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-   -   Silica Secret Chain Blend. Anyone try it yet? (https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread.php?t=1207484)

InvertedMP 07-14-20 03:49 PM

Silica Secret Chain Blend. Anyone try it yet?
 
First time waxing a chain, and first time using Silica to do it, so we shall see how it goes. Melting the wax as we speak. Has anyone else tried it? If so, what are your thoughts?

InvertedMP 07-14-20 04:34 PM

https://cimg4.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...ff17fc0d2.jpeg
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...76b74219f.jpeg

InvertedMP 07-14-20 04:37 PM

All done. I have no idea if it worked right but we shall see lol.
https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...5d7393ee8.jpeg
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...93085530f.jpeg
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...42045ee91.jpeg

Sy Reene 07-14-20 04:38 PM

It's far from being a secret blend. I've heard it's just some wax with some Nano-Scale Tungsten Disulfide thrown in.

datlas 07-14-20 04:45 PM

Let us know how you like it. Did you degrease chain first??

InvertedMP 07-14-20 05:29 PM


Originally Posted by datlas (Post 21587514)
Let us know how you like it. Did you degrease chain first??

Yes I did.

robbyville 07-14-20 11:15 PM

Questions abound! How long is it supposed to last and can you reissue the left over wax until it’s all gone?

ive been using some type of wax/water blend in a squeeze bottle for the last few months. Can’t remember the brand right now. It’s been quite good but I have to wax the chain every 300 miles or so it seems

InvertedMP 07-14-20 11:27 PM


Originally Posted by robbyville (Post 21587999)
Questions abound! How long is it supposed to last and can you reissue the left over wax until it’s all gone?

ive been using some type of wax/water blend in a squeeze bottle for the last few months. Can’t remember the brand right now. It’s been quite good but I have to wax the chain every 300 miles or so it seems

The bag of wax is reusable yes.

John_E 01-27-21 03:58 AM


Originally Posted by InvertedMP (Post 21588003)
The bag of wax is reusable yes.

How has this wax been? chain life, relube intervals, cleanliness? Also zerofriction suggested that KMC chains were not the best for waxing because of their coating, did you observe any problems ?

Also Has anyone tried both PTFE+wax and this one, can you say this one is better than wax +PTFE?

I was also wondering if it is possible to add Tungsten Disulfide in Wax instead of PTFE and get a homemade version of this wax?

Andy Somnifac 01-27-21 12:48 PM


Originally Posted by John_E (Post 21897073)
How has this wax been? chain life, relube intervals, cleanliness? Also zerofriction suggested that KMC chains were not the best for waxing because of their coating, did you observe any problems ?

Also Has anyone tried both PTFE+wax and this one, can you say this one is better than wax +PTFE?

I was also wondering if it is possible to add Tungsten Disulfide in Wax instead of PTFE and get a homemade version of this wax?

I see no reason why you couldn't mix up whatever you wish, as long as you get get the materials. Personally, I just use a homemade mix of standard paraffin and PTFE powder for outside use. I'm happy with it.

JohnJ80 01-27-21 01:07 PM

I started using Silca’s wax liquid lube when it first came out. It works. I normally would have to replace a chain at about 1500 miles. I’m at over 4000 miles on my current chain and it shows virtually zero wear - still tests out at the “new chain” range. I also get much more mileage out of an application than I have in any other lube at nearly 300-350 miles. Most other lubes are getting pretty noisy at 150-200. Side benefit is no more chain ring marks on my leg. Caveat: You do have to follow their guidelines in cleaning the chain the first time.

Short answer: yes, it works.

Qualitatively, it’s also made my chain quieter than any chain I’ve ever had. I love this stuff.

J.

waters60 01-27-21 06:57 PM


Originally Posted by JohnJ80 (Post 21897770)
I started using Silca’s wax liquid lube when it first came out. It works. I normally would have to replace a chain at about 1500 miles. I’m at over 4000 miles on my current chain and it shows virtually zero wear - still tests out at the “new chain” range. I also get much more mileage out of an application than I have in any other lube at nearly 300-350 miles. Most other lubes are getting pretty noisy at 150-200. Side benefit is no more chain ring marks on my leg. Caveat: You do have to follow their guidelines in cleaning the chain the first time.

Short answer: yes, it works.

Qualitatively, it’s also made my chain quieter than any chain I’ve ever had. I love this stuff.

J.

Replacing a chain at 1500 miles?
What do you do to replace a chain at that mileage?!

JohnJ80 01-28-21 08:47 AM


Originally Posted by waters60 (Post 21898321)
Replacing a chain at 1500 miles?
What do you do to replace a chain at that mileage?!

Lots of fine sand on the roads. Sand for fracking is big business around here.

j.

waters60 01-28-21 05:53 PM


Originally Posted by JohnJ80 (Post 21898866)
Lots of fine sand on the roads. Sand for fracking is big business around here.

j.

Getting good doses of methane too?!

JohnJ80 01-28-21 09:02 PM


Originally Posted by waters60 (Post 21899835)
Getting good doses of methane too?!

the sand comes from here. They’re not doing the fracking here. So, no.

bean_burrito 01-30-21 12:00 PM

I switched to it in September and have no complaints so far. Relubing every 500 or so km and it keeps the chain clean.

ls01 02-01-21 05:27 AM


Originally Posted by John_E (Post 21897073)
How has this wax been? chain life, relube intervals, cleanliness? Also zerofriction suggested that KMC chains were not the best for waxing because of their coating, did you observe any problems ?

Also Has anyone tried both PTFE+wax and this one, can you say this one is better than wax +PTFE?

I was also wondering if it is possible to add Tungsten Disulfide in Wax instead of PTFE and get a homemade version of this wax?

