Originally Posted by
ukny
I realize this is an old thread but you seem to know the most about this..
I have been waxing for years and years..
I use to tie myself in knots, degreasing and using an ultra sound bath but now I have simplified.
When I get new chains (I usually have 3 in rotation) I simply heat the old used puck of wax up and let the chains sit and swirl them for 10 minutes or so each.
Then I remove drain and wipe. This seems to remove, melt off all the factory wax.
Discard the old wax, that I have used over the last year, heat up a new puck of MSW for the new chains.
And wax and drain as usual. And redo with that new wax about every 300 miles per chain.
My Chains last a long time. I always have one ready to go. I don't get grease all over my calves.
Also and this is just me but I have not noticed anyone in our group going any faster than me.
People make chain waxing way more difficult than it needs to be.
And no I am not screwing up my drivetrain by not spending money on Silca magic potion. I am running 10 year old Camp SR 11 and it works smooth as silk..
What am I doing wrong.
Right. Simpler is better. Cleanliness of the drive is what makes the deal for me. Increased chain durability is just a bonus. I use Gulf Wax, usually rewax at 500 miles. For a new chain, I clean first with mineral spirits. For an old chain, unless it's been soaked or muddied, I let the hot wax clean it out. I run the wax at above the boiling point of water so it's a thin fluid (in a hot pot, not over a flame, and not with a visibly wet chain), immersing the chain for a half hour or less, removing it and turning it over a couple of times so it drains out the crud. I take the chain out after the wax starts to form a skim (around 135 degrees F.) so the wax is slower to drain off. I have some mesh in the bottom of the pot, under which the sediment settles. Every couple of times, when the wax is solid, I put the pot in the fridge for an hour so. The wax shrinks and I can tap it out and scrape the junk off the bottom of it with a knife, adding some more wax at the next waxing.