chain lube, wet or dry?
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chain lube, wet or dry?
so, which is best? I have heard that wet lube is best used when it's wet, dry lube for when it's dry, is this true? I am looking for chain lube for my road bike (mainly used in dry weather) and my mountain bikes (mainly used in wet weather) I am currently using GT85 on both chains which was recommended to me by a friend.
is this OK or would I be better using an actual chain lube?
thanks for your help in advance.
Paul
is this OK or would I be better using an actual chain lube?
thanks for your help in advance.
Paul
#2
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you can use anything you want. the wet lubes are for wet weather like rain,snow , it is thicker and will leave the "tattoo mark " on your leg. It get direr faster and pick up the crap off the road. and you don't have to apply as often. the dry lube is thinner and sometime a wax base , it good in dry areas where it rain less often but you do need to apply it more. it is cleaner and in many cases dry to the touch. you will get different answer from different people for what they like and don't like ,it all up to you want you want to use.
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thanks a lot.
I am new to the forums so I am sorry if I am asking questions that have been answered before.
I guess it is each to their own, but apart from being told that wet lube is best used when it's wet, dry lube for when it's dry, I know nothing about chain lube.
I am new to the forums so I am sorry if I am asking questions that have been answered before.
I guess it is each to their own, but apart from being told that wet lube is best used when it's wet, dry lube for when it's dry, I know nothing about chain lube.
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Try the search function, this has been discussed recently and many other times.
I prefer a thin wet lube for this humid climate. I use a home brew of 1 part synthetic motor oil and 4 parts mineral spirits. I keep these ingredients in my garage for multiple uses.
I prefer a thin wet lube for this humid climate. I use a home brew of 1 part synthetic motor oil and 4 parts mineral spirits. I keep these ingredients in my garage for multiple uses.
Last edited by Al1943; 10-23-10 at 07:46 PM.
#6
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I use 4 parts mineral spirits to 1 part chainsaw bar oil. If it's good enough for the environment of a chainsaw chain it's great for a bike chain.
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Right now I'm using Chain-L #5. It's thick. It's a wet lube. It has staying power, which I like. It wipes easily enough from the outside of my chain. Does it make my chain last longer than some other brand of wet lube? I have no idea, to be honest.
#8
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dry wont attract grit, as fast as wet will , when its raining then the grit is carried in water,
then a dry lube may still be OK, apply the wet type often,
so using a cheap oil and lots of it often,
then wiping off the excess.. Motorbike chain lube perhaps..
then a dry lube may still be OK, apply the wet type often,
so using a cheap oil and lots of it often,
then wiping off the excess.. Motorbike chain lube perhaps..
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I'm using the White Lightning dry lube. But I've been wondering what's going on deep inside my chain - is it really getting the lubricant it really needs to minimize wear? It would be great if we had a real expert from Shimano or one of the big brands give us the real low-down. Maybe a link to a video posted somewhere?
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thanks to all for your help and advice, because of the wet weather I have decided to go for a muc off chain degreaser and a synthetic wet lube, which after cleaing my chain and then applying the lube to my chain and riding today, it seems to be working fine right now, only time will tell I guess.
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I do chainsaw bar-oil cut with odorless mineral spirits. Mix is about 1/5 ratio for me, as the bar oil is super thick and picks up a lot of crap if I don't cut it down enough.
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don't buy into the expensive chainlubes for bikes.
make your own out of mineral spirits and 10W30 engine oil.
IMO, it might be better to use something other than 10W30, since it's carcinogenic. Then again, almost all synthetic lubricants containing some sort of rust inhibitor is carcinogenic.
One thing you might want to try is dipping your chain in hot paraffin wax after you've degreased and dried it off.
mineral spirits, the good kind you can buy at pharmacies, is also not toxic.
make your own out of mineral spirits and 10W30 engine oil.
IMO, it might be better to use something other than 10W30, since it's carcinogenic. Then again, almost all synthetic lubricants containing some sort of rust inhibitor is carcinogenic.
One thing you might want to try is dipping your chain in hot paraffin wax after you've degreased and dried it off.
mineral spirits, the good kind you can buy at pharmacies, is also not toxic.
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https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Last edited by AEO; 10-23-10 at 12:54 PM.
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Here's what's been eluding me: the difference between lubing and oiling the chain or parts? I still have the factory coating on the my chain. What would be the process for after-ride, and after a cleaning?
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you only have to lube the chain before it starts squeaking, but that can be guess work.
I just do every other week or after a particularly wet day.
For cleaning, in my opinion, it's best to just run the chain through a chain scrubber while applying lube. Apply lube, run scrubber and repeat until chain looks clean, then wipe off excess.
most chain scrubbers can be used with a degreasing agent like citrus degreaser, if the chain is particularly dirty.
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Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
Food for thought: if you aren't dead by 2050, you and your entire family will be within a few years from starvation. Now that is a cruel gift to leave for your offspring. ;)
https://sanfrancisco.ibtimes.com/arti...ger-photos.htm
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don't buy into the expensive chainlubes for bikes.
make your own out of mineral spirits and 10W30 engine oil.
IMO, it might be better to use something other than 10W30, since it's carcinogenic. Then again, almost all synthetic lubricants containing some sort of rust inhibitor is carcinogenic.
One thing you might want to try is dipping your chain in hot paraffin wax after you've degreased and dried it off.
mineral spirits, the good kind you can buy at pharmacies, is also not toxic.
make your own out of mineral spirits and 10W30 engine oil.
IMO, it might be better to use something other than 10W30, since it's carcinogenic. Then again, almost all synthetic lubricants containing some sort of rust inhibitor is carcinogenic.