I use wax and ptfe, don't know if it helps or not but it certainly cant hurt.. I get between 400 and 500 miles out of a treatment with wax. The chain stays clean the entire time. And as long as you don't contaminate the wax with oils and grime,, you don't have to clean your chain after its initial cleaning. Drop it in, swish it around a bit. Hang it to cool. I use a 1 quart crock pot for my wax.
I use some lamp oil to soften the wax, so it's not so brittle.
I don't know about the tungsten mix. If you can get it,, you could add it in. Regular old paraffin wax works great all by itself.

John_E 02-01-21 02:48 PM


Originally Posted by ls01 (Post 21904310)
I use wax and ptfe, don't know if it helps or not but it certainly cant hurt.. I get between 400 and 500 miles out of a treatment with wax. The chain stays clean the entire time. And as long as you don't contaminate the wax with oils and grime,, you don't have to clean your chain after its initial cleaning. Drop it in, swish it around a bit. Hang it to cool. I use a 1 quart crock pot for my wax.
I use some lamp oil to soften the wax, so it's not so brittle.
I don't know about the tungsten mix. If you can get it,, you could add it in. Regular old paraffin wax works great all by itself.

Already using the same method. One Sram rest KMC chains. A website on waxing (zerofrictioncycling I think) stated that they didn't recommend KMC chains since their coatings. My re wax intervals are around 200miles. The chain becomes a bit noisy when I am pushing after around 100 miles but it never chirps. It is claimed that PTFE significantly increases re-waxing intervals. I was wondering if WS2 even further increases it.

How do you decide when to rewax your chain ?

ls01 02-01-21 07:24 PM


Originally Posted by John_E (Post 21905199)

How do you decide when to rewax your chain ?

Mostly by sound and shifting performance. When the mix is right, and the wax is the correct hardness its real quiet running. There is a distinct rattle when its time for a soak. Its a very dry, sharp, sounding rattle, very metallic.
Funny you should mention kmc, I just put one of thier stretch proof 10 speed chains on the wahoo bike. It seemed to get a nice even coating of wax. Ill keep an eye on it.
Last year I split 4500 miles between 2 bikes, an 11 speed and a 12 speed. No noticeable wear on either chain. They measure 12 inches with tension on the pedals. Chain checker says all is well too.
Even if it works only as good as regular lube, the cleanliness is worth it to me.

John_E 02-02-21 03:46 PM


Originally Posted by ls01 (Post 21905600)
Mostly by sound and shifting performance. When the mix is right, and the wax is the correct hardness its real quiet running. There is a distinct rattle when its time for a soak. Its a very dry, sharp, sounding rattle, very metallic.
Funny you should mention kmc, I just put one of thier stretch proof 10 speed chains on the wahoo bike. It seemed to get a nice even coating of wax. Ill keep an eye on it.
Last year I split 4500 miles between 2 bikes, an 11 speed and a 12 speed. No noticeable wear on either chain. They measure 12 inches with tension on the pedals. Chain checker says all is well too.
Even if it works only as good as regular lube, the cleanliness is worth it to me.

I agree that even if it was the same as regular lube I would use it.

Mine after 130miles is usually in between, it is very quiet or sometimes when I push it I can hear the slight ticking sound of the chain but not squeaking.

John_E 02-05-21 12:25 AM


Originally Posted by ls01 (Post 21905600)
Mostly by sound and shifting performance. When the mix is right, and the wax is the correct hardness its real quiet running. There is a distinct rattle when its time for a soak. Its a very dry, sharp, sounding rattle, very metallic.
Funny you should mention kmc, I just put one of thier stretch proof 10 speed chains on the wahoo bike. It seemed to get a nice even coating of wax. Ill keep an eye on it.
...

I will really appreciate it if you can tell update me the miles it took to the first re-waxing when you do. I wonder if it really is shorter than other brands.

For me that metallic sound, though very faint, is there even at 100 miles but gets noisier after 200miles. I was also wondering which model/speed kmc chain are you using?

JohnJ80 02-05-21 10:41 AM


Originally Posted by John_E (Post 21910499)
I will really appreciate it if you can tell update me the miles it took to the first re-waxing when you do. I wonder if it really is shorter than other brands.

For me that metallic sound, though very faint, is there even at 100 miles but gets noisier after 200miles. I was also wondering which model/speed kmc chain are you using?

I am using a Shimano DA 11 speed chain. I’ve found that I can generally get about 350miles out of the this lube on that chain. After carefully following the directions Silca provides, I noticed slightly more noise at 300 miles than I do after several lubes but it never gets noisier than it did with any other type of lube I have used. It still is quiet but I re-lube at 300 miles just because I notice it being slightly noisier.

J.

John_E 04-05-21 02:22 AM

Does anyone know how much WS2 is used in Silca's secret Wax? The ratios would be great. I have some leftover wax and I want to give WS2 a try too.

I am thinking of adding 25-30gr of WS2 to 1lbs of Paraffin wax (half of PTFE that I mix in),

datlas 04-05-21 04:54 AM


Originally Posted by John_E (Post 22000592)
Does anyone know how much WS2 is used in Silca's secret Wax? The ratios would be great. I have some leftover wax and I want to give WS2 a try too.

I am thinking of adding 25-30gr of WS2 to 1lbs of Paraffin wax (half of PTFE that I mix in),

If we knew, it wouldn’t be a secret!

I wish OP would give us an update.

downhillmaster 04-05-21 05:45 AM


Originally Posted by InvertedMP (Post 21587420)
First time waxing a chain, and first time using Silica to do it, so we shall see how it goes. Melting the wax as we speak. Has anyone else tried it? If so, what are your thoughts?

My thoughts are that you probably shouldn’t use sand to wax a chain :innocent:


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