Wax for chain.

[compo]

I trust that this doesn't equal helmets for "discussion".

After after stripping and spring cleaning my drive train this morning I am becoming interested in using wax chain lubes. However I am reading widely different opinions on the stuff. Some say it is wonderful and others that it is useless. Is there a middle ground? I like the idea of having a nice clean chain without having to keep spending hours cleaning off dirty gunge and oil.

 

[accountantpete]

I use Muc-Off. It goes on in a spray to get well into the chain and then dries.

I suppose the theory is that this then keeps muck out.

The chain still attracts dirt which sticks to the wax but it is very easy to clean off if you use a cleaner - they sell a special cleaner alongside the chain lube!

In conclusion - I think the chain will last longer but you still need to clean regularly.

 

[BimblingBee]

I lube and then wax alternate links. This gives me the best of both worlds :-)

 

[Fab Foodie]

Not this old chestnut again ... It's wax for legs and oil for chains.

 

[subaqua]

Not this old chestnut again ... It's wax for legs and oil for chains.

aaah that might be where I am ghoing wrong then. still the hairs slick down well

 

[Crankarm]

I lube and then wax. This gives me the best of both worlds :-)

Yes, but what do you put on your bike chain?

 

[Crankarm]

Not this old chestnut again ... It's wax for legs and oil for chains.

Unless you are from Essex .

 

[compo]

My chain and cassette are really coming up for renewal and I am just running them through the winter. Hopefully around easter I will be renewing both components ready for the summer. Because I am not too fussed about the chain I can experiment a bit. If anything goes wrong I will just bring forward renewal by a few weeks. I lubed the cleaned chain yesterday with wax according the the instructions on the bottle. This morning I have done 25 miles and the chain is as clean upon my return as it was when I left home. There is no sign of any grit as there would be when I used oil. Shifting is quieter and more precise, although that could be the fact the chain is clean as much as to with what it is lubed with. I am not going to change 55 years of experience oiling my chain on the results of one ride, but I am staying open minded and prepared to give it a fair trial.

 

[MontyVeda]

10 year ago i bought some Atomlab Trailwax, it lasted me for 8 years and IMO, was excellent. Over the last two years I've bought several other chain wax's, but they don't seem to be anywhere near as good as the Atomlab stuff... not all chain wax is created equal.

 

[compo]

Not this old chestnut again ... It's wax for legs and oil for chains.

I have done a couple of hundred miles plus now using wax.

Pro's. Everything stays nice and clean.
Cons. For the first couple of miles into a ride rear shifting is very poor as the chain feels stiff. I guess the wax goes hard and needs to loosen up again. Also the chain becomes a bit noisy after 25 miles or so and needs another application of wax. Also wax is quite expensive as far as I can see for not a lot of advantage, if any.
Conclusion. I have to agree with Fab Foodie and am going to revert to good old fashioned oil, that has kept chains running all over the world since they were invented.

 

[avalon]

Now can we talk about the best type of oil to use on the chain?

 

[compo]

Now can we talk about the best type of oil to use on the chain?

You can.

 

[avalon]

Thank you. Now who would like to go first?

 

[spacecat]

Me!

I've recently started using wilkinsons maintenance spray oil. Tis a pound a can, more oily than wd40 or gt85 (not that that would be difficult!) And its much easier than the others to modulate the flow.

Seems quite good.

 

[Fab Foodie]

Thank you. Now who would like to go first?

Finish Line Green. Excellent in wet conditions, though Chainsaw oil is getting a lot of fans too.