Kerosene v. Degreaser

Ken Spencer said:

In terms of cleaning chains, what is the difference in effectiveness
between using plain old Kerosene, or one of the specialized degreasers?
Will the kero work just as well?

I wondered about having to spray water on the chain to remove the
degreaser. With kero, it is sort of a lube in and of itself, no?

Avoid water-based cleaners at all costs.

Quoted message said:

I am conscious of not polluting, so I would recycle *most* of the kero
by letting it sit in a container to let the solids go to the bottom, and
re-use most of the fluid, in case that would be a factor in suggesting
some of the more "green" cleaners.

You can filter it through a coffee filter.

SMS said:

Quoted message said:

I wondered about having to spray water on the chain to remove the
degreaser. With kero, it is sort of a lube in and of itself, no?

Avoid water-based cleaners at all costs.

Why?

I understand having to use some nasty stuff every now and then--I've got a
collection of snot membrane melting solvents in the garage--but for simple
bike stuff--Simple Green melts the [censored] away just fine. Yes I rinse it
with water--and it's very Birkenstock compatible for the tempeh crowd. :P

SMS said:

Avoid water-based cleaners at all costs.

Oops. Better let this fellow know:
<http://www.lancearmstrong.com/davelinterview.html>
(scroll down)

Ordinary grease-busting laundry detergent & warm water works very well
as a degreaser. Cleans hands well too..

George King said:

Quoted message said:

Avoid water-based cleaners at all costs.

Quoted message said:

Oops. Better let this fellow know:

http://www.lancearmstrong.com/davelinterview.html

# Any bike maintanence can be fairly easy. Contrary to popular
# notions, we do use lots of degreaser on the chain, soap and
# water. The key is a good brush that doesn't hold the grease or
# dirt. Don't force the water into bearing areas. Lance is very
# particular on the position. As long as the big is shifting properly
# and not creaking, he's happy.

Quoted message said:

Ordinary grease-busting laundry detergent & warm water works very well
as a degreaser. Cleans hands well too..

....and whatever you do, don't ride in rain or you'll run into
"water-based cleaners at all costs".

Jobst Brandt

a power link and woolmort paint thinner!
recant the thinner into a tall-narrow diameter quality plastic bottle
eg isopropyl cho(used for rim and pad cleaning-bug sting)
and allow to settle until the next wash in a gallon h20 jug with a
window cut out for chain insertion. then reuse thinner with residue on
bottle bottom.
paperclips tie bushings and link to chain ends for the wash
a strong shop magnet helps out-used audio speaker. woodfire.

In article <2005080200054916807%kspenceECM@i2000com>, [email hidden]
says...

Quoted message said:

In terms of cleaning chains, what is the difference in effectiveness
between using plain old Kerosene, or one of the specialized degreasers?
Will the kero work just as well?
I wondered about having to spray water on the chain to remove the
degreaser. With kero, it is sort of a lube in and of itself, no?
I am conscious of not polluting, so I would recycle *most* of the kero
by letting it sit in a container to let the solids go to the bottom,
and re-use most of the fluid, in case that would be a factor in
suggesting some of the more "green" cleaners.

I like, and use, kerosene because I can leave my chain soaking in it for weeks
at a time with no worries. Some degreasers are water based and you can't do
that. If you do, your chain will rust. Kerosene does leave a film on the
parts when you pull them, but I would not count on it being a lubricant.
-------------
Alex

<[email hidden]> wrote: ...and whatever you do, don't ride
in rain or you'll run into "water-based cleaners at all costs".
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Or, rather, water-based cleaner at NO cost.

On Tue, 2 Aug 2005 00:05:49 -0400, Ken Spencer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

In terms of cleaning chains, what is the difference in effectiveness
between using plain old Kerosene, or one of the specialized degreasers?
Will the kero work just as well?

That depends on which degreaser you compare with, and the method of
employment of each. The answer may be yes or no depending.

Quoted message said:

I wondered about having to spray water on the chain to remove the
degreaser. With kero, it is sort of a lube in and of itself, no?

Kerosene is not a lubricant. It is a fuel. It has flammability
issues (which, happily, are MUCH less than for gasoline) and health
issues which most degreasers lack. On the other hand, it also has
cost advantages. Used in a two-liter bottle as a shake-until-clean
bath, it's quite effective in my experience. Water-washed degreasers
can, as you suggest, leave water inside the links. As long as an
appropriate oil is present in adequate amounts, this is not inherently
a serious problem. Solvents inside the links can dilute the oil and
reduce its effectiveness just as easily as water will with many lubes.

Quoted message said:

I am conscious of not polluting, so I would recycle *most* of the kero
by letting it sit in a container to let the solids go to the bottom,
and re-use most of the fluid, in case that would be a factor in
suggesting some of the more "green" cleaners.

I prefer mineral spirits myself, but kerosene might be an acceptable
substitute if used with appropriate caution and in a fairly cool
climate. With *any* solvent or degreaser cleaning regimen, dry the
chain thoroughly and relubricate before use.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

Quoted message said:

I prefer mineral spirits myself, but kerosene might be an acceptable
substitute if used with appropriate caution and in a fairly cool
climate. With *any* solvent or degreaser cleaning regimen, dry the
chain thoroughly and relubricate before use.

How do you "dry the chain throroughly?" Hang it out to dry, or hair dryer?

