Blackening a Chain?
07-18-22, 08:24 AM
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Blackening a Chain?
I have a vintage bike, but L.B.S. does not have a black chain. Is there a safe way for me to make a silver chain black?
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07-18-22, 08:33 AM
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Safe or easy? I'm not certain you can have both. Besides, what disaster might this un-safe chain pose?
All the chemical baths and things I can think of might shorten the life a bit and probably cost you as much as getting another chain. Seems like just installing the chain, riding your bike a lot and getting it gunked up will make it appear black from a distance soon enough.
Just keep looking for a black chain and you can swap it out if you desire to later.
All the chemical baths and things I can think of might shorten the life a bit and probably cost you as much as getting another chain. Seems like just installing the chain, riding your bike a lot and getting it gunked up will make it appear black from a distance soon enough.
Just keep looking for a black chain and you can swap it out if you desire to later.
07-18-22, 08:39 AM
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You COULD lube it with a heavy wet lube (gear oil), don't wipe it down too well, let it get dirty. Just be careful about brushing the chain with clothes, leg, etc.
If you're riding a lot, that could wear out the drive train, so I'd find another source if you must have a black chain. Actually I'd just put the silver chain on and go for a ride.
If you're riding a lot, that could wear out the drive train, so I'd find another source if you must have a black chain. Actually I'd just put the silver chain on and go for a ride.
07-18-22, 08:44 AM
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07-18-22, 09:03 AM
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Aren't most lower-to-mid-priced chains black to begin with? How vintage? How many speeds?
07-18-22, 09:09 AM
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Try the Internet? You've gotten this far...
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07-18-22, 09:21 AM
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They seem to have a lot of chains here. Some black chains too. Though gray or brown might be good for your vintage bike too. I'm assuming your vintage bike is 8 or less speeds on the rear.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...hp?category=61
Buy a pair of socks and or gloves from your LBS if purchasing online makes you feel guilty.
https://www.universalcycles.com/shop...hp?category=61
Buy a pair of socks and or gloves from your LBS if purchasing online makes you feel guilty.
07-18-22, 09:23 AM
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07-18-22, 11:04 AM
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Hopefully this does not apply to the OP, and there are no signs that it does, but to answer your general question, some people cannot fathom buying components for a product from anywhere other than the source of the product. For example, my wife's cousin believed that her Acura CL was a "high performance" vehicle that requires the exact OEM spec Michelin tires which were only sold at the Acura dealer from which she bought the car.
07-18-22, 11:10 AM
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07-18-22, 11:11 AM
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07-18-22, 11:12 AM
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07-18-22, 11:13 AM
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07-18-22, 11:18 AM
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I did not assume that you did not think of searching for a black chain on the Internet, but I do question the thought process that concluded in a question regarding blackening a bike chain.
My suggestion re: Amazon Prime was merely an invitation to discuss about which bike component sellers on the site are legitimate. But it seems you are not interested, so there is no point.
My suggestion re: Amazon Prime was merely an invitation to discuss about which bike component sellers on the site are legitimate. But it seems you are not interested, so there is no point.
07-18-22, 11:19 AM
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07-18-22, 11:21 AM
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07-18-22, 12:25 PM
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07-18-22, 12:36 PM
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photoshop it.
Matte black is achievable... Use spent motor oil as a dedicated chain lube. It'll over time, look very trendy in color!
Matte black is achievable... Use spent motor oil as a dedicated chain lube. It'll over time, look very trendy in color!
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07-18-22, 01:02 PM
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If you need it by Wednesday, then just go with the silver chain. Then you'll have a day or two to ride it and make sure nothing went amuck during the time you took to change it. Sometimes it seems like doing any kind of maintenance causes other unrelated issues to show up.
If you are going to some exhibition where your bike has to be the prettiest color coordinating bike it can possibly be... well you won't see me there. I'll be riding.
If you are going to some exhibition where your bike has to be the prettiest color coordinating bike it can possibly be... well you won't see me there. I'll be riding.
07-18-22, 01:05 PM
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Silver chain with Chain-L No. 9.
07-18-22, 02:53 PM
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07-18-22, 03:50 PM
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