Originally Posted by
knotty
Something I don't understand about soaking chain in melted wax.
When the hot wax cools in the chain, it becomes a solid and does not continue to flow onto the wearing surfaces. So, I can't see how the wearing surfaces are continually refreshed with fresh wax. Doesn't the wearing surfaces soon become lacking of the wax and be rubbing bare metal to metal?
Otherwise, I like the non-dust attracting qualities of wax.
knotty
Under pressure (caused by the load on the chain) inside the roller/pin the wax liquifies in a manner similar to the way ice liquifies under an ice skate blade. This is enough to maintain a thin film of lubrication. As long as the load bearing capacity of the lube is not exceeded then no metal to metal contact will happen. In the meantime, the wax on the outside of the roller seams keeps dirt from entering into the inside of the chain. Grit inside the assembly will exceed (because of its very small contact area) the load bearing ability of the lube and damage the metal.