Ryan_M

Agree with this. With the crap I've seen come out of new chains in a jar of mineral spirits, I'll never not clean 'em first. The wax may do the same thing, but I don't want that crud in there.

I used to do the pot on a burner thing but the crockpot require less time investment - depending how you look at it. The crock pot I just plug it in and walk away, takes seconds of my time. The burner needed baby sitting, so more time involved. Yes it will melt the wax faster and get the job done quicker but the crocks are so much easier. If you're in a hurry, pot on a stove is better.

elcruxio

I'd like to correct a few inaccuracies in this post.

The crock pot is a safety and quality control device. While it takes longer to warm up, it also keeps the temperature of the wax down to a safe level and keeps the wax from going bad. A crock pot ensures you don't get a fire. I'll get to that momentarily. Secondly the crock pot doesn't overheat the wax. Overheating wax will deteriorate it much quicker, eventually making it useless. If you're using a more expensive more advanced wax it does make sense not to let it deteriorate. The sauce pan does melt the wax quicker but that also easily leads to a situation where the surface layer of the wax is at the correct temperature while the bottom layer near the heating element is tens of degrees above the safe maximum of 100 celsius. Wax doesn't circulate all that fast when it's being heated so the bottom can get truly quite hot.

Secondly the statement that's using a saucepan in no more dangerous than frying an egg is patently false and a dangerous sentiment. Paraffin wax has an auto ignition temperature of 240 °C which is 200 °C less than with common cooking oils. Paraffin wax has a flash point of around 200 °C which you can reach surprisingly quickly if you're not constantly keeping watch partly because of the low heat capacity of paraffin wax. Also getting paraffin wax over 100 °C will cause it to produce fumes. While not toxic they can contribute to the ensuing inferno.
So a more apt comparison would then be that waxing with a saucepan is no more dangerous than deep frying with kerosene. Ok that's perhaps a bit excessive, but if you check the specs, it's not all that far off.

You can do it, but to be safe you just need to use a thermometer, keep watch and to not crank the stove to eleven.

As an additional point, if you're using hot water to clean a chain prior to rewaxing it, having a saucepan of wax that has any part of it above 100 °C can be an explosive experience.

tomato coupe

When the advocates of waxing can't agree on some of the basic steps, why is it a surprise that waxing isn't more popular?

SpedFast

Yes, there is one in every crowd, huh?

tomato coupe

This thread was started on the premise that waxing should be more popular. Disagreement about how it should be done is simply one reason why it isn't more popular.

TMonk

Can't you say the same thing about wet lubes? Waxing is inherently more complicated and laborious per application/per instance, so it seems natural that there would be more disagreement in methodology. I think that's the reason why it isn't more popular, is b/c its more complicated.

There's also a higher barrier to entry and a bit of a learning curve, which are additional reasons why it isn't more popular. Many chose to "knock before they try it" for this reason. Not that anyone "should" try it, I can just see how its easy to hate on.

In the bigger picture, it will remain a niche choice.

tomato coupe

I don't think so. Most people that wet lube just drown their chain in lube and don't think twice about it.
Time will tell.

TMonk

I used to individual apply a drop to each link, spin the cranks a few times, then wipe off excess with a rag. I would also clean it somewhat frequently, with a dry rag, then a rag soaked with alcohol. I hate a mess.

Now that I think of it, maybe I meant to join the waxing caste.

TMonk

I think waxing is a great fit for neurotic / OCD types, clean / neat freak tyoes and "tinkerers". So it could be a good fit for a lot of riders who haven't learned about it yet.

SpedFast

I fall into the tinkerer class. When I run out of other things to do on my bikes, I wax the chains. It's relaxing and leaves me with a feeling of accomplishment. It also means I won't have to work on the drive train components for a longer time, so maybe I should quit waxing. All that fun I'm missing.

SpedFast

I wasn't referring to you as the 'one', I was referring to those that disagree about how it should be done.

tomato coupe

Got it.

Ryan_M

I think a big hurdle here is people are thinking of this too black and white. There's varying levels of what people think cleaning a drivetrain is, how much time they're willing to invest to get to their acceptable level of cleanliness, and how much money they're willing to pay to get those results. I've seen it mentioned many times in this thread that waxing is too involved vs wet lube, all they do is wipe the chain off with a rag and drip some lube on it - 5 minute process. Ok sure but waxers can do the same with drip wax, but that in no way constitutes cleaning a chain. For the wet lubers that's just freshening up the grinding paste.

