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“Chain still sounded and felt OK at the end of the ride but hose was obviously. too much for it as inner links were turning orange the next morning so have redone it.”
I’ve just given it a quick wipe with some light oil whenever any rust appears - the Putoline is still doing its job on the actual lubrication.
. too much for it as inner links were turning orange the next morning so have redone it. Will see how that goes, might try letting it cool a bit as above next go. Had hoped it would last longer but it is smooth and easy to reapply so not too distraught. Must put overalls on though, got a spot on a new hoody which Vanish isn’t shifting.
Try running it thru an oily rag. the rollers might still be full of lube
OK, will try that next time
Chain still sounded and felt OK at the end of the ride but
I think that if it sounds ok then it's lubed - as said, the outer plates can get dry whilst the inner bits are still lubed. I just spray WD40 on a rag and wipe it down after a wash.
But you’re missing the point that when cooking rice you end up with no water remaining.
I doesn't really matter enough to pick this up again, but here I go anyway!
You were saying that rice cooker is perfect because it's doesn't heat water any higher than 100 degrees.
I was saying that water doesn't get any hotter than 100 degrees in any sort of anything unless it's under pressure, so you can't tell how hot oil or wax would get in a rice cooker just because it takes water to 100 degrees.
As a newbie to the Putoline game I'm curious if anyone else notices(d) a change in how noisy (or not so) their drivedrain is since the wax treatment?
My experience so far is that when running on the extremes of the cassette that there's much more chainring noise compared to previous regular lubes - so much so that on my first ride I stopped twice to check I hadn't mistakenly mismatched narrow / wide teeth with the chain!
All on bog standard XO eagle bits
Putolined all 5 bike chains last night. Was not that much hassle with a camping stove, some giant paperclips and a coat hanger.
Noticed this morning on my commute that my chain/drive train was almost completely silent!
As a newbie to the Putoline game I’m curious if anyone else notices(d) a change in how noisy (or not so) their drivedrain is since the wax treatment?
My experience so far is that when running on the extremes of the cassette that there’s much more chainring noise compared to previous regular lubes – so much so that on my first ride I stopped twice to check I hadn’t mistakenly mismatched narrow / wide teeth with the chain!
I usually find the opposite, it's quiet and seems to take the first couple of hours to 'bed in' until it sounds normal again, the shifting also loosens up a bit, starts off 'smooth' and then goes back to "dunk-click". Figured it was something to do with the rollers/links being packed with solid wax that the chain cant bend/twist as much as normal.
Having said that, I've not gotten around to doing my eagle drivechain yet, and the chainline is a bit mental and there's a lot of noise from the chain especially compared to the road bike anyway so you might be right.
@doomanic - lucky to have a kind of antechamber where 'the big workbench' sits before the cellar. Cellar itself is complete disaster zone, of course. The big screwdriver/molgrip effort is related to a stuck bolt issue mentioned on a previous thread. Still not solved.
I'm not surprised that putoline stays in the chain after a mucky ride, as mentioned, it seems to 'become one' with bloody everything it touches in the prep phase.
A side note, chatting to my FiL, who sponsors a speedway rider, and he said that it is the chain lube of choice for speedway. Good to know, those boys put some strain through their kit.
A side note, chatting to my FiL, who sponsors a speedway rider, and he said that it is the chain lube of choice for speedway. Good to know, those boys put some strain through their kit.
I read somewhere on a motorbike forum that the reason it's marketed at off road bikes and road bikes don't just get a non-o-ring chain to make use of it is mostly down to the power absorbed by the chain (fractions of a percent add upto several hundred watts I guess when you're talking 100hp+), a superbike chain get's warm which would soften the wax and fling it off. An off road bike gets naturally cooled by all the dirt / water / mud being flung at it!
Probably bollocks, but does give a reason why it's not universally adopted. Although I suspect big-bike chains being a PITA to split, and the increased likelihood of them doing long distances probably plays a part as well.
I've been tempted on waxing for a while now, for environmental reasons. Want to reduce use of chemicals I use when cleaning the chainset. This thread is inspiring me again to make the change.
Question though. Those waxing - what do you need to do to maintain it in between rewaxes?
Thanks...
Between waxing? Run it through an oily cloth occasionally
I sometimes top up with an aerosol motorcycle chain wax just to get me thru to the weekend when I can do it properly.
Question though. Those waxing – what do you need to do to maintain it in between rewaxes?
