Cyclist0383

First off I'll say yes, I did search, and I couldn't find a home brew recipe for wet weather chain lube.

That being said, I'm having trouble with chain rust and am looking suggestions for a home made wet weather lube.

Why don't you just go out and buy some wet weather lube at the LBS, you ask? Two reasons, one, it's not always available. Two, when it is available it's $7 for a 2oz bottle. With two of us commuting on a daily basis it's a bit expensive.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Retro Grouch 

I've never understood the attraction to home brew chain lubes. While $7.00 per 2 oz bottle is clearly a high price for lubricant, a bottle like that will last me over a year and I maintain a lot of bikes. $7.00 per year isn't a budget buster. Home brew, on the other hand, will be much cheaper in the long run but a guy my age isn't likely to live long enough to reap the cost benefit and there is always the risk of dumping over the container and creating a huge mess.

Cyclist0383

First off the $7 for a 2oz bottle of lube isn't always available. I just can't pedle down to the LBS and buy it. It's not that simple. It's rarely in stock. The last time it was available they had one bottle, which I bought. The whole world is not like America where you can buy whatever you want whenever you want.

Second, a 2oz bottle lasts for two or three months in the winter.

I don't want to start a debate on the merits of home brew versus store bought, I just want to lube my chain.

Thanks for the constructive post.

supcom

One part Mobile 1 synthetic motor oil mixed with three parts mineral spirits. It's simple, cheap, and works well in all conditions, wet or dry. If you can't get Mobile 1, then use regular motor oil instead.

Put it on and wipe off the excess.

rmfnla

Has anyone looked at the Sponsored Links on each of these threads? This one has flights to Latvia! The one about putting an engine on a MTB lists electric bike motors.

I understand the key word concept, just never really looked at these; I cracked up!

BTW, motor oil (even thinned) on a chain is a real good dirt magnet; I would use it only as a last resort.

Grephiski

Hi,
I used to be a courier for many years, and worked daily in inclement weather. I would also maintain my bicycle daily, which included lubing the chain. My point, I don’t think you need to have special lube for inclement weather, just more frequent maintenance. Regular lube will work fine for a day of rain, ice, snow.
I think you should mail order lube over the net if your lbs does not have enough.
I wish you the best.
Greg

Jed19

I have been using one part 10W-30 Synthetic motor oil mixed with two parts mineral spirits for a while now, and it works great. The only thing I do is to wipe down the chain before and after every ride.

No more bike-specific lube for me. I refuse to be gouged by the bike-specific lube shysters.

Regards

R1dd1ck

What about Synthetic Silicone Lubricant is it any good?because i am from a foreign country,what exactly is "mineral spirit"*******th. like "White spirit"??

Jed19

mineral spirits is a paint thinner. It is different from Synthetic silicone lubricant. I hope this info helps.

Regards

jur

As long as the dirt stays on the outside, this is not bad, is it?

d_D

I just use straight motor oil decanted into a small drip bottle. I usually leave it a few hours to soak in before wiping off the chain.

Any lube that can survive a good dousing is going to be a dirt magnet. If it isn't thick and sticky it will just get washed off. Use a paper towel or rag to get as much lube as possible from the outside of the chain and dirt will be much less of a problem.

I've never heard of mineral spirit either, perhaps it's an American term for white spirit https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_spirit

Patrick Caswell

I mix Mineral spirits and Parafin wax. shave the wax into the mineral spirits until it will no longer disolve. I use this all the time the mineral spirits flash ff leaving parifin as a lube. nice thing is that as dirt collects on the parafin it will flake off keeping the chain clean.

1saxman

Don't use silicone in any form anywhere on a bicycle.

1saxman

Boeshield T-9. One big spray can will last years and will beat the heck out of anything you can brew up.

j-law

Now it has links to sites selling "personal" lubricant. I don't imagine that stuff will work on your chain.

electrik

Check out some chainsaw lubricant, it will stay on that chain very well...

Al1943

It's amazing how personal people get about their chain lube.

Homebrew is very low cost to me because I keep both ingredients in my garage for other uses.
One part Mobil One synthetic with 4 parts mineral oil (Mobil is the oil company, Mobile is in Alabama).

I agree that frequency is very important, especially for rust avoidance.

If you don't like rust buy a nickel stainless steel chain like D-A or Record.

davidad

4 parts mineral spirits to one part chainsaw bar oil. If you can't get bar oil you should be able to get gear oil.

Sixty Fiver

homebrew ftw

Captain Blight

Half-and-half Mobil 1 20w50 and ATF. I lube my chain about twice a week. Yeah, it picks up grit, but it's really well-lubed grit. I suppose that helps. I think of chains as sacrificial parts anyhow.

sknhgy 

I will give this a try. It would be great if it works. I have become a convert to dry lubes. It is so much less messy.

2_i 

Home Made Chain Lube Recipe For Wet Weather- Do You Have One?

Yes, in this thread.

mconlonx

So what's yer recipe... or is it proprietary and super-secret...?

nthach

I use Boeshield T9.

But I've been thinking about mixing La-Co Zoom Oiler oil with a little Molykote or Loctite moly paste and some source of Teflon as a home brew grease.

If you guys want to get serious about lube, go check out Bob is the Oil Guy. You guys would be amazed how obsessive car owners are about lubrication.

1saxman

Kano Labs, the makers of Kroil Penetrant, have a solid-film Molybdenum dry lube called 'Moly-Film'.