Cleaning chains
#26
Senior Member
Dawn dish detergent. A squirt in a bucket of water to clean the bike, then another on a brush to clean the chain, rings and cassette. Why buy something when you have something that works and is not toxic?
#27
The Wheezing Geezer
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Your solution seems frugal and sustainable to me. Not to mention effective.
#28
Senior Member
Mineral spirits are fairly harmless, but there is really no need to use it. Just start with a new chain, wipe off the grease it is packed in, and then the melted wax will displace whatever residue remains. The great thing about wax in the liquid form is it becomes a (safe) non-polar organic solvent, and unless you are starting with a previously filthy chain, it is all that is needed. Disposal is trivial, since it is harmless (apart from whatever the chain residue is) and it is a solid block that you can just put into household waste.
I do however agree with the OP. Solvent management is no big deal, when you realise you can use the same solvent over and over after letting it sit for a while. I use a few old wine bottles for settling out the gunk and decant back to a cleaning jar when I need it.
Last edited by Racing Dan; 09-17-22 at 02:29 AM.
#29
ignominious poltroon
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I am.
It is, when it is time to dispose of it.
That is another win for wax: It is a non-toxic, non-polar organic solvent that is very effective for removing oily deposits, and it forms a solid at room temperature, which makes disposing of it in a trash can straightforward.
I do however agree with the OP. Solvent management is no big deal.
That is another win for wax: It is a non-toxic, non-polar organic solvent that is very effective for removing oily deposits, and it forms a solid at room temperature, which makes disposing of it in a trash can straightforward.
#30
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#31
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CAUTION PLEASE!!
I cut my left thumb severely suffering nerve damage cleaning a chain in a glass jar. My jar broke and I automatically grabbed at it with my left hand and sliced my thumb. I did not shake my jar or do anything to break it. It must have been cracked and I didn't see it. Please use a plastic container resistant to solvent rather than a glass jar.
I cut my left thumb severely suffering nerve damage cleaning a chain in a glass jar. My jar broke and I automatically grabbed at it with my left hand and sliced my thumb. I did not shake my jar or do anything to break it. It must have been cracked and I didn't see it. Please use a plastic container resistant to solvent rather than a glass jar.
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#34
Senior Member
I am.
It is, when it is time to dispose of it.
That is another win for wax: It is a non-toxic, non-polar organic solvent that is very effective for removing oily deposits, and it forms a solid at room temperature, which makes disposing of it in a trash can straightforward.
It is, when it is time to dispose of it.
That is another win for wax: It is a non-toxic, non-polar organic solvent that is very effective for removing oily deposits, and it forms a solid at room temperature, which makes disposing of it in a trash can straightforward.
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#35
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So, I have tried Cola. I had doubted, and after the trial, I wondered why it worked so well??? Btw, I am doing a research on recycling topic and some help would be welcome.
Last edited by IsraelStall; 10-22-22 at 06:15 AM.
#36
Senior Member
Chains seem to be like Schrodinger's cat. If you read threads like this, they require clever and/or exotic techniques and substances to be cleaned, but reading the chain lube threads leads to the conclusion that even a heavy dew will remove almost any lubrication, leading to friction, rust, chain stretch, and cluster erosion.
#37
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Uhm, it sounds reasonable. Just agree. Concerning my academic research, I don't need any more help because I found a source of free and reliable essay samples. Moreover, I discovered a great conclusion generator, so you can click for more to see how useful is the writing experts' help. I don't care anymore about my grades since the website will be efficient for my future papers about recycling, a green environment, and how bikes can improve the Earth's protection (I have a lot of academic assignments).
Last edited by IsraelStall; 10-22-22 at 06:21 AM.
#39
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you might enjoy using a straw brush too. they are so skinny they fit between chain links
#40
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#41
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The last glass peanut butter jar I saw was one from a health food store (think Seventh Day Adventist instead of Whole Paycheck). I've been doing the same with a couple of Mason jars that disappeared from my wife's canning supply a decade or two ago.
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#43
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#46
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looks like the mods will be cleaning threads instead of chains in the "general cycling discussion" forum for a spell...
#47
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