eduskator

Not close at all. In fact, regular lube should perform better than this.

seypat

The longer the thread goes, the less likely I'll ever try waxing. I think the OP got his answer as to why it's not more popular.

yaw

We know you don't like things that last a long time but it is reassuring to see you are still part of this conversation.

And yes I do consider the question thoroughly answered!

holytrousers

yaw You are talking about plain wax, aren't you ?

datlas 

Agreed.

That said, I am wax-curious and may even try it sometime in the future. But I am also quite lazy so it may never happen.

eduskator

Waxing your chain is like tubeless tires... If you don't know what you're doing, you'll have a negative opinion and experience about the thing.

Both are clearly for cyclists that likes to spend time in their garage and do mechanics. There are others who simply want to ride and not rack their brains with this kind of stuff.

seypat

I've been impressed with how the WD-40 No Drip Gel Lube is working on my forklift mast chains. I'm going to give the roller chain lube a shot on the bicycles. We'll see how it goes. No telling how many watts the ceramic reinforcement is going to save me!

https://www.wd40.com/products/roller-chain-lubricant/

tomato coupe

There are also people that know what they're doing, but still have negative opinions about waxing and/or tubeless.

Polaris OBark

Yet using exactly this highly inferior formulation has extended my chain and cassette life at least 3-fold.

I rather suspect the test isn't measuring the relevant variables.

datlas 

You rang?

procrit

Ehh, you literally degrease the chain, rinse, dry, drop your chain in the hot wax and swish it around, then pull it out and let it hang dry. It's not a technical job at all. I suspect I overheated my wax at some point, in fact I seem to remember finding that crockpot still on 3 months later after the last time I used it. Whoops. I didn't realize it would overheat. It used to come out solid white / opaque and much less visible wax on the chain. That said, I rode a couple of hours today on it and wiped off the excess wax, and it seems to be ok. I'll just strip it after this weekend and get some fresh wax on it.

masi61

I left my crock pot on high for two days one time accidentally with clear gulf canning wax in there and it turned brown like that. It sounds like this weekend will be a good time to start fresh.

terrymorse thwnks for adding the chart and introducing the concept of “Jump Point”. Those of us who wax surely know the feel and the noise of a wax job that has ceased to be protecting the chain, I know I do.

…also, Polaris OBark - I’m astounded that you claim 3x the life out of a chain (compared with wet lube?). My experience so far is that chain life is about the same. My Wippermann and Campagnolo chains seem to stretch the slowest, the KMC and SRAM chains stretch the fastest. I’m not a big ring power rider yet I can wear out a KMC chain in 1,500 miles.

seypat

The thread keeps on giving.

Branko D

I believe you, but it matters what you're comparing it with - many lubes are really dire in tests, and more or less the only drip on lubes which give good results are wax emulsion based, the rest test more or less horribly.

The various chain waxes add in, essentially, PTFE and other additives and it reduces wear and losses compared to straight up paraffin wax.

GhostRider62

You anti-waxxers don't know what you are talking about. In the last 1200 miles, I have been lazy after putting a newly waxed chain on. I have applies liquid wax (Silca or Squirt) three times. Then, I removed the chain, turned the crockpot on, threw the chain in for an hour, removed and installed. I cannot imagine an easier (effective) chain regime, If you think wiping a chain down with a cloth helps, there is no helping you.

Polaris OBark

PTFE synthetic precursors (and therefore contaminants) are not something I want to mess with, nor do I want to inhale PTFE or MoS2 powder.

I think the fundamental flaw with the analysis is that it measures how much wear you get from pure lubricants. What is relevant, at least in my experience, is how much wear occurs when the lubricant is exposed to sand and grit. If it is adhesive, it makes a grinding paste. If it is wax (pure, or with additives), the grit doesn't stick nearly as much.

Polaris OBark

I've only used Shimano with wax, but I assumed they are all approximately equal.

I think on a pristine paved road, the difference between wet lube and wax is probably minimal. (I have a Campy chain and drivetrain I use wet lube on, mainly because the Campy guy at Sea Otter told me never to use a quick link with their stuff, and waxing just isn't worth the trouble, since this bike only sees paved roads).

On my all-road/gravel bike, the chain will get covered with very abrasive dust/grit after a single ride. If I use a wet lube, it all sticks, and grinds everything down very quickly. With wax, I find things last at least 3 times longer. Perhaps a more accurate way of looking at this would be to say that the wax preserves the expected drive train life, even under very abrasive dust/grit conditions, whereas wet lube under these conditions shortens the expected life by about 3X.

GhostRider62

I've gotten 10,000 miles out of waxed 11 speed shimano dura ace chain but typically I toss then at 4-5,000 miles. Not enough 12 speed data on KMC, Campy, and YNB. I did not like the Campy and took it off the bike. YNB off after 4,500 miles with no measurable wear hanging the entire length under tension. The KMC shifts better and will stick with them.

BCDrums

Hi everyone, how's the thread going?

Oh, I see. Maybe the reason that waxing is not more popular is not because of waxing itself. Could be wrong...

datlas 

Its popularity keeps waxing and waning.

tomato coupe

You spelled whining wrong.

flangehead

No, winning. So much winning. We’re getting tired of winning.

GhostRider62

Of course you are wrong, now, go beat your drum

BCDrums

Your honor, I rest my case. And now, here's Caravan with a drum solo!

eduskator

Well, I just asked my girlfriend, and waxing is still popular.