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Let's talk waxing

3129 Views 121 Replies 21 Participants Last post by zero7404, 4 h ago

mackgoo

Discussion Starter · 20 d ago

Years ago I believe I remember reading a Velo News article regarding chain waxing. As good as the article was with all the explained benefits I just couldn't wrap my head around "all that work". Fas forward a decade or so the advent of COVID working from home and watching You Tube I came across ozcycling this guy, again brought out the benefits, but also made the process seem so easy. So I jumped in and can't see going back.

Let's share our experiences process and what we use here for the sharing of information as well as a resource for others.

For me, I'm using Oz Cyclings mix 500g of paraffin wax and 50g of PTFE (<1.6µm).

For cleaning the chain I used his process, Soaked the chain in petrol then a degreaser and then Mentholated spirits to get the chain nice and clean for the wax to stick.

Swished the chain in the warm liquid wax mix until the bubbles stopped implying all air was displaced and the wax got into the important areas.

Take the chain out let it cool some and then free up the links and install.

After the initial laborious clean, now I remove the chain and pour boiled water over the chain. This removes the old wax and it's ready for the waxing process. That all takes less than 10 minutes.

I bought a cheap crock pot for the waxing, cost about 15 bucks.

More to come.

21 - 40 of 122 Posts

Lombard

· #21 · 18 d ago

Coolhand said:
"The fights are so bitter because the stakes are so small".

This should be an autosignature. It's so true on these forums.

Lombard

· #22 · 18 d ago

Marty01 said:
i agree with your post and meant no feud.. the OP did open this thread for sharing of chain waxing experiences.. i figured id share my.. i dont wax because this is so much easier to me.. point of view.. without anger.. or making fun of anyone.. ok.. maybe a little with my repeating the brand of chain lube i prefer.. as much the OP repeating his love of chain waxing ( and thats perfectly allowed in my book.. you do you.. ill do me) as the others who couldnt care less about OPs love of chain waxing..

and ok.. ill refrain comment like this in the future now lets all go out and ride yes?

I doubt @Coolhand 's remark was directed at you.

White Lightning? What kind of chain life do you get out of that? From my experience, it's great at keeping your chain clean, but not very good at lubrication.

Grog McCog

· #23 · 18 d ago

Lombard said:
This should be an autosignature. It's so true on these forums.

It was a Henry Kissinger quote.

Reactions: 1

Lombard

· #24 · 18 d ago

Grog McCog said:
It was a Henry Kissinger quote.

Kissinger's was a variation, but not the first:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sayre's_law?wprov=sfla1

Marty01

· #25 · 18 d ago

Lombard said:
I doubt @Coolhand 's remark was directed at you.

White Lightning? What kind of chain life do you get out of that? From my experience, it's great at keeping your chain clean, but not very good at lubrication.

i change chains about every 1500kms now... that translates to about every 2 years on the road bike.. so far not long enough to know how much life i get out of it really... the first time ive ever used it.. when i got my giant MTB ( think 1996) i got 2 years out of a drivetrain ( wasnt aware chains were a wear item back then) 14 000kms later.. it was skipping badly enough.. the only lube i had ever used on this bike was WL... after that theres been chain changes every 1000-1500kms on an MTB used for anything and everything... and i changed cassette to change the range prior to really getting into high enough milleage to get skipping again... so im not sure if anything conclusive...

i agree it kinda goes away quickly as a lube.. hence why i reapply EVERY ride.. this means.. going way on a trip with the bike. bring the lube!... gosh that sounds bad lol

Lombard

· #26 · 18 d ago

Marty01 said:
i change chains about every 1500kms now... that translates to about every 2 years on the road bike.. so far not long enough to know how much life i get out of it really... the first time ive ever used it.. when i got my giant MTB ( think 1996) i got 2 years out of a drivetrain ( wasnt aware chains were a wear item back then) 14 000kms later.. it was skipping badly enough.. the only lube i had ever used on this bike was WL... after that theres been chain changes every 1000-1500kms on an MTB used for anything and everything... and i changed cassette to change the range prior to really getting into high enough milleage to get skipping again... so im not sure if anything conclusive...

i agree it kinda goes away quickly as a lube.. hence why i reapply EVERY ride.. this means.. going way on a trip with the bike. bring the lube!... gosh that sounds bad lol

1500km is a very short chain life unless you're replacing the chain before it needs it. I get around 8000 miles (12,600km) using my oil based homebrew before my chain is worn 1/16" telling me it's time to replace.

