Woodworking Tool & Product Reviews

Tool Saver System by Empire Manufacturing

Every buy a router bit, use it once and then it never cuts the same again? Saw blades burning that exotic wood you paid big bucks for? Open your tool box and your favorite wrench is rusty?

Well, all of these point back to the environment we work in – dust, dirt, tar and moisture. Confronting the results of these conditions is often met with misunderstanding of the problem or a home remedy. Do you clean your saw blades with oven cleaner or simple green? Do you just curse at the router bit?

Know why that bit went bad? This isn't news to everyone but a router bit makes saw dust. What you may not think about however is that that new bit came packed in grease and a portion of the dust created during machining with it goes straight to the grease in the bit's bearing. Before you know it the bit doesn't spin the way it should and the machine surface doesn't cut the way it should.

The fix? Make a habit of wiping down the bits you've used with a blade and bit cleaner. And while your at it, give bearings a shot of a lubricant. But not any cleaner or lubricant. Silicons and oils can wreak havoc on wood surfaces that need to be stained and glued. A formulation designed for router its is necessary.

Empire Manufacting makes a complete tool maintenance system that includes those specially formulated lubes you need to keep the tools working and your woodworking free of silicones and oils.

This "all in one" tool maintenance system provides five products essential to every shop to perform proper tool maintenance on all hand tools and power tools. The kit includes:

TopSaver tabletop treatment is a surface cleaner, degreaser, rust remover, sliding lubricant and surface protectant.
BladeSaver water-based cleaner breaks down the acids contained in pitch resin for easy removal from saw blades and router bits. Non-flammable.
Router Bit Lubricant reduces cutting heat and friction for improved routing. Contains no silicones or oils.
Dri-Tool Lubricant allows moving parts like screw adjustments and slide mechanisms to travel with ease.
OptiCut-XL is a cutting and cooling lubricant for saw blades.

Reasonably prices at around $20, its a few bucks well spent on prevention vs the cost of the cure. The Tool Saver System is sold at retail woodworking and retail hardware stores. It is also available online – click here for ordering information.

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