What chain for my ‘20 Giant Defy?
#51
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,381
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4387 Post(s)
Liked 4,828 Times
in
2,984 Posts
If you are going to the trouble of wax dipping then the best idea is to have 2 or 3 chains in rotation. So after a wet ride you just swap to a fresh chain and re-prep the dirty one whenever convenient. A top up with drip wax is really more of a way of extending the service interval in dry conditions. But once your chain gets wet and dirty it would be a waste of time trying to top it up. A clean chain is ultimately more important than your actual choice of lube.
Likes For PeteHski:
#52
Full Member
Thread Starter
Ultegra chain arrived today. Forgot to order a master link, so I ordered a Wipperman today.
I cleaned both chains in mineral spirits and then denatured alcohol(no idea if the alcohol step was needed or not). Mixed wax and PTFE and soaked chains(separately, of course) in the pot for 15 min.
After wax dried and I loosed up the chain a bit…I installed the older chain back on the Defy and took it for a short spin in the neighborhood. Drivetrain seemed even quieter than usual, but maybe that’s in my head. Raining off and on today…so no chance for a longer test.
I cleaned both chains in mineral spirits and then denatured alcohol(no idea if the alcohol step was needed or not). Mixed wax and PTFE and soaked chains(separately, of course) in the pot for 15 min.
After wax dried and I loosed up the chain a bit…I installed the older chain back on the Defy and took it for a short spin in the neighborhood. Drivetrain seemed even quieter than usual, but maybe that’s in my head. Raining off and on today…so no chance for a longer test.
Last edited by GBK233; 07-17-21 at 03:23 PM.
#53
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: Québec, Canada
Posts: 2,108
Bikes: SL8 Pro, TCR beater
Mentioned: 6 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 981 Post(s)
Liked 583 Times
in
438 Posts
Always used KMC, but heard good things about Wippermann.
It's a good thing to finish cleaning your chain with alcohol, it will remove some unwanted stuff that the degreaser didn't.
Ultegra chain arrived today. Forgot to order a master link, so I ordered a Wipperman today.
I cleaned both chains in mineral spirits and then denatured alcohol(no idea if the alcohol step was need or not). Mixed wax and PTFE and soaked chains(separately, of course) in the pot for 15 min.
After wax dried and I loosed up the chain a bit…I installed the older chain back on the Defy and took it for a short spin in the neighborhood. Drivetrain seemed even quieter than usual, but maybe that’s in my head. Raining off and on today…so no chance for a longer test.
I cleaned both chains in mineral spirits and then denatured alcohol(no idea if the alcohol step was need or not). Mixed wax and PTFE and soaked chains(separately, of course) in the pot for 15 min.
After wax dried and I loosed up the chain a bit…I installed the older chain back on the Defy and took it for a short spin in the neighborhood. Drivetrain seemed even quieter than usual, but maybe that’s in my head. Raining off and on today…so no chance for a longer test.
Last edited by eduskator; 07-17-21 at 03:28 PM.
#54
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,641
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1939 Post(s)
Liked 1,463 Times
in
1,012 Posts
This thread has inspired me to buy a mini crock pot, a bag of Silca wax, and a block of Gulf Wax. I am about to drive inland to buy a quart of odorless mineral spirits (CARB formula); hope it works as well as the non-CARB version. Edit: Turns out even the CARB formula version is no longer distributed in California, so I had to relearn some chemistry quick and bought acetone instead.
I figure I will save the Silca wax until I have perfected my technique with the Gulf Wax, which will also serve to clean and absorb any crap that I cannot manage to clean off the chain using odorless
Grunge Waxing: Why Quick Waxing Your Chain is Still Worth it | by Alex Fastfitnesstips | Fastfitnesstips | Medium
Last edited by SoSmellyAir; 07-17-21 at 05:45 PM.
#55
Senior Member
Just so you know. A crock pot is not really needed. An old saucepan is perfectly adequate and no harder or any more dangerous than frying an egg. You be done in a few minutes rather than waiting an hour for you 100w crock pot.
Likes For Racing Dan:
#56
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,641
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1939 Post(s)
Liked 1,463 Times
in
1,012 Posts
The Crock Pot was $11 at Walmart.com (including tax) and less expensive than any of my sauce pans. It seems most of the instructions recommend a slow cooker to minimize the chance of burning the wax.
