydroxide, basically a caustic potash, or a potassium lye. I'd hate to think of ruining a bearing, or something zinc plated, just by trying to clean it.
 
Guess I'm not as picky about how clean my saws are. I've also never used veggie oil so I can't quite relate. I don't use anything but compressed air and mechanical means (like small screwdrivers and rags) to clean my saws. Keeping up on it regularly helps it not become a chore. I confess my saws aren't quite squeaky clean though. One thing's for sure, something about cleaning all those nooks and crannies is very rewarding. I quite enjoy starting up a freshly cleaned saw.
 
Up here when a saw gets dirty ( or dull ) we just throw it out and get a new one.
If its a 201 or a 261 they blow up long before they ever get dirty!
Btw c.l.r works on everything and it's still thin enough when your done to pour down the shop floor drain.
 
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