gavroche
Getting old but not past it
- Location
- North Wales
I read somewhere that dipping your chain in melted wax is a very efficient way of keeping it clean and in good condition, apparently better than using oil. Has anyone heard of that method?
Melted wax.
- Thread starter gavroche
- Start date
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Mo1959
Legendary Member
- Location
- Perthshire,Scotland
Not sure if you can buy it for home use, but when you get a brand new chain it appears to be coated in a great wax like substance that lasts for a while before you need to start oiling.
cyberknight
As long as I breathe, I attack.
- Location
- Land of confusion
I read that sky were doing it , they have now "developed " a chain wax
http://road.cc/content/news/127798-muc-launch-c4-wax-chain-lube-developed-team-sky-video
http://road.cc/content/news/127798-muc-launch-c4-wax-chain-lube-developed-team-sky-video
Apollonius
Guru
- Location
- South Staffordshire
Yes, you can but it in tins. I was offered some by my LBS but when I realised it involved removing the chain, washing it, heating the whole caboodle up on the cooker and refitting it, I went off the idea. I'd rather clean the chain than the cooker.
Gravity Aided
Legendary Member
- Location
- Land of Lincoln
Back in the day, we used to heat what Americans call paraffin wax in a double boiler(no direct flame) and use that on chains. It is a petroleum wax, sold as GulfWax for canning. It is a byproduct of oil production. Look in home canning supplies. We used to put the liquified wax in an old can, and dunk the chain in it several times. The wax came off where it wasn't needed, and stayed put where it was needed.(within the links) You can then save the remaining wax for the next time. No video games, no smart phones, etc. Gave us something to do. That and talk directly to one another. Very low tech.
Fab Foodie
hanging-on in quiet desperation ...
- Location
- Kirton, Devon.
Used to do similar with heavy grease, heat it until fluid, leave chain in for a while to allow the grease to get into the rollers, remove, hang and wipe.
Tail End Charlie
Well, write it down boy ......
- Location
- In green and pleasant hills.
I used to use this method on motorbike chains. Worked well, probably because it didn't get thrown off easily. I think anti throwing off grease has since been developed and nowadays I just use motorbike spray chain grease on my pedal bike.
Been using that for 6 months. Great lube in fairness. The best balance of Dry and Wet lube all rolled into one.
Supersuperleeds
Legendary Member
- Location
- Leicester
@SatNavSaysStraightOn uses a wax based lube I think
sidevalve
Über Member
Used to be ok 'till they developed O ring chains - now it's just spray on chain grease. Does the job on a cycle chain but it really is filthy stuff
Globalti
Legendary Member
Yes I used to have a big round tin of wax with some additives, which you heated up then dropped the motorcycle chain in and cooked it for a while. I don't know if it was any better than any other chain lube. The best lubricant was plain engine oil when used on a chain that was fully enclosed in a metal case and always stayed clean and dry.
Boiling the chain: http://hondacg125.awardspace.com/chain_grease.htm
Boiling the chain: http://hondacg125.awardspace.com/chain_grease.htm
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You need to clean the chain first, I recommend the ShelBroCo method, and if you wish to use melted wax, use this instead of the greasing method
dickyknees
Guru
- Location
- Anglesey
Citius
Guest
Depends on what's in it and what state it's in. Those images date it to around mid 80s. I used to boil up my motocross chains in a similar manner back then. Once lubes got better and the formulations improved, I didn't bother. I just power washed the chain on the bike, dried it and then lubed it with a decent spray lube. I do much the same thing now with cycle chains.
