Is chain waxing worth the time and expense?
03-15-23, 11:53 AM
#176
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I think it’s all irrelevant.
I’d think if chain lube was that critical the chain would be fully encased and ride through an oil bath.
I also think the people that hot wax their chains could probably just put the chain in the crock pot without any prior dunking to remove old lube and they’d probably get the same result.
I saw a video (I think the British bike mag) where a company passed a chain through a special high pressure wash and rinse and then had their proprietary lube.
I bet they could just put something like Tellus 32 (or ATF) and use that as the high pressure wash and omit the next step of proprietary lube and then get the same exact friction reading.
I’d think if chain lube was that critical the chain would be fully encased and ride through an oil bath.
I also think the people that hot wax their chains could probably just put the chain in the crock pot without any prior dunking to remove old lube and they’d probably get the same result.
I saw a video (I think the British bike mag) where a company passed a chain through a special high pressure wash and rinse and then had their proprietary lube.
I bet they could just put something like Tellus 32 (or ATF) and use that as the high pressure wash and omit the next step of proprietary lube and then get the same exact friction reading.
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Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
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Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
03-15-23, 12:05 PM
#177
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Look at the John’s Hopkins link I provided in post 101 above. Their study came to the conclusion that lubricant is mostly nonessential. I don’t have the bravery to test it in the real world but it is an intriguing idea. Just based on what is most commonly reported for chain mileage…3500 to 4500 miles…independent of chain lube used, I think they are on to something. It really doesn’t seem to matter.
03-15-23, 04:44 PM
#178
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No matter what lubricant you use, there is going to be very little lubrication between the chain and cogs (sprockets, whatever). Oil, because of its fluid nature, will put more oil on the cogs but wax will not. The wax doesn’t move much during pedaling and any wax on the outside of the chain is going to quick slough off. Any wax on the cogs is going to do the same, probably more rapidly.
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Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
Stuart Black
Plan Epsilon Around Lake Michigan in the era of Covid
Old School…When It Wasn’t Ancient bikepacking
Gold Fever Three days of dirt in Colorado
Pokin' around the Poconos A cold ride around Lake Erie
Dinosaurs in Colorado A mountain bike guide to the Purgatory Canyon dinosaur trackway
Solo Without Pie. The search for pie in the Midwest.
Picking the Scablands. Washington and Oregon, 2005. Pie and spiders on the Columbia River!
03-18-23, 08:28 AM
#179
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I have been using wax on chains for 40 years now. I never removed the old lube prior to dunking, but I do decant the melted paraffin before dunking. Oil bath would be difficult with a derailleur system.
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03-19-23, 02:29 AM
#180
Newbie
What about some products like Pure Wet Lube (I've been currently using this one)? How such fit in the story of oil vs waxing?
Supposedly based on biodegradable contents. The feel when you touch the chain is less oily, more waxy (though they don't declare using any wax, but maybe they do?). Chain collects significantly less grit. The lube is quite liquid when applied, similar to oil, but the on the chain this lube doesn't feel as liquid, and the chain feels a bit firmer. I really wonder what they put in.
Supposedly based on biodegradable contents. The feel when you touch the chain is less oily, more waxy (though they don't declare using any wax, but maybe they do?). Chain collects significantly less grit. The lube is quite liquid when applied, similar to oil, but the on the chain this lube doesn't feel as liquid, and the chain feels a bit firmer. I really wonder what they put in.
03-19-23, 02:37 AM
#181
Senior Member
If the chain doesn't harden i doubt there's wax in it. The "dry" feel may be attributed to the compounds used. For example jojoba oil feels kinda dry even though it's liquid at least compared to mineral oil or vegetable oils. If the formula is just natural oils there's probably some dry feeling stuff there too.
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