Originally Posted by
ThermionicScott
It is. The problem with just wiping the outside of the chain is that it doesn't dry out the inside fast enough. Water can hang out in the recesses of a chain for a long time, and while it's there, it will prevent oil from wicking in.
I see. I was just under the impression that wiping it with a cloth or something strips away internal grease or something like that. Here's the portion of the article I was referring to:
"
Removing solvent from the chain after rinsing is important. Compressed air is not readily available in the household nor is a centrifuge. Manually slinging the chain around outdoors works best if the chain is a closed loop but without pressing the pin completely in. The other way is to evaporate it. Accelerated drying methods by heating should be avoided because they can be explosive."