--
(To reply via email, please remove "ECM" - thanks)

On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 00:52:11 -0400, Ken Spencer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

I prefer mineral spirits myself, but kerosene might be an acceptable
substitute if used with appropriate caution and in a fairly cool
climate. With *any* solvent or degreaser cleaning regimen, dry the
chain thoroughly and relubricate before use.

How do you "dry the chain throroughly?" Hang it out to dry, or hair dryer?

Yes, depending on what you have available in time and equipment.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 00:52:11 -0400, Ken Spencer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

How do you "dry the chain throroughly?" Hang it out to dry, or hair dryer?

About an hour in the oven at 275 degrees F.

larry

Larry Schuldt said:

On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 00:52:11 -0400, Ken Spencer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

How do you "dry the chain throroughly?" Hang it out to dry, or hair dryer?

About an hour in the oven at 275 degrees F.

Pairing tips:
========

Campy chains go best with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Shimano, obviously: Shiraz

Connex: Cabernet Franc

Sachs: Petite Sirah

HTH,

Neil

On Wed, 03 Aug 2005 14:11:23 GMT, Neil Brooks <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

Pairing tips:
========

Campy chains go best with Cabernet Sauvignon.
Shimano, obviously: Shiraz
Connex: Cabernet Franc
Sachs: Petite Sirah

lets not forget that oil is lighter than water. Water in those links
could add a few grams of weight.

Larry Schuldt said:

Quoted message said:

How do you "dry the chain throroughly?" Hang it out to dry, or hair
dryer?

About an hour in the oven at 275 degrees F.

until a toothpick comes out dry?

"maxo" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Larry Schuldt said:

Quoted message said:

How do you "dry the chain throroughly?" Hang it out to dry,

or hair

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

dryer?

About an hour in the oven at 275 degrees F.

until a toothpick comes out dry?

Ahhhhhh! There is nothing like the smell of a tray of fresh baked
chains. -- Jay Beattie.

You can use Diesel fuel as well, very similar to Kerosene and until recently
was fairly cheap. In the northern/colder parts or the US, it would also be
the same as Home Heating Oil No. 2 with no federal tax.

"Werehatrack" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

On Tue, 2 Aug 2005 00:05:49 -0400, Ken Spencer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

In terms of cleaning chains, what is the difference in effectiveness
between using plain old Kerosene, or one of the specialized degreasers?
Will the kero work just as well?

That depends on which degreaser you compare with, and the method of
employment of each. The answer may be yes or no depending.

Quoted message said:

I wondered about having to spray water on the chain to remove the
degreaser. With kero, it is sort of a lube in and of itself, no?

Kerosene is not a lubricant. It is a fuel. It has flammability
issues (which, happily, are MUCH less than for gasoline) and health
issues which most degreasers lack. On the other hand, it also has
cost advantages. Used in a two-liter bottle as a shake-until-clean
bath, it's quite effective in my experience. Water-washed degreasers
can, as you suggest, leave water inside the links. As long as an
appropriate oil is present in adequate amounts, this is not inherently
a serious problem. Solvents inside the links can dilute the oil and
reduce its effectiveness just as easily as water will with many lubes.

Quoted message said:

I am conscious of not polluting, so I would recycle *most* of the kero
by letting it sit in a container to let the solids go to the bottom,
and re-use most of the fluid, in case that would be a factor in
suggesting some of the more "green" cleaners.

I prefer mineral spirits myself, but kerosene might be an acceptable
substitute if used with appropriate caution and in a fairly cool
climate. With *any* solvent or degreaser cleaning regimen, dry the
chain thoroughly and relubricate before use.
--
Typoes are a feature, not a bug.
Some gardening required to reply via email.
Words processed in a facility that contains nuts.

In article <2005080200054916807%kspenceECM@i2000com>,

Ken Spencer said:

In terms of cleaning chains, what is the difference in effectiveness
between using plain old Kerosene, or one of the specialized degreasers?
Will the kero work just as well?

I've used both kerosene and Gunk GP Degreaser, among other things. I take the
chains off and stick them in a jar with the cleaner. The degreaser definitely
gets the chain cleaner than the kerosene. It is much more expensive however.

Ken Spencer said:

In terms of cleaning chains, what is the difference in effectiveness
between using plain old Kerosene, or one of the specialized degreasers?
Will the kero work just as well?

Yep, degreasers are water based and 'can' rust the chain. Take an old
chain, clean with degreaser, rinse off and let sit a few days. Mineral
spirits, andf a plastic milk jug works well.

Quoted message said:

I wondered about having to spray water on the chain to remove the
degreaser. With kero, it is sort of a lube in and of itself, no?

I am conscious of not polluting, so I would recycle *most* of the kero
by letting it sit in a container to let the solids go to the bottom,
and re-use most of the fluid, in case that would be a factor in
suggesting some of the more "green" cleaners.

thanks,

ken
--
(To reply via email, please remove "ECM" - thanks)

quote='Neil Brooks'Larry Schuldt said:

On Wed, 3 Aug 2005 00:52:11 -0400, Ken Spencer <[email hidden]>

Quoted message said:

How do you "dry the chain throroughly?" Hang it out to dry, or hair dryer?

About an hour in the oven at 275 degrees F.

Pairing tips:
========

Campy chains go best with Cabernet Sauvignon.

Shimano, obviously: Shiraz

Connex: Cabernet Franc

Sachs: Petite Sirah

HTH,

Neil[/QUOTE]

And any of em will go with beer