Marty01

· #27 · 18 d ago

Lombard said:
1500km is a very short chain life unless you're replacing the chain before it needs it. I get around 8000 miles (12,600km) using my oil based homebrew before my chain is worn 1/16" telling me it's time to replace.

agreed.. not having a chain checker tool.. i figured thats the go to for me..

when you replace your chain at 8000mi.. is it chain only??

cxwrench

· #28 · 18 d ago

Lombard said:
I doubt @Coolhand 's remark was directed at you.

White Lightning? What kind of chain life do you get out of that? From my experience, it's great at keeping your chain clean, but not very good at lubrication.

^This^ White Lightning pretty much sucks and the vast majority of mechanics hate it. IMO the ONLY thing it's good for is Speedplay cleats.
You don't need chain checker. Use a 12" ruler, it's more accurate. Lombard is just replacing chains.
1500 km is wayyyyy too soon unless you are a 300lb monster that does uphill standing starts all day.

Reactions: 1

Marty01

· #29 · 18 d ago

good to know then...

Reactions: 1

Lombard

· #30 · 18 d ago

Marty01 said:
agreed.. not having a chain checker tool.. i figured thats the go to for me..

when you replace your chain at 8000mi.. is it chain only??

Yup, chain only. No skipping on new chain.

As @cxwrench said, ditch the chain checkers and use a ruler. Here is a good description on how to do this:

atbicycle.blogspot.com

Measuring Chain Wear using a 12-Inch Ruler

Measuring Chain Wear by SheldonBrown The standard way to measure chain wear is with a ruler or steel tape measure. This can be done with...

atbicycle.blogspot.com

mackgoo

Discussion Starter · #31 · 15 d ago

Just got back from a ride. The only time I'm on the forums is when I'm cooling down. Any way. I'm shooting for 250 mile interval for this one. I was moving a friend over the weekend so didn't get any rides in.
I'm just sharing my chain waxing experience in a chain waxing thread.

cxwrench

· #32 · 15 d ago

mackgoo said:
Just got back from a ride. The only time I'm on the forums is when I'm cooling down. Any way. I'm shooting for 250 mile interval for this one. I was moving a friend over the weekend so didn't get any rides in.
I'm just ~~sharing my chain waxing experience~~ desperate for attention in a chain waxing thread.

ftfy.

Reactions: 2

Kerry Irons

· #33 · 15 d ago

Marty01 said:
agreed.. not having a chain checker tool.. i figured thats the go to for me..

when you replace your chain at 8000mi.. is it chain only??

I guarantee that you have a chain checker tool. It's called a ruler. When the chain has elongated 0.5% (1/16" in 12" original length) then it's time for a change.
Lower power output, properly maintained chain, and high quality parts can easily result in 8K miles before the chain is out of spec. In my case, the cassette needs replacement when the second chain is worn out. That's typically 16-18K miles.

fiziks

· #34 · 15 d ago

After 500 miles with Finish Line wet lube, chain is still dead quiet. YMMV. If someone wants to spend the time to do a wax lube every 250 miles, go for it. Do what makes you happy. But if I'm doing it my way (and the way a lot of knowledgeable people have been doing it for decades) and getting the same results, please don't tell me I'm doing it wrong. My last chain lasted over 8000 miles.

Reactions: 2

Xydadx3

· #35 · 15 d ago

I'm probably doing it wrong. My bike is at the LBS for a checkup and is having the chain replaced at 1800mi while its there.

Kerry Irons said:
Lower power output, properly maintained chain, and high quality parts can easily result in 8K miles before the chain is out of spec.

That's probably my main problem 🤣

duriel

· #36 · 14 d ago

I want u to have them check your bike for a secret motor! I'm serious!

Reactions: 1

Xydadx3

· #37 · 14 d ago

Shhhh! 🤫

Marty01

· #38 · 14 d ago

my experience is on a MTB.. thats the only bike ive had long enough to warrrant changing the chain at a short interval... im sure had i checked id have gotten longer on a chain.. now that i know the ruler trick ( thanks guys!) ill apply it to my rotation for sure

ya live ya learn right?

it was HG 7 speed chains.. so the price wasnt that high... and it was about 15-20 years ago...

mackgoo

Discussion Starter · #39 · 13 d ago

Had to ride through a bunch of sand to day. Clean and quiet.

bvber

· #40 · 13 d ago

mackgoo said:
After the initial laborious clean, now I remove the chain and pour boiled water over the chain. This removes the old wax and it's ready for the waxing process. That all takes less than 10 minutes.

mackgoo said:
Had to ride through a bunch of sand to day. Clean and quiet.

With chain scrubber, rag and typical fluid lube, it takes less time than that to clean, dry and re-lube without removing the chain, while the crock pot is still warming up. ⏳

Reactions: 1

21 - 40 of 122 Posts