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Tonight after a few attempts at waxing a chain and being very unhappy at the outcome, I took a brand new Dura ace chain, waxed and shoved it on my bike. Silka States that you might need to ride your bike for about 30 km before it feels okay. In the past when I've tried it, ride. I have ridden for a lot longer than 30k before it is felt just about acceptable. With a brand new chain it felt absolutely perfect instantaneously.
I am now an absolute convert to chain waxing. The drive chain is absolutely whisper silent and perfectly smooth. You start to hear other noises on your bike as you're not hearing any chain noise at all.
It seems that I suck at cleaning chains as it should work with a non-brand new chain. However, it seems that a brand new chain is a lot easier to wax and the results are perfect.
Out of interest, how did you prep the new chain for waxing?
Out of interest, how did you prep the new chain for waxing?
I didn't at all, I used the silka strip chip system. You simply put one of the strip chip cubes into the wax mix. Take the brand new chain in factory grease, heat the wax up to 125° and put the brand new chain including factory grease straight in. Leave it in there for 10 minutes. Swirling it occasionally. Then drop the temperature of the wax down to 85° and leave it in there for a further 10 minutes. Then take it out. Let it cool and I use a piece of doweling rod in a hole in my workbench to loosen the chain. Takes about 2 minutes to run the chain backwards and forwards over the piece of doweling and then I just installed it on the bike
You simply put one of the strip chip cubes into the wax mix. Take the brand new chain in factory grease, heat the wax up to 125° and put the brand new chain including factory grease straight in. Leave it in there for 10 minutes. Swirling it occasionally. Then drop the temperature of the wax down to 85° and leave it in there for a further 10 minutes. Then take it out. Let it cool and I use a piece of doweling rod in a hole in my workbench to loosen the chain. Takes about 2 minutes to run the chain backwards and forwards over the piece of doweling and then I just installed it on the bike
You're idea of simply is a shit load different to mine. This worked absolutely fine for me just last weekend. Chain also silent.
Cut open packet. Install chain. Ride 50 miles/6500ft over 2 days, (MTB). Wipe chain with an old rag. Lubricate. Put in shed.
Heretic 🙂
Although I’m a bit sceptical over just how much better immersion cleaning is over just using squirt.(not really - I’m sure they come out very shiny but I think the effort/cost/benefits ratio)
Anyway if your doing it props you’d have 3 chains hanging up that you’d use in rotation 🙂
Cut open packet. Install chain. Ride 50 miles/6500ft over 2 days, (MTB). Wipe chain with an old rag. Lubricate. Put in shed. Replace drivetrain after 1000 miles or so.
FIFY
Had a credit note with a bike shop so I've just invested in the Silca hot wax system. I've cleaned my "previously-Squirted" chains with a degreaser and then boiling water before their first hot-wax immersion.
How are experienced waxxers cleaning their previously hot-waxed chains before re-dipping in the hotwax pot?
All depends what they were previously lubricated with.
Before hot wax, I was using Smoove. That takes some shifting. I used a combination of Swarfega jizer, turps and acetone, but got there in the end.
How are experienced waxxers cleaning their previously hot-waxed chains before re-dipping in the hotwax pot?
If you mean re-waxing a chain then depending on how grimy the riding's been it'll either get a quick rinse in boiling water or just go straight off the bike into the pot.
How are experienced waxxers cleaning their previously hot-waxed chains before re-dipping in the hotwax pot?
It just needs boiling water pouring over it, that loosens the top layer of wax which takes off any external dirt with it. I thought the idea was that it shouldn't need a full strip again, since there's always some wax embedded deep within the chain.
If you mean re-waxing a chain then depending on how grimy the riding's been it'll either get a quick rinse in boiling water or just go straight off the bike into the pot.
From one of my roadie friends who's been doing this for absolutely years that seems to be his approach as well. He has three chains on the go simultaneously. I think the key is making sure that you've got some kind of wooden circular object. Better run the chain over before you put it on the bike to break all the stiff links up
If I really want to get something clean of anything organic then my go-to solvent is ethyl acetate. I bought several l of it few years ago and it goes a long way. I've never met a single organic greasy stain that it can't shift. You do have to be careful though if you're wearing vinyl gloves as they dissolve in it as well
Sorry, missed that the question was about cleaning before rewaxing.
I tend to go above and beyond what's needed. I use an old water bottle with water from the hot tap and a tiny bit of fairy liquid. Make sure it's probably rinsed and dried. Wrap in a microfibre towel and put it to one side until I hit wax another batch of chain.
I'll often pop it in the oven for a couple of minutes while it's heating up for dinner to dry it. That also proves there's still wax deep within the chain as its stiff again after cooling.
For new chains I use Ceramic Speed UFO Clean - 100ml will do about 10 chains... It shifts the factory grease on SRAM chains (which is very difficult to shift) in 5 mins. Otherwise a quick wipe with isopropyl and then into the wax pot or pan of boiling water if particularly grubby.
EDIT - Holy crap - just seen the price of the Ceramic Speed stuff now - treble what I paid for mine a couple of years ago. Yikes!
I have used Effetto Mariposa Allpine Extra Eco Chain Degreaser a few times. I find it better than UFO clean, and cheaper too! Molten Speed Wax good enough for me. I can't be doing with matey boy at Silca with his sh1t tubeless sealer that does not work in a very short time!
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