#57
Senior Member
It wasn't directed at you specifically. Im just putting it out there to comment on the dogma that you somehow need a crockpot to hot wax a chain. Imo, you dont, if you can fry an egg without setting it on fire ;-)
#58
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,641
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1939 Post(s)
Liked 1,463 Times
in
1,012 Posts
I know.
Rather than dogma, I understand it to be merely a recommendation, even for the Silca wax that comes in a sous vide bag.
Sunny side up or scrambled? There is a slight fire risk if I try to fry more than two eggs sunny side up. No such limit for scrambled eggs.
Sunny side up or scrambled? There is a slight fire risk if I try to fry more than two eggs sunny side up. No such limit for scrambled eggs.
#59
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
I'm not a waxer, but thought the other advantage with a crockpot is that when you're done, you just stick the lid on it til next time. With a frying pan, do you have clean it out and pour the wax into something else while it's still soft?
#60
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: TC, MN
Posts: 39,516
Bikes: R3 Disc, Haanjo
Mentioned: 354 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 20808 Post(s)
Liked 9,450 Times
in
4,668 Posts
For 10 bucks, I'll leave my shop in my shop and my kitchen in my kitchen. You do you, though.
#61
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,381
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4387 Post(s)
Liked 4,828 Times
in
2,984 Posts
#62
Full Member
Thread Starter
Ya…mine came with a pin instead of a quick link.
30 miles so far with the waxed chain. Still very quiet….and chain is still clean. I’m impressed so far. Wipperman quick link arrived. $20 a bit steep for quick link imo.
30 miles so far with the waxed chain. Still very quiet….and chain is still clean. I’m impressed so far. Wipperman quick link arrived. $20 a bit steep for quick link imo.
#63
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,381
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4387 Post(s)
Liked 4,828 Times
in
2,984 Posts
For me that is the main advantage of decent wax based lubes. Drivetrain just stays clean. Oil based lubes invariably end up turning your drivetrain into a black oily mess full of grit unless you clean them up after every ride. Wax doesn't attract the dirt at all. Quite the opposite. You will probably get 150-200 miles before it needs a top up. Basically once the noise level starts to creep up again.
Likes For PeteHski:
#64
Full Member
Thread Starter
For me that is the main advantage of decent wax based lubes. Drivetrain just stays clean. Oil based lubes invariably end up turning your drivetrain into a black oily mess full of grit unless you clean them up after every ride. Wax doesn't attract the dirt at all. Quite the opposite. You will probably get 150-200 miles before it needs a top up. Basically once the noise level starts to creep up again.
#65
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,641
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1939 Post(s)
Liked 1,463 Times
in
1,012 Posts
$20 for a reuseable quick link is not bad. The Shimano version, which is not reuseable, is $13 for two, although some say they are reuseable for the life of the chain.
Last edited by SoSmellyAir; 07-20-21 at 05:16 PM. Reason: Update.
#66
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,631
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4729 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
https://www.amazon.com/YBN-Speed-Mas.../dp/B07T14J3VN
#67
Full Member
Thread Starter
Update:
Rode 25 miles today. Chain now has about 90miles on the wax. Still clean and still quiet. I’m convinced. The chain would’ve been gross by now had I used my normal lube
Rode 25 miles today. Chain now has about 90miles on the wax. Still clean and still quiet. I’m convinced. The chain would’ve been gross by now had I used my normal lube
#68
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2021
Posts: 8,381
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4387 Post(s)
Liked 4,828 Times
in
2,984 Posts
I'm lazy and just use Silca SS as a standalone lube.
#69
Full Member
Thread Starter
140 miles on the wax now. Still quiet and still pretty clean. Not going to push it, so probably going to swap out chain tomorrow for the brand new(and waxed) Ultegra chain.
This is what it looks like currently.
This is what it looks like currently.
#70
Method to My Madness
Join Date: Nov 2020
Location: Orange County, California
Posts: 3,641
Bikes: Trek FX 2, Cannondale Synapse, Cannondale CAAD4, Santa Cruz Stigmata GRX
Mentioned: 4 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1939 Post(s)
Liked 1,463 Times
in
1,012 Posts
The internally routed rear derailleur cable on my bike similarly exits at the end of the right chain stay. I was concerned that would form too tight a loop on the new Shimano shadow rear derailleurs, but glad to see that it has worked out for you, so there is hope for me yet.