I think the proper dedicated answer to this is to fit the second or third chain that you waxed along with the first. Added benefit of prolonged chain life, less faff with melting the wax.
So, I've tried this Putoline out for a while now, on my absolutely filthy "cycle track" commute I was getting a week out of it before it needed a re-lube, commuting on the road is 3+ weeks, a recent absolute mud session on the CX bike of 50 miles = that even when the drive chain was clearly coated in copious amounts of mud the chain remained silent.
I'm sticking with it, I'd like to invest in a deep fat fryer and a second chain.
Why does having two chains make them last longer?
Because each chain is only being used 50% of the time?
😉
Recently started using this. Did a really muddy ride on the gravel bike couple of weeks ago.
Hosed all the mud off the chain, but when I went and have a look today, the drive train is still smooth and quiet but the exterior of the chain has gone all rusty. (should have wiped it dry)
I know people mentioned wiping it with an oily rag but think gt85 might be more effective as it would displace the water? Only worry is the gt85 might wash the putoline off? Anyone tried?
Wiping with an oily rag works very well. Or you could squirt GT85 on a rag and do the same.
gt85 on a rag works fine - don't spray directly on the chain as it washes the wax out
Putoline do a spray on wax which might be a good bet.
The big benefit of multiple chains is it takes the guesswork out of changing worn chains. You know a cassette will last three chains, so you swap between 3 chains every few rides and run it untill it stops shifting cleanly.
Slightly novel use for it, I soaked my new gear cables in putoline. Cant really tell if it makes a difference but figured that it should draw less gunk into the housing than the usual few drops of chain lube.
so we are now lubing our perfectly lubed chain ?
I just did the same yesterday.
I have been waxing my cables for years, using a cigarette lighter to heat the cable and then running a block of paraffin wax along the length of the cable, but I used up all my wax a couple of months ago so thought I'd try Putoline.
trail rat I'll do you chains for next years puffer if you like?
Might be a daft question but why don't we use wax in bearings rather than grease?
The grease in my jockey wheels doesn't seem to last very long.
I'm a good few mucky rides in, haven't even washed the bike (just knocked the dry mud off, cleaned the dropper and fork stations), and it is still a well lubed chain. no rusting (but then also no cleaning...)
Today was really amazing - horrible mud, not too runny, just starting to dry, you know the stuff that collects and turns your tyres into 22kg rotating pieces of crap, and sticks to everything. However - totally silent Chain. Really, amazing!
Usually in that kind of stuff when I shift into bigger cogs there is some horrible crunching and grinding... but not a peep.
I am totes amazeballs sold on this stuff. Hurrah!
Hosanna! another convert to the church of putoline! Spread the good word! Free entry to nirvana! Extra karma!
Yeah well, one minging ride last night on a freshly waxed chain. Had no choice other than to hose the bike off afterwards and some orange inner links this evening, right in where wiping an oily rag won't reach. Bit annoying but it was utter filth (again). I still won't go back though, the drivetrain was silent and felt so smooth the whole way round whereas every other lube I've tried (many) would have resulted in a horrible sounding and feeling drivetrain. So will live with the orange and see how long the smoothness lasts.
Apologies if this has already been answered but where do folks buy this online? I'm failing to find it at any of the usual suspects and trying to avoid Amazon
Ive got to say im another convert. Since I did my chain ive been up to the axles in snow mud and water and its still smooth and quiet.
thanks for that lightman - I keep forgetting about ebay. Seems like a nice price
@davosaurusrex I'm finding the same; nice and silent in even the shittiest conditions, but the inner links start to turn trump in the time it takes to drive home.
You could try spraying on silicone lube if you don't like orange outer plates. Shouldn't mix with the putoline..? I use it when wiping down.
I'm surprised those using wax aren't using fully zinc plated chains , ( at least it doesnt sound like they are ) thus completely avoiding any surface corrosion after use in the wet.
i know i would if i was using putoline.....
Can you get zinc plated 12 speed chains?
Takes about a nanosecond for the zinc to wear off the internal surfaces of the chain and the bearing faces of the rollers and the rust is generally seen between the sides of the inner and outer links. Nice idea in theory but not that helpful in practice. The outer surfaces which retain the zinc coating also tend to keep a coating of wax for quite some time, for the same reasons.
A stainless chain on the other hand would be very nice.
SRAM PC-X01 Eagle is chromed so doesn't rust
Takes about a nanosecond for the zinc to wear off the internal surfaces of the chain
I dont buy that for a minute considering i've got a 5 year old shimano cassette with little to no wear on its zinc plating even on the teeth.....
