Originally Posted by
SoSmellyAir
Sorry,
cyccommute, the two underlined portions seem to be contradictory. How does one control the performance of one's product without some testing regarding the effect on the efficacy of the lubricant? I understand your point that perhaps 50% of the cleanliness gives you 90% of the performance, but it would behoove the wax maker to point this out so it can sell more wax.
Not contradictory at all. The wax manufacturers want you to clean the chain before using their product so that you don’t introduce something into the wax that could change the characteristics
they want. They don’t want you to “contaminate” their wax. That’s the reason they suggest extensive cleaning of a new chain.
Their cleaning protocol probably sprung fully formed from their minds without any testing of the needs of their steps. The most rudimentary tests would be to remove steps, test the chain after lubrication, remove (or replace) another step, test, etc. They just thought up a cleaning method and went with it. They really have no idea if it’s needed or not.