Chain waxing
12-19-13, 11:56 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
Chain waxing
Anybody else doing this?
I was tired of cleaning the gunk off my track bike I use for road training, so I started doing this on that bike about a year ago. It's been a success-- everything stays MUCH cleaner. $5 bucks of paraffin wax and a $5 thrift store rice cooker look like they will last into the foreseeable future, so it's also a potential money saver.
I just started doing it on my road bike too and it's just as great. Though one weird thing, the road bike chain is much quieter waxed than the track chain waxed.
Anyhow, I'm thinking about just doing this on my race bike too as I can't really see any down side after a year of experimenting.
Anybody else have experience with this?
I was tired of cleaning the gunk off my track bike I use for road training, so I started doing this on that bike about a year ago. It's been a success-- everything stays MUCH cleaner. $5 bucks of paraffin wax and a $5 thrift store rice cooker look like they will last into the foreseeable future, so it's also a potential money saver.
I just started doing it on my road bike too and it's just as great. Though one weird thing, the road bike chain is much quieter waxed than the track chain waxed.
Anyhow, I'm thinking about just doing this on my race bike too as I can't really see any down side after a year of experimenting.
Anybody else have experience with this?
12-20-13, 12:54 AM
#2
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I can remember... years ago... I worked with a man that swore by the chain waxing process. Sheldon Brown mentions chain waxing briefly as does the live strong Site.
But for me.... I live in a wetter climate. Not a dry dusty area where... from what I've read... is where wax really has a benefit. I wash my chain when I wash my bicycle... and apply a light coat of oil then.
But for me.... I live in a wetter climate. Not a dry dusty area where... from what I've read... is where wax really has a benefit. I wash my chain when I wash my bicycle... and apply a light coat of oil then.
12-20-13, 01:15 AM
#3
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Thread Starter
It's good in the wet too. You just hose it off with water and re-wax. Last a long time if it stays dry.
Just wondering if other track riders are doing it.
Just wondering if other track riders are doing it.
12-20-13, 10:05 AM
#4
Senior Member
I have waxed my road and mtb chains for years. Quiet and the chain seems to last a long time. The only downside is riding in the rain requires a sooner re-wax. I don't miss the grease marks on my leg and hands. Not sure why your track chain is noisy. Maybe it is looser than the road one?
12-20-13, 10:44 AM
#5
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Anybody else doing this?
I was tired of cleaning the gunk off my track bike I use for road training, so I started doing this on that bike about a year ago. It's been a success-- everything stays MUCH cleaner. $5 bucks of paraffin wax and a $5 thrift store rice cooker look like they will last into the foreseeable future, so it's also a potential money saver.
I was tired of cleaning the gunk off my track bike I use for road training, so I started doing this on that bike about a year ago. It's been a success-- everything stays MUCH cleaner. $5 bucks of paraffin wax and a $5 thrift store rice cooker look like they will last into the foreseeable future, so it's also a potential money saver.
12-20-13, 11:14 AM
#6
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Thread Starter
Hey Quinn,
Basically, clean the chain of all previous lube. Get a couple blocks of common food-grade paraffin wax, throw them in a crock pot or rice cooker. When fully melted, drop your chain in. Leave for an hour or so, take it out, wipe excess and let cool. Install chain. Done.
When you feel it's time to refresh, just repeat the above without the cleaning part.
I think this is a pretty slick system as it just keeps everything really clean. I read some nerdy articles a while back and they claimed this was the lowest tested friction of all lubes as well, so there you go.
Edit: I also added some graphite powder from the hardware store to my brew, but I don't know if it's necessary.
Basically, clean the chain of all previous lube. Get a couple blocks of common food-grade paraffin wax, throw them in a crock pot or rice cooker. When fully melted, drop your chain in. Leave for an hour or so, take it out, wipe excess and let cool. Install chain. Done.
When you feel it's time to refresh, just repeat the above without the cleaning part.
I think this is a pretty slick system as it just keeps everything really clean. I read some nerdy articles a while back and they claimed this was the lowest tested friction of all lubes as well, so there you go.
Edit: I also added some graphite powder from the hardware store to my brew, but I don't know if it's necessary.
12-20-13, 01:34 PM
#7
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I haven't done it before, but thinking about it, this might be the ticket to keeping my white Stanford skinsuit pretty all season! Andy L.'s mentioned he does this, and I have a lot of faith in his bike OCDness.
I'm going to try! I'll let you guys know how it goes.
I'm going to try! I'll let you guys know how it goes.
12-20-13, 01:39 PM
#8
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Thread Starter
L for Lakatosh?
12-20-13, 01:54 PM
#10
VeloSIRraptor
The elder statesmen at my track swear by it.
with a new crankset and new chainrings in my future - I suppose I should probably do this.
I have time to scrub all my cogs down, so may as well.
Will report back in a week or so when I get it done.
with a new crankset and new chainrings in my future - I suppose I should probably do this.
I have time to scrub all my cogs down, so may as well.
Will report back in a week or so when I get it done.
12-20-13, 02:23 PM
#11
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Thread Starter
Right. Converting the whole stable.
12-20-13, 02:49 PM
#12
Senior Member
I use a crock pot instead of a rice cooker. It gets the wax hot enough to boil off any water after I clean and rinse off the chain with water.
I haven't had to change the wax yet. I just scoop out any dirt out of the crock pot while the wax is still hot.
I found Gulf Wax paraffin wax at my local grocery store. It's used for canning.