I did wonder if those hideously expensive (but apparently longer lasting) titanium wipperman chains might almost be a worthwhile investment.
Let us know when you've tried a zinc coated chain then boss 🙂
From my experience the coating wears very quickly on those surfaces and although the exterior stays protected the other surfaces don't.
Zinc is soft. Chrome is much harder. All platings wear away through abrasion.
My bikes are 9spd. I used midrange sram chains generally and no rusting evident 99% of the time. I think they are plated / coated in some way
What the heck, I'll post an update. Still totes amazeballsed by this stuff.
How many weeks now since I did it - 5? 6? Can't remember. Lots of muddy rides (2 or 3 a week, maybe 60km ish off road), absolutely silent and smooth running chain. When washing bike down I've done **** all and have had no rusting plates.
Decided to do my sons MTB chain today, the last in the family (and neighbours!) to be done. Decided to do mine for the second time since the frier was on. Perhaps it was getting ever so slightly noisier on this morning's ride.
The best bit, and the most incredible bit of all this, is that when I took the chain off there was absolutely no build up of shite at all on the chainring, jockey wheels or cassette. Yes, there is putoline on them now, but no chunks of crud that have tp be scrapped off with a screwdriver.
What is this witchcraft?
Thanks again to TJ and others for their guidance.
Hail! Hossanna!¬
😂
I had to re-do one bike after only about 3 rides recently. But I'll take that, given how easy it is to apply with a frier.
I have a new tub of Putoline if anyone wants it for £20 posted?
Used it to wax one chain. Tried it, it’s not for me.
Pm sent
Why not Digger out of interest? Most folk love it, a few do not and I like data!
Just wasn't my sort of thing really...
I've decided to take the (hot waxey) plunge and have a tub of Putoline on the way. Going to my commuter and the wife's roadie first, then if all goes well all the bikes will get the treatment.
Never did buy a frier though, I'm planning on sticking the tub on a camping stove in the garage.
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FTW.
Unless you want to never use the camping stove again or want the excitement of 1kg of seriously hot wax balancing on a tiny base.
Never did buy a frier though, I’m planning on sticking the tub on a camping stove in the garage.
The fryer is what makes it work, IMO. I probably wouldn't do it if I had to have naked flames and a scary tin of boiling hot oil balanced on top. The fryer is specifically designed to keep a liquid at a certain temperature in a safe way.
There's also far less smoke if you use a fryer with an indirect element like Wally's and in fact most fryers, and hence less smell.
Also, I dunno about yours but my garage is packed full of flammable and inflammable things involving lots of volatile solvents, so I really don't want naked flames in there!
Yeah, I get the concern but the stove is one of this type:
https://www.blacks.co.uk/equipment/258605-campingaz-camp-bistro-2-stove-mid-blue.html/
So it's not going to fall over. To be honest, the pan was to use it the first time and if I'm convinced, I'll probably get a fryer (can't see the one Wally's posted though, work internetz blocking it)
For balance, I've been using Putoline for a couple of years with one of the stoves IHN links, have used it for other things, up to and including camping, haven't died a fiery death, and, to the best of my knowledge, have not been directly implicated in the death of baby robins.
I used to do it on one of those stoves but a cheap frier really doesn't cost much more, and avoids running out of gas halfway through, which seemed to happen 5 times out of 3.
I just bung the tin on the cooker!
I have a new chain to do this week, will probably do it on the cooker.
Dumb question, from having done one chain so far: is it normal to have a huge amount of claggy black gunk on the chain after pulling it out of the tin and letting it cool? Is it just a case of wiping off that excess?
I do it wearing gloves and with a fryer, and find that if it's at about 140-150C a quick shake in the basket and flip it over and shake again is enough to get most of it off then wipe it with a rag whilst it's still warm.
If there's any excess it soon get's cleaned off by the drive chain.
As I said on here before, get a smaller tin, I found a 120mm dia. biscuit tin. Put about a 1/4 of the wax from the big tin in there & boiling it up takes a few minutes on a camping stove. The big tin is obviously for much larger motorbike chains. Easy peasey & no dodgy large quantities of boiling wax in an electrical appliance.
Nicko - maybe not hot enough? Its needs to be really runny. I hang the chain over the tin and the excess just drips off - leaves a bit on the outside which I wipe off
Is it just a case of wiping off that excess?
Yeah I hang mine up and wipe down with a rag thoroughly whilst it's still warm but before it cools all the way.
