Originally Posted by
Velocivixen
Soak chain in degreaser first, wipe with clean rag, heat up the ultransonic cleaner with Dawn detergent and a dash of degreaser (water of course), after that wipe with a different clean rag. Move chain to the sink with Dawn & old toothbrush to scrub the links & rinse with water. In the meantime set the oven to 150 or 175. After chain is rinsed and dried with yet another clean rag, dry off any internal moisture in the oven for about 30 minutes or so. Carefully remove the chain and when it's warm enough to handle, install and apply lubrication. How's that? Where's my prize?
By the way, I only did this (entire process) once. Vintage chain but still very usable. It was filthy.
I'm sure everyone that found this thread interesting has done something others would find completely OCD or however you want to characterize it but that particular thing isn't springing to mind for them because to many of us, this is just what you do for the objects that are the focus of your passion. I take cable housing off and use my buffing wheel to polish the ferrules (that aren't anodized in a coordinating color) to a mirror finish. I have a hood that goes over my TS2 when I'm not using it to keep it clean. To me, that's just what I do with the things I love and are part of my love for bikes. My desk in the house looks like a tornado touched down but things relating to my bikes get the white glove treatment.