One thing you might want to try is dipping your chain in hot paraffin wax after you've degreased and dried it off.
mineral spirits, the good kind you can buy at pharmacies, is also not toxic.
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i opt out of the mineral spirits or other solvent. just use straight oil and let the capillary action do the work. apply let it sit for a few mins then wipe off the outside
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This product contains petroleum base oils which may be refined by various processes including severe solvent extraction, severe hydrocracking, or severe hydrotreating. None of the oils requires a cancer warning under the OSHA Hazard Communication Standard (29 CFR 1910.1200). These oils have not been listed in the National Toxicology Program (NTP) Annual Report nor have they been classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as; carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), probably carcinogenic to humans (Group 2A), or possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B). These oils have not been classified by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) as: confirmed human carcinogen (A1), suspected human carcinogen (A2), or confirmed animal carcinogen with unknown relevance to humans (A3).
During use in engines, contamination of oil with low levels of cancer-causing combustion products occurs. Used motor oils have been shown to cause skin cancer in mice following repeated application and continuous exposure. Brief or intermittent skin contact with used motor oil is not expected to have serious effects in humans if the oil is thoroughly removed by washing with soap and water.
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No, mineral spirits aren't particularly toxic. Odorless mineral spirits is slightly better because it's got a lower aromatic content and thus a higher flash point, i.e. safer to use. Odorless mineral spirits can be considered to be 'thin' mineral oil. Motor oil...both synthetic and 'natural'...are just thicker mineral oil. All three materials are just straight chain hydrocarbons of various lengths. The thickness of the material is a clue to the length of the hydrocarbons. Mineral spirits are the shortest, motor oil the thickest. Paraffin wax is just really long hydrocarbon chains.
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...if you want to attach enough rocks and crap to create a singularity Won't do any good for the chain but if your plans include destroying the world well....
"Wet and thick" only attracts dirt and grit that destroy drivetrains. It doesn't provide more protection in "all conditions", it just requires more maintenance. Thick lubes have their place, e.g. in rain and very wet conditions where rust is the major problem, but they aren't the best choice in dry dusty conditions nor in wet dirty conditions. One size seldom fits all conditions.
"Wet and thick" only attracts dirt and grit that destroy drivetrains. It doesn't provide more protection in "all conditions", it just requires more maintenance. Thick lubes have their place, e.g. in rain and very wet conditions where rust is the major problem, but they aren't the best choice in dry dusty conditions nor in wet dirty conditions. One size seldom fits all conditions.
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Stuart Black
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what is the best way deal with a bike after a ride then? here is a scenario, you have been out for a ride on a wet muddy trail in the rain, your bike isn't covered in mud and grit but it's far from clean, do you hose your bike down to remove any mud and grit (including cleaning/degreasing the chain if needs be) leave the bike to dry and then re lube your chain and put the bike away ready for your next ride, or do you hose the bike down and clean the chain if it needs it, leave the bike to dry, leave the chain free of lube and then re lube the chain just before your next ride?
I always worry that I am going a bit over board with the cleaning (if there is such a thing) my road bike doesn't really get that dirty as I only ride it in good weather, my mountain bike on the other hand is used in all weathers and usually ends up caked in mud.
I usually wash it down after each ride just to get all the dirt off and also cleaning and re lubing the chain if it needs it, and then maybe once a month I will give it a full clean with hot soapy water, de grease the whole crank set, then using a wet synthetic lube for the chain and the after wash spray from muc off which I have found works very well as it puts a thin none sticky coating on the bike which means dirt either doesn't stick to it or is easy to wash off, any tips on ways I can improve this or do it better or anything I may have missed?
I always worry that I am going a bit over board with the cleaning (if there is such a thing) my road bike doesn't really get that dirty as I only ride it in good weather, my mountain bike on the other hand is used in all weathers and usually ends up caked in mud.
I usually wash it down after each ride just to get all the dirt off and also cleaning and re lubing the chain if it needs it, and then maybe once a month I will give it a full clean with hot soapy water, de grease the whole crank set, then using a wet synthetic lube for the chain and the after wash spray from muc off which I have found works very well as it puts a thin none sticky coating on the bike which means dirt either doesn't stick to it or is easy to wash off, any tips on ways I can improve this or do it better or anything I may have missed?
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...if you want to attach enough rocks and crap to create a singularity Won't do any good for the chain but if your plans include destroying the world well....
"Wet and thick" only attracts dirt and grit that destroy drivetrains. It doesn't provide more protection in "all conditions", it just requires more maintenance. Thick lubes have their place, e.g. in rain and very wet conditions where rust is the major problem, but they aren't the best choice in dry dusty conditions nor in wet dirty conditions. One size seldom fits all conditions.
"Wet and thick" only attracts dirt and grit that destroy drivetrains. It doesn't provide more protection in "all conditions", it just requires more maintenance. Thick lubes have their place, e.g. in rain and very wet conditions where rust is the major problem, but they aren't the best choice in dry dusty conditions nor in wet dirty conditions. One size seldom fits all conditions.
edit: my only real priority in lubing chains is providing lubricant. wet and thick lubes does just that and lasts a long time
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White Lightning (Clean Ride)........ It's all I use and have zero issues as some will lead you to believe.
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whatever id rather not put lube on my chain every other day on my commuter. i have used boshield t9 and it lasts about 2-3 commutes before it gets noisy. if i wipe the outside of the chain real good after lubing the chain doesnt get any dirtier than when i used boshield t9
edit: my only real priority in lubing chains is providing lubricant. wet and thick lubes does just that and lasts a long time
edit: my only real priority in lubing chains is providing lubricant. wet and thick lubes does just that and lasts a long time
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Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!