For me (and I know this is subjective) cleaning a drive train is removing all grime/grit and cleaning it to the point as if it just came out of the package. When I used wet lube a full clean involved removing the chain, cassette, jockey wheels, and chain rings and put them in the ultra sonic. Its a hobby level ultra sonic so the chain would have to go back in 2 more times usually. That gave me time to wipe down whats left of a film on the other parts and reassemble. Now that I wax I simply remove the chain, pour boiling water over it to get the surface junk off and drop it in the crock pot. A stiff brush is enough to knock off any blobs on the cassette, rings and RD. It's a quick process and doesn't require any disassembly. Yank the chain, let it drip and cool, then put it back on. The latter process is so much less tedious and gets me a better level of cleanliness. Win - win. There is a small but not insignificant start up cost to waxing but it will pay off on the back end when chains last longer and I dont have to buy so much degreaser for the ultra sonic.

This is why I wax. I get a better level of cleanliness that I'm happy with for significantly less time involved. Others have different priorities and would rather replace chains more often then spend the time cleaning. It's not any lesser of an opinion, just different choices based on different priorities.

spelger

that's why i wax, the drive train really doesn't require that much cleaning. i also didn't like the mess of cleaning the drive train when i was an oiler, what a mess.

Ryan_M

It was a big mess for sure. I'd go through about half a litre of degreaser an a couple rags. I understand though that I am more OCD than the majority of bike owners and I like to work on my bikes a lot, even if they dont need it. Its a joy being able to putter around on it and not have grimy hands.

yaw

We will get you tomato coupe

If not in this life, in the next.

Racing Dan

I can tell from experience factory lube dissolved in whatever chain wax makes diddly difference. Factory grease is similar to wax in the first place and only a small amount is applied. Arguing otherwise is, imo, made up fear mongering. If anything the solvents you put in your chain is more detrimental to your wax unless rigorously flushed from the chain and the chain dried completely before waxing. Again, its just additional steps, that doesn't help, cost money and creates waste that needs handling and disposal. (you should not dispose of degreaser in the sink even if it says biodegradable or similar greenwash BS on the bottle. Its not once contaminated with chain lube)

yaw

I've done that whole process once, properly, and can't be bothered, so I just purchased pre-waxed chains since, an option worth mentioning.

Next thing I will try when I need a new chain is let its factory juices dissolve in wax when I am ready to replace the wax anyway.

I'll report on it then. Give me several years.

Racing Dan

Do you really believe pre waxed chains are subjected to the convoluted cleaning schemes prescribed on the forums and by the companys selling pre waxed chains? ;-) I'm betting you a dollar they are not, but then again you wouldn't ever notice.

yaw

I bought them from the zero friction cycling guy who's pedantic enough, and one of the early waxing advocates that put up the very solvent instructions forum people often swear by, and I've seen the setup used for prepping (which includes solvent recycling which is good), the chains of course look and work perfectly fine but I am with you that it would be hard to tell where it counts. So yes I am pretty happy with it, but I of course can't speak for any other outfits.

I am really happy if I can just chuck the next round of new chains into a bit of old wax and get a perfect prep out of it. Just another way waxing is getting easier after the very initial setup.

TMonk

I'm intrigued by the idea of not cleaning off the factory grease to make it even easier. I also don't clean the drivetrain outside of bi-annual whole bike cleans.

eduskator

+1. And it looks much more cleaner too. People riding black-ish drivetrains make my tummy feel sick

Even when I was using regular lube, my drivetrain looked new all the time. I was wiping my chain with a rag after every ride. Quick and effective. Plus, a clean bike is a fast bike.

yaw

Some of my chains are black coated YBN and someone once pointed out my chain needed a clean.
Converted another one on the spot after running my hand over it and doing my wax worship song and dance.

eduskator

Love this dance!

eduskator

On a similar note, I haven't cleaned or waxed my new chain yet and I put 350kms (218mi) on the new bike so far. It's still quiet as a mouse

I was not expecting that. I'll ride it as long as I can with the factory lube/grease/whatever.