Two tips:
1. Get a quick disconnect chain link like a KMC. Shimano pin replacement is too much trouble.
2. Loop a piece of wire or metal clothes hanger on a link of the chain to make it easier to remove from the ho twax.
I haven't had to change the wax yet. I just scoop out any dirt out of the crock pot while the wax is still hot.
I found Gulf Wax paraffin wax at my local grocery store. It's used for canning.
Two tips:
1. Get a quick disconnect chain link like a KMC. Shimano pin replacement is too much trouble.
2. Loop a piece of wire or metal clothes hanger on a link of the chain to make it easier to remove from the ho twax.
12-20-13, 03:11 PM
#13
Senior Member
Too much trouble for me. For the track only chain, I use regular machine oil. For my road-use chains, I use ProLink (a dry lube), which I think is Teflon based.
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Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
Cat 2 Track, Cat 3 Road.
"If you’re new enough [to racing] that you would ask such question, then i would hazard a guess that if you just made up a workout that sounded hard to do, and did it, you’d probably get faster." --the tiniest sprinter
12-20-13, 03:48 PM
#14
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this will lock Babypuke in for sure!
I expect his next threads to be about Tying and Soldering his 36spoke wheels and debating the pro's and cons of Fast-Tack Vs Shellack..
thanks for the Tips Babypuke.. i actually might give it a go..
I expect his next threads to be about Tying and Soldering his 36spoke wheels and debating the pro's and cons of Fast-Tack Vs Shellack..
thanks for the Tips Babypuke.. i actually might give it a go..
12-20-13, 04:02 PM
#15
VeloSIRraptor
funny - saw a guy up at Burnaby that had warmup wheels that were:
28h, 2x, tied, not soldered.
strange combination - but what do I know about wheel theory anyway.
28h, 2x, tied, not soldered.
strange combination - but what do I know about wheel theory anyway.
12-20-13, 04:16 PM
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12-20-13, 04:40 PM
#17
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Nice, Quinn.
I'm not trying to convert anybody here, but the reason I started doing thes is cuz I hate cleaning my bike, and chain lube attracting muck and flying all over the back end of the bike is 80% of the cleaning you usually do. Now you basically don't clean the bike (unless you get caught in the rain), just wipe it down. Even in the wet, the lack of oil makes clean up easier.
I'm not trying to convert anybody here, but the reason I started doing thes is cuz I hate cleaning my bike, and chain lube attracting muck and flying all over the back end of the bike is 80% of the cleaning you usually do. Now you basically don't clean the bike (unless you get caught in the rain), just wipe it down. Even in the wet, the lack of oil makes clean up easier.
12-20-13, 07:27 PM
#18
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I'd still clean the chain before re-waxing. Dirt accumulates regardless of the lube and putting a dirty chain into hot wax just gives the stuff a pathway into the pins.
Quiet and fast.
Velonews had an test on the lubes a while back and wax kicked butt.
12-20-13, 07:32 PM
#19
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I just read this the other day... https://velonews.competitor.com/2013/...ibility_311335
02-04-14, 06:54 PM
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Being a slave to peer pressure, I am following BP, Q, and Ex down the wax rabbit hole. Not really looking for incremental performance gains, rather incremental cleaning gains.
02-04-14, 08:14 PM
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one question- any tip on how often you need to re-wax? since the chain essentially feels dry its hard to know when it needs to be waxed.. especially right now when my track bike is all roller time..
02-04-14, 10:26 PM
#22
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Thread Starter
Both bikes are switched to wax.. Its just so CLEAN!!! it appears to be quiet and smooth as well- but not getting black sh*t everywhere while changing gears is a huge plus!!
one question- any tip on how often you need to re-wax? since the chain essentially feels dry its hard to know when it needs to be waxed.. especially right now when my track bike is all roller time..
one question- any tip on how often you need to re-wax? since the chain essentially feels dry its hard to know when it needs to be waxed.. especially right now when my track bike is all roller time..
02-05-14, 12:53 AM
#23
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Yeh- I've got 2 chains for the track bike. So one is ready to go one when the other comes off..
my 10-speed road bike chain has a KMC Missing link that is super easy to change once you get the right tool.
my 10-speed road bike chain has a KMC Missing link that is super easy to change once you get the right tool.
02-05-14, 01:07 AM
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Is wax ok for high-humidity environments? Do warmer climates cause a problem with the lifespan of the coating? I am amenable to trying this out.
05-18-17, 09:44 AM
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[Awakening thread!]
I have used wax w/ a splash of gun-cleaner Super-Moly (not Molly) in a small fondue pot for my road and commute bikes in the summer (dry here in NorCal). Thinking about it for my track bike (K710SL chain). One question though - re-using these larger missing-links is OK? I use mix of KMC ones and the Wipperman for my other bikes. There is a method of waxing with the chain left on the bike (done it two "soaking" sessions). Kind of a pain though - especially if cleaning separately.
Also, I have three chains (one on the bike and two spare). I was thinking about making one two links (1") shorter to facilitate different gears and keeping the rear wheel as far forward as possible even though I have long dropouts. Is it worth it?
I have used wax w/ a splash of gun-cleaner Super-Moly (not Molly) in a small fondue pot for my road and commute bikes in the summer (dry here in NorCal). Thinking about it for my track bike (K710SL chain). One question though - re-using these larger missing-links is OK? I use mix of KMC ones and the Wipperman for my other bikes. There is a method of waxing with the chain left on the bike (done it two "soaking" sessions). Kind of a pain though - especially if cleaning separately.
Also, I have three chains (one on the bike and two spare). I was thinking about making one two links (1") shorter to facilitate different gears and keeping the rear wheel as far forward as possible even though I have long dropouts. Is it worth it?