Easy peasey & no dodgy large quantities of boiling wax in an electrical appliance.
It's not dodgy when it's exactly what the appliance is designed to do!
OK, will give it a shot... Hopefully I can keep the stove clean enough not to have to move out when the wife sees it...
Tip
Wd 40 allow you to wipe it off the hob if you dribble
I do move the tin into my workshop tho which is right next to the kitchen
tjagain
Subscriber
I just bung the tin on the cooker!
**** me TJ ! You've been using the stuff for 10 years and MrsTJ STILL lets you get away with that shit. WTF does your house smell like ?
As above, I think the frier is what makes it easy.
scaredypants
Open plan kitchen as well :-). We have been together 40 years. she is used to my foibles 😉
Done. Won't know how it rides until I get the mechs sorted, but the chain looks pretty good for now. Putoline got to about 150C, and on the chain it seemed very thin and dripped off - so I must've not heated it enough last time out.
Been wanting to convert to wax for a while - so now's a good time.
Couple of questions please. Do I genuinely need to strip and clean the cassette of all dirt and oils as it says in the info guides before I put my first wax chain on?
Can I use a slow cooker instead of hotplate or fryer?
Any other tips for a starter newbie would be appreciated (I'm happy for you to tell me to scan this thread instead of being a lazy arse!! 😁)
Do you genuinely need to degrease and clean the chain/cassette.
No. I prefer to, after all it only takes a minute to slosh it around in an old plastic container with some hot water, or two minutes if you slosh it in some fairy/liquid or degreaser and then do a two or three rinse sloshes. A lot of grit comes out. I've never heard of cleaning the cassette being essential. I probably would though, but it's a horrible messy job.
Plenty of people don't bother though and believe the grit all settles to the bottom anyway and/or that degreaser will get into the wax and make it last less well.
I use a small slow cooker but I'd really prefer a mini-fryer as the basket makes draining easier. I am always messing about trying to fish out and then suspend the chains above the slow cooker to allow the excess wax to drain in.
Any other tips for a starter newbie would be appreciated
Scan the thread you lazy arse, we've had to suffer six pages of it, why shouldn't you 😉
You’ve been using the stuff for 10 years and MrsTJ STILL lets you get away with that shit. WTF does your house smell like ?
Given TJ's told us he never wears deodorant, maybe the Putoline is a preferable smell 🙂
Been toying with this idea for a while and might make the move now I have time. Is the cheapest source of a safe fryer still Argos (want a cheap solution but I worry about the ebay route).
Been toying with this idea for a while and might make the move now I have time. Is the cheapest source of a safe fryer still Argos (want a cheap solution but I worry about the ebay route).
Got one of these. Cheep as chips and does the job;
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7173961
Do you genuinely need to degrease and clean the chain/cassette.
if its really claggy then the first time probably. After that then no - the molten wax cleans the chain
My tin's arrived!
Hi-ho, hi-ho, to fiery waxy death we go...
Is it possible to put too much Putoline on? I’ve just done a chain now and there looked like there was quite a lot on when I was putting the chain back in my bike. Can I just scrub the excess off, or leave it to fall off whilst I ride, or heat it up again and wipe down with a clean rag?
Anyone help me with the above?
Hi Ed - I'd just put it on and go ride, the excess will fall off.
Next time perhaps have the Wax a bit hotter whilst your chain is in, and give it a quick wipe with a rag whilst its hanging.
I was doing mine at 190 on a wee deep fat fryer, but I think thats a wee bit hot and makes it too thin, going to try 170 ish for the next batch.
I did reply, it got lost.
But you don't "put Putoline on" - you dunk it in the molten wax, so you always ned up with the same amount.
I hang my chain up and then wipe off the excess fairly thoroughly whilst still warm. If I don't wipe off excess, then bits of it come off and get on the cassette and ring, but that's not a huge issue really.
What molgrips said.
The smoke point is ~190C so there doesn't seem much point maxing it out in the fryer, it still smokes whilst its melting but settles down and is runny enough at 140-160ish (I doubt the thermostat is that accurate anyway).
If you do use too much it just gets chipped off or ends up on the jockey wheels. Scraps of old rag and some nice thick work gloves to clean the excess of the outside.
On the SS I don't bother, that get's left with a thick coat and lasts forever 🤣
My tin arrived yesterday as well.
Going to use the camping stove, but was hoping to do a few chains in one hit. How long do you leave each one in, or do I just put them
All in at once ?
My tin has very little in the way of instructions.