Immersive waxing / it should be more popular
#1176
Senior Member
Cheers, managed to get a good result I think - I like that mesh tray idea.
Now I just need to get rid of this bit of play I noticed in the rear wheel before I put said chain back on - these bikes are like painting the Forth road bridge.
Now I just need to get rid of this bit of play I noticed in the rear wheel before I put said chain back on - these bikes are like painting the Forth road bridge.
#1177
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Well you now have a new addict to the “how clean can I get a chain?” game while I try to prep this properly.
This is a used chain after;
a normal citrus degreaser & rag clean
shake in isopropyl alcohol
20 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner
2 more dunks and shimmies in fresh alcohol
Kind of finally getting there, wipe rag is coming out nearly clean now but thinking I might need to get some mineral spirits
This is a used chain after;
a normal citrus degreaser & rag clean
shake in isopropyl alcohol
20 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner
2 more dunks and shimmies in fresh alcohol
Kind of finally getting there, wipe rag is coming out nearly clean now but thinking I might need to get some mineral spirits
I just started waxing, and my used xc chain was an xx1 that I didn’t want to throw away. Luckily I kept that chain pretty clean anyways. It took several mineral spirit baths but eventually the stuff runs clear in the container. When the mineral spirits run clear, I follow with a few passes of denatured alcohol.
My old greasy road chain that I can replace for 30 bucks? I’m not spending the time on that one.
I wonder about taking it to a car wash and using a high pressure water spray?
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#1178
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Yeah sometimes it's simply not worth the additional effort and expense (in turps / meth) to clean a very greasy old chain! I've done it once or twice on chains that weren't too bad and it still took a good while longer.
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#1179
Senior Member
This is why they recommend starting with new chains, unless the chain is pricey enough to make the effort worthwhile.
I just started waxing, and my used xc chain was an xx1 that I didn’t want to throw away. Luckily I kept that chain pretty clean anyways. It took several mineral spirit baths but eventually the stuff runs clear in the container. When the mineral spirits run clear, I follow with a few passes of denatured alcohol.
My old greasy road chain that I can replace for 30 bucks? I’m not spending the time on that one.
I wonder about taking it to a car wash and using a high pressure water spray?
I just started waxing, and my used xc chain was an xx1 that I didn’t want to throw away. Luckily I kept that chain pretty clean anyways. It took several mineral spirit baths but eventually the stuff runs clear in the container. When the mineral spirits run clear, I follow with a few passes of denatured alcohol.
My old greasy road chain that I can replace for 30 bucks? I’m not spending the time on that one.
I wonder about taking it to a car wash and using a high pressure water spray?
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#1180
Full Member
Something I heard lately on GCN got me thinking, do you re-use the quick links or new ones every wax? I re-use mine as long as they snap in properly. Once they feel a bit loose, they are gone. What say you?
#1181
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I have never lost one even though they are not rated for it but I like the tight snap I get closing Shimano, Sram, KNC links so only use them and toss if I feel loosening in that very tight snap. This means only reuse a few times before replacing.
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#1182
I am potato.
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I usually use Wippermann chains and those come with the good link already. But in the odd occasion I'm using some other brand, I'll use that brands link until a Wippermann Connex link shows up in the mail and it's convenient to put it in service.
IIRC Last time I ordered one Performance Bike had a 9 speed link for a single digit number of dollars. I think shipping cost more than the item.
__________________
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
I shouldn't have to "make myself more visible;" Drivers should just stop running people over.
Car dependency is a tax.
#1185
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I'm still waiting (and hoping) they will produce a reusable 12sp link. In the meanwhile, I buy knockoffs from Aliexpress. They're way cheaper.
The only one I know is the Wippermann Connex and it is very rare to find.
#1186
Newbie
I have been waxing 2 chains in rotation for a year and did about 4200 miles, so typically swap chains every 2-3 weeks and wax both at the same time and finally just replaced the SRAM quick link last week. That means I got somewhere between 20 and 25 uses out of a single quick link that is not "re-usable". SRAM 12 Speed chains.
#1187
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I use the Wippermann Connex quick links on all my bikes. Reusable, plus no need for a quick link removal tool as it's easy to do by hand.
#1189
Senior Member
#1192
Full Member
I've heard it's for legal reasons more than once. I think that if the link got loose enough that I could put it together or take it apart with hand force, then I'd replace it. However that hasn't happened yet, I use them for the lifetime of the chain which likely adds up to dozens of operations. I did have one that didn't engage straight when putting it together (I'm sure my error and the link was probably fine before) but that one I wasn't going to trust anymore so I tossed it.
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#1193
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I've heard it's for legal reasons more than once. I think that if the link got loose enough that I could put it together or take it apart with hand force, then I'd replace it. However that hasn't happened yet, I use them for the lifetime of the chain which likely adds up to dozens of operations. I did have one that didn't engage straight when putting it together (I'm sure my error and the link was probably fine before) but that one I wasn't going to trust anymore so I tossed it.
#1194
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Luckily there's an Australian supplier, but yes they can be a little tricky to find! Potentially you might need to go international if there's nothing in your locality, shipping shouldn't be too bad as they're small and light (plus a one-time purchase as they're reusable).
