Cleaning chains
09-15-22, 03:27 PM
#26
Senior Member
Dawn dish detergent. A squirt in a bucket of water to clean the bike, then another on a brush to clean the chain, rings and cassette. Why buy something when you have something that works and is not toxic?
09-16-22, 08:55 PM
#27
The Wheezing Geezer
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Espaņola, NM
Posts: 800
Bikes: 1976 Fredo Speciale, Jamis Citizen 1, Ellis-Briggs FAVORI, Rivendell Clem Smith Jr.
Mentioned: 1 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 322 Post(s)
Liked 673 Times
in
323 Posts
Your solution seems frugal and sustainable to me. Not to mention effective.
09-17-22, 02:21 AM
#28
Senior Member
Mineral spirits are fairly harmless, but there is really no need to use it. Just start with a new chain, wipe off the grease it is packed in, and then the melted wax will displace whatever residue remains. The great thing about wax in the liquid form is it becomes a (safe) non-polar organic solvent, and unless you are starting with a previously filthy chain, it is all that is needed. Disposal is trivial, since it is harmless (apart from whatever the chain residue is) and it is a solid block that you can just put into household waste.
I do however agree with the OP. Solvent management is no big deal, when you realise you can use the same solvent over and over after letting it sit for a while. I use a few old wine bottles for settling out the gunk and decant back to a cleaning jar when I need it.
Last edited by Racing Dan; 09-17-22 at 02:29 AM.
09-17-22, 06:30 AM
#29
ignominious poltroon
Join Date: Jan 2022
Posts: 3,453
Mentioned: 3 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1933 Post(s)
Liked 2,888 Times
in
1,532 Posts
I am.
It is, when it is time to dispose of it.
That is another win for wax: It is a non-toxic, non-polar organic solvent that is very effective for removing oily deposits, and it forms a solid at room temperature, which makes disposing of it in a trash can straightforward.
I do however agree with the OP. Solvent management is no big deal.
That is another win for wax: It is a non-toxic, non-polar organic solvent that is very effective for removing oily deposits, and it forms a solid at room temperature, which makes disposing of it in a trash can straightforward.
09-17-22, 06:38 AM
#30
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 2,537
Bikes: too many sparkly Italians, some sweet Americans and a couple interesting Japanese
Mentioned: 8 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 523 Post(s)
Liked 486 Times
in
353 Posts
09-17-22, 07:10 AM
#31
Senior Member
CAUTION PLEASE!!
I cut my left thumb severely suffering nerve damage cleaning a chain in a glass jar. My jar broke and I automatically grabbed at it with my left hand and sliced my thumb. I did not shake my jar or do anything to break it. It must have been cracked and I didn't see it. Please use a plastic container resistant to solvent rather than a glass jar.
I cut my left thumb severely suffering nerve damage cleaning a chain in a glass jar. My jar broke and I automatically grabbed at it with my left hand and sliced my thumb. I did not shake my jar or do anything to break it. It must have been cracked and I didn't see it. Please use a plastic container resistant to solvent rather than a glass jar.
Likes For RH Clark:
Likes For dcagibbs:
Likes For spelger:
09-17-22, 10:43 AM
#34
Senior Member
I am.
It is, when it is time to dispose of it.
That is another win for wax: It is a non-toxic, non-polar organic solvent that is very effective for removing oily deposits, and it forms a solid at room temperature, which makes disposing of it in a trash can straightforward.
It is, when it is time to dispose of it.
That is another win for wax: It is a non-toxic, non-polar organic solvent that is very effective for removing oily deposits, and it forms a solid at room temperature, which makes disposing of it in a trash can straightforward.
Likes For Racing Dan:
10-13-22, 07:45 AM
#35
Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: US
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
So, I have tried Cola. I had doubted, and after the trial, I wondered why it worked so well??? Btw, I am doing a research on recycling topic and some help would be welcome.
Last edited by IsraelStall; 10-22-22 at 06:15 AM.
10-13-22, 05:53 PM
#36
Senior Member
Chains seem to be like Schrodinger's cat. If you read threads like this, they require clever and/or exotic techniques and substances to be cleaned, but reading the chain lube threads leads to the conclusion that even a heavy dew will remove almost any lubrication, leading to friction, rust, chain stretch, and cluster erosion.
10-14-22, 05:10 AM
#37
Newbie
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: US
Posts: 11
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Uhm, it sounds reasonable. Just agree. Concerning my academic research, I don't need any more help because I found a source of free and reliable essay samples. Moreover, I discovered a great conclusion generator, so you can click for more to see how useful is the writing experts' help. I don't care anymore about my grades since the website will be efficient for my future papers about recycling, a green environment, and how bikes can improve the Earth's protection (I have a lot of academic assignments).
Last edited by IsraelStall; 10-22-22 at 06:21 AM.
10-14-22, 07:23 AM
#38
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: US
Posts: 795
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 404 Post(s)
Liked 172 Times
in
114 Posts
Seems like I got the recommended use of kerosene or diesel fuel from Sheldon Brown. We have places to recycle petroleum products here.
10-14-22, 08:42 AM
#39
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,266
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5151 Post(s)
Liked 3,412 Times
in
2,236 Posts
you might enjoy using a straw brush too. they are so skinny they fit between chain links
10-14-22, 08:46 AM
#40
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,266
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5151 Post(s)
Liked 3,412 Times
in
2,236 Posts
10-14-22, 09:08 AM
#41
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: northern Deep South
Posts: 8,515
Bikes: Fuji Touring, Novara Randonee
Mentioned: 36 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2379 Post(s)
Liked 1,703 Times
in
1,072 Posts
Likes For pdlamb:
Likes For spelger:
10-14-22, 03:37 PM
#43
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2020
Location: Wake Forest, NC
Posts: 4,512
Bikes: 1989 Cinelli Supercorsa
Mentioned: 10 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2696 Post(s)
Liked 2,229 Times
in
1,351 Posts
Likes For icemilkcoffee:
Likes For BikeLite:
10-15-22, 02:03 AM
#46
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: insane diego, california
Posts: 8,143
Bikes: 85 pinarello treviso steel, 88 nishiki olympic steel. 95 look kg 131 carbon, 11 trek madone 5.2 carbon
Mentioned: 26 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1571 Post(s)
Liked 2,913 Times
in
1,589 Posts
looks like the mods will be cleaning threads instead of chains in the "general cycling discussion" forum for a spell...
10-17-22, 11:14 AM
#47
Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: 25 miles northwest of Boston
Posts: 29,266
Bikes: Bottecchia Sprint, GT Timberline 29r, Marin Muirwoods 29er, Trek FX Alpha 7.0
Mentioned: 109 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5151 Post(s)
Liked 3,412 Times
in
2,236 Posts
Likes For rumrunn6:
