Does anybody wax?

coolworx said:

Their chain?

My recipe is 3 parts paraffin, 1 part beeswax, a shot of powdered graphite, and a tablespoon of lithium grease.

Let it all melt under LOW heat, drop CLEAN (slightly still wet) chain in, allow to simmer the water out, and then take off heat for 10 mins...

Then using gloves and needle nose pliers, carefully remove chain, and hang over newspaper.

Lasts about 150 miles or so, and your drivetrain stays clean as a whistle.

I tried wax a few years ago, I think it was a can called "Chain Wax" with a similar formula I bought from Nashbar or something. Needless to say I only did it once. I didn't think it worked well and it is way too much time to remove the chain etc. The liquid wax stuff works ok as long as you apply it frequently (Ice Wax, White Lightning, etc.). But I went back to using oil. It works much better and it just as quick as the liquid wax. Regarding clean, I have a 16oz gatorade bottle with Biodiesel I have had for over 6 months and it isn't even 1/4 used. I don't clean it after every ride but at least twice a week I use a paint brush to lather some BD on the chain and cassette and rinse off with water. It is clean as could be, then I reapply some oil. About two minutes all together and much better performance. This is for the road though, and I still use Ice Wax for Mtn. bike because of dirt.

wilmar13 said:

I tried wax a few years ago, I think it was a can called "Chain Wax" with a similar formula I bought from Nashbar or something. Needless to say I only did it once. I didn't think it worked well and it is way too much time to remove the chain etc. The liquid wax stuff works ok as long as you apply it frequently (Ice Wax, White Lightning, etc.). But I went back to using oil. It works much better and it just as quick as the liquid wax. Regarding clean, I have a 16oz gatorade bottle with Biodiesel I have had for over 6 months and it isn't even 1/4 used. I don't clean it after every ride but at least twice a week I use a paint brush to lather some BD on the chain and cassette and rinse off with water. It is clean as could be, then I reapply some oil. About two minutes all together and much better performance. This is for the road though, and I still use Ice Wax for Mtn. bike because of dirt.

I understand it's a PITA - but even cleaning twice a week, you're still circulating dirt and grit thru your drivetrain. The great thing about wax is that first it doesn't attract nearly the dirt as any other lube, and the little it does attract causes the wax to dry out and slough off.

Basically, the whole operation takes me about 1/2 hr, once a week. And I can take my bare hand and run it across my chain and cassette and come out completely clean!

Before todays great synthetic lubes, dropping the chain in a bucket of parafin at a slow boil sure beat sewing machine oil for dirt repelancy.

But I'm sorry my friend, todays lubes are much, much better - and quicker ; after a ride I just wipe it down and after a week apply some more lube. And then once a month a total scrub and re-application.

I've never used wax. I used oil in the past. I now use nothing but a dry lube, either Pedros extra dry or a dry industrial strength teflon spray. Clean the chain with a good chain cleaner, dry and apply the dry lube. A dry lube also prevents dust and dirt to accumulate on your chain, which causes premature wear.

A citrus based chain cleaner is also a great tire cleaner. Spray the cleaner on the tire, lightly brush it and rinse. I was amazed th first time I tried it. It made my light blue Michelin Pro Race tires look brand new (they are 3 years old)

litespeedguy said:

But I'm sorry my friend, todays lubes are much, much better - and quicker

What do you use? I'm certainly not averse to change!

It's just been my experience (YMMV), that "Pedro's" et al. don't really deliver on promise. For about 10 bucks worth of supplies, I can create 2 years worth of lube that takes 1/2 hr per 150 miles to apply - and keeps my drivetrain squeakless clean.

Maybe it's marketing that you're addicted to? ;-)

coolworx said:

Maybe it's marketing that you're addicted to? ;-)

It's not so much the marketing as the 20 seconds vs. 1/2 hour that it takes to apply every week. I've had nothing but good results using White Lightning Race Day, and I've been on the same bottle ($7) for close to two years.

I used to wax and use Triflo but now I'm sold on White Lightening. So much easier and my chains last longer!