How do I clean this carbide burr?

[FastKat]

I have a carbide cutting burr that I need to clean. I was using it to cut a metal edge under a car and I ran the burr over an area that had heavy undercoating. The undercoating clogged up the burr. The burr now has "rubber" melted into the flutes. The rubber is mixed with tiny steel splinters/shavings. I tried using an awl to clean it but I don't think I will be able to get all of the rubber out.

It's a 1/8" shaft with a 1/4" head. I attached a picture. Any suggestions on how to get this nice and clean again?

 

[Outlawmws]

Try soaking it in lacquer thinner.

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

Wire wheel or torch.

 

[Hammer1963]

Try soaking it in lacquer thinner.

Agreed.

 

[briggsguy17]

Wire wheel or torch.

Wire wheel yes, torch no. Don't use a torch for risk of messing with the temper of the metal. Don't want it coming apart at 25,000 rpm.

 

[FastKat]

So a wire wheel won't dull the edges? I mean, I know it's used to cut steel but still...

 

[G1GRANDEUR]

What I meant was just get hot enough to scrap it off with wire brush or small wire wheel. Not heat it up glow red.

 

[Aaron8x608]

Try using a length of brass bar stock like a chisel. Might work. Works for unloading file teeth.

 

[Olafur]

Sometimes when burrs fill up like that; using wd-40 on it (or whatever rust-oil is close by) helps keep it clean - and really speeds up the work process. IIRC this works for aluminum grinding.

So you could try wd40 and just grind some soft metal. Should clean the gunk off pretty quick.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

MEK lol if you lived close to me i could get you a small cup of it. lacquer thinner is probably your next best bet.

 

[Lomotil]

MEK lol if you lived close to me i could get you a small cup of it. lacquer thinner is probably your next best bet.

+1 on the MEK... That **** works wonders.

 

[DARKSCOPE001]

+1 on the MEK... That **** works wonders.

clear your nose right out! have a cold just huff some MEK haha JUST KIDDING! **** makes my eyes water every time i gota work with it.

 

[Outlawmws]

A wire wheel on a cutting edge is never a good idea.

 

[usdemt]

When used some roll on bed liner they said to use Xylol (available by the paint thinner) to clean up the mess. Worth a try, and keep it around to take of adhesive residue, it works wonders for that.

 

[otis66]

I would use a pick to scrap the large stuff out. I would then soak in thinner or use brake clean with a nylon brush. A hand cleaning brush works nice.

 

[ranger302]

x2 on MEK.

 

[brucer]

propane torch will work...

the burrr is solid carbide, it wont hurt to warm it up with a propane torch..
carbide doesnt have temper..

propane torch and wipe the bed liner off with a rag..

 

[browntown]

I might try using it on a piece of wood. I've done that with gummed up drill bits before.

Also, when it comes to solvents, my standby is the heavy duty stuff in the corner of the garage:

 

[rlitman]

propane torch will work...

the burrr is solid carbide, it wont hurt to warm it up with a propane torch..
carbide doesnt have temper..

propane torch and wipe the bed liner off with a rag..

Exactly! You won't mess up the temper with a torch. Just keep the heat to no more than a very dull red. Any hotter, and you risk damaging the braze between the carbide burr and the steel shank.
I've got a number of carbide burrs that came with explicit instructions to do just that when they get clogged with sawdust too.

 

[05CarbonDRZ]

A little off topic but I find that ATF is the best to use for oil when cutting with a carbide burr.

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Left to right:
File Card-used to clean junk out of file tangs
Regular wire brush-more H.D.
Tampico-stiff gentle bristiles for final dirt removal
Soak in cleaner-like previously mentioned-brake clean-solvent etc. and clean away!