#1195
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I had to google "mineral turps" since I'm in NA-- we call that stuff mineral spirits. I used a plastic jar and lid--pop chain in cover with spirits and shake, spin, stir, soak, etc. until the solution is dirty. Pour dirty solution into a container marked "used". Wipe chain and container with towels and repeat until the spirits come clear. For a used chain that could be quite a few. So they recommend starting with a new chain so you just are removing what they ship them with.
After the mineral spirits run clean, switch to denatured alcohol (methylated spirits) and do two baths. Not sure why. Maybe because the latter leaves the chain squeaky clean.
The recycling is done at our regular household hazardous waste site-- where we take our old paint and stuff they don't want in the landfill or down the drain.
After the mineral spirits run clean, switch to denatured alcohol (methylated spirits) and do two baths. Not sure why. Maybe because the latter leaves the chain squeaky clean.
The recycling is done at our regular household hazardous waste site-- where we take our old paint and stuff they don't want in the landfill or down the drain.
#1196
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alcohol bath is a waste of time and chemicals. and mineral spirits can be used over and over. my pints have lasted me 6 years since i've started. still cleans well. two baths, first is dirty, second is...not as dirty. in one, then the other, then in the wax. it really should be that simple.
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#1197
This is why they recommend starting with new chains, unless the chain is pricey enough to make the effort worthwhile.
I just started waxing, and my used xc chain was an xx1 that I didn’t want to throw away. Luckily I kept that chain pretty clean anyways. It took several mineral spirit baths but eventually the stuff runs clear in the container. When the mineral spirits run clear, I follow with a few passes of denatured alcohol.
My old greasy road chain that I can replace for 30 bucks? I’m not spending the time on that one.
I wonder about taking it to a car wash and using a high pressure water spray?
I just started waxing, and my used xc chain was an xx1 that I didn’t want to throw away. Luckily I kept that chain pretty clean anyways. It took several mineral spirit baths but eventually the stuff runs clear in the container. When the mineral spirits run clear, I follow with a few passes of denatured alcohol.
My old greasy road chain that I can replace for 30 bucks? I’m not spending the time on that one.
I wonder about taking it to a car wash and using a high pressure water spray?
The origin of these beliefs are obscure, and even the dude over at zero friction cycling mentions in passing, in a resent video, he couldn't prove a difference in wear between no cleaning a all vs expensive "top chain cleaners". Of course he stopped the test because he wanted to test if cleaners removed factory grease well, not if removing it made a difference in the first place ..
* Thats why some of it is so stubborn, just like wax and try watchin any number of videos showing fabrication of roller chains. Some show the lubrication process and suspiciously it looks just like hot immersion waxing.
Last edited by Racing Dan; 03-10-24 at 05:38 AM.
#1198
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You are wasting your time because you are all locked into the idea a chain must be 100.00% down to bare metal before it can be waxed. Its not true. Hot wax will dissolve and mix with the factory grease (that i likely itself a wax*) A new chain can be hot waxed straight from the package and a dirty one can be rinsed i one bath of turps. Its plenty good enough and repeated waxing will make any difference fade to noting.
The origin of these beliefs are obscure, and even the dude over at zero friction cycling mentions in passing, in a resent video, he couldn't prove a difference in wear between no cleaning a all vs expensive "top chain cleaners". Of course he stopped the test because he wanted to test if cleaners removed factory grease well, not if removing it made a difference in the first place ..
* Thats why some of it is so stubborn, just like wax and try watchin any number of videos showing fabrication of roller chains. Some show the lubrication process and suspiciously it looks just like hot immersion waxing.
The origin of these beliefs are obscure, and even the dude over at zero friction cycling mentions in passing, in a resent video, he couldn't prove a difference in wear between no cleaning a all vs expensive "top chain cleaners". Of course he stopped the test because he wanted to test if cleaners removed factory grease well, not if removing it made a difference in the first place ..
* Thats why some of it is so stubborn, just like wax and try watchin any number of videos showing fabrication of roller chains. Some show the lubrication process and suspiciously it looks just like hot immersion waxing.
#1199
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You are wasting your time because you are all locked into the idea a chain must be 100.00% down to bare metal before it can be waxed. Its not true. Hot wax will dissolve and mix with the factory grease (that i likely itself a wax*) A new chain can be hot waxed straight from the package and a dirty one can be rinsed i one bath of turps. Its plenty good enough and repeated waxing will make any difference fade to noting.
The origin of these beliefs are obscure, and even the dude over at zero friction cycling mentions in passing, in a resent video, he couldn't prove a difference in wear between no cleaning a all vs expensive "top chain cleaners". Of course he stopped the test because he wanted to test if cleaners removed factory grease well, not if removing it made a difference in the first place ..
* Thats why some of it is so stubborn, just like wax and try watchin any number of videos showing fabrication of roller chains. Some show the lubrication process and suspiciously it looks just like hot immersion waxing.
The origin of these beliefs are obscure, and even the dude over at zero friction cycling mentions in passing, in a resent video, he couldn't prove a difference in wear between no cleaning a all vs expensive "top chain cleaners". Of course he stopped the test because he wanted to test if cleaners removed factory grease well, not if removing it made a difference in the first place ..
* Thats why some of it is so stubborn, just like wax and try watchin any number of videos showing fabrication of roller chains. Some show the lubrication process and suspiciously it looks just like hot immersion waxing.
#1200
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