Immersive waxing / it should be more popular
#1151
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I have a bike that I’ve unexpectedly pulled apart, am offended to my core at how filthy the jockey wheels were, and figure since I can’t ride it until I fully reverse that process, and I have a spare chain for it so could start some kind of alternation process, it might be worth trying this waxing business out.
Is there a good intro guide? I have no idea what a crock pot is supposed to be.
P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day
Is there a good intro guide? I have no idea what a crock pot is supposed to be.
P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day
#1154
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I have a bike that I’ve unexpectedly pulled apart, am offended to my core at how filthy the jockey wheels were, and figure since I can’t ride it until I fully reverse that process, and I have a spare chain for it so could start some kind of alternation process, it might be worth trying this waxing business out.
Is there a good intro guide? I have no idea what a crock pot is supposed to be.
P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day
Is there a good intro guide? I have no idea what a crock pot is supposed to be.
P.S. Happy Valentine’s Day
#1155
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This site - https://zerofrictioncycling.com.au/wax-instructions/ - has a bunch of resources, ranging from simple instructions right through to deep dives.
and we don’t have easy solvents recycling here which puts me off completely. Maybe if I find somewhere I can do that… local council guidance says “yeah take hazardous chemicals to the recyc centre and ask the staff” - do they have a secret place for it I wonder, I’ll go and ask.
Last edited by choddo; 02-15-24 at 03:45 AM.
#1158
Roadie
It’s much easier than ZFCs guide makes it out to be.
-buy Silca Stripper and follow directions to strip a chain
-clean grease off cassette, chaining, derailleurs (a little silca stripper on a brush makes this super easy)
-but whatever wax you want to use (Silca, mspeedwax, etc or plain Gulf wax)
-buy this croc pot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GS8R3K...p_mob_ap_share
-bend a spare spoke to hold chain, turn croc pot on low and put chain in for about 5-10 minutes once liquid and swish around before taking chain out
-break chain links free and reinstall chain
-rewax every 10 hours of riding or after a rain ride
-buy Silca Stripper and follow directions to strip a chain
-clean grease off cassette, chaining, derailleurs (a little silca stripper on a brush makes this super easy)
-but whatever wax you want to use (Silca, mspeedwax, etc or plain Gulf wax)
-buy this croc pot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GS8R3K...p_mob_ap_share
-bend a spare spoke to hold chain, turn croc pot on low and put chain in for about 5-10 minutes once liquid and swish around before taking chain out
-break chain links free and reinstall chain
-rewax every 10 hours of riding or after a rain ride
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#1159
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It’s much easier than ZFCs guide makes it out to be.
-buy Silca Stripper and follow directions to strip a chain
-clean grease off cassette, chaining, derailleurs (a little silca stripper on a brush makes this super easy)
-but whatever wax you want to use (Silca, mspeedwax, etc or plain Gulf wax)
-buy this croc pot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GS8R3K...p_mob_ap_share
-bend a spare spoke to hold chain, turn croc pot on low and put chain in for about 5-10 minutes once liquid and swish around before taking chain out
-break chain links free and reinstall chain
-rewax every 10 hours of riding or after a rain ride
-buy Silca Stripper and follow directions to strip a chain
-clean grease off cassette, chaining, derailleurs (a little silca stripper on a brush makes this super easy)
-but whatever wax you want to use (Silca, mspeedwax, etc or plain Gulf wax)
-buy this croc pot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GS8R3K...p_mob_ap_share
-bend a spare spoke to hold chain, turn croc pot on low and put chain in for about 5-10 minutes once liquid and swish around before taking chain out
-break chain links free and reinstall chain
-rewax every 10 hours of riding or after a rain ride
My main concern (as revealed by the bold) is that I typically ride 12+ hours/week, so rewaxing weekly is not attractive. I suppose if I were committed, I could get 5 chains and rotate them, do a batch wax monthly. But the hassle factor is high IMO.
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#1160
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I am not a waxer, but that is a very good write-up. Thanks.
My main concern (as revealed by the bold) is that I typically ride 12+ hours/week, so rewaxing weekly is not attractive. I suppose if I were committed, I could get 5 chains and rotate them, do a batch wax monthly. But the hassle factor is high IMO.
My main concern (as revealed by the bold) is that I typically ride 12+ hours/week, so rewaxing weekly is not attractive. I suppose if I were committed, I could get 5 chains and rotate them, do a batch wax monthly. But the hassle factor is high IMO.
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"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
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It’s much easier than ZFCs guide makes it out to be.
-buy Silca Stripper and follow directions to strip a chain
-clean grease off cassette, chaining, derailleurs (a little silca stripper on a brush makes this super easy)
-but whatever wax you want to use (Silca, mspeedwax, etc or plain Gulf wax)
-buy this croc pot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GS8R3K...p_mob_ap_share
-bend a spare spoke to hold chain, turn croc pot on low and put chain in for about 5-10 minutes once liquid and swish around before taking chain out
-break chain links free and reinstall chain
-rewax every 10 hours of riding or after a rain ride
-buy Silca Stripper and follow directions to strip a chain
-clean grease off cassette, chaining, derailleurs (a little silca stripper on a brush makes this super easy)
-but whatever wax you want to use (Silca, mspeedwax, etc or plain Gulf wax)
-buy this croc pot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B008GS8R3K...p_mob_ap_share
-bend a spare spoke to hold chain, turn croc pot on low and put chain in for about 5-10 minutes once liquid and swish around before taking chain out
-break chain links free and reinstall chain
-rewax every 10 hours of riding or after a rain ride
__________________
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
"Your beauty is an aeroplane;
so high, my heart cannot bear the strain." -A.C. Jobim, Triste
#1162
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Don't get fooled by these big brand blends who are trying to stay in business; buy paraffin wax instead from your local hardware store or even dollar store candles, and PTFE powder. Blend at 20:1 ratio (I do 500g / 25g).
It costs me 5$ per batch and 1 batch lasts a full season @ 350km waxxxx intervals. It's a lot cheaper than a 40$ bag .
Oz Cycle has done a lot of research on this and it seems to be the most efficient chain wax recipe. I trust the guy!
It costs me 5$ per batch and 1 batch lasts a full season @ 350km waxxxx intervals. It's a lot cheaper than a 40$ bag .
Oz Cycle has done a lot of research on this and it seems to be the most efficient chain wax recipe. I trust the guy!
Last edited by eduskator; 02-15-24 at 09:27 AM.
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#1163
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I am not a waxer, but that is a very good write-up. Thanks.
My main concern (as revealed by the bold) is that I typically ride 12+ hours/week, so rewaxing weekly is not attractive. I suppose if I were committed, I could get 5 chains and rotate them, do a batch wax monthly. But the hassle factor is high IMO.
My main concern (as revealed by the bold) is that I typically ride 12+ hours/week, so rewaxing weekly is not attractive. I suppose if I were committed, I could get 5 chains and rotate them, do a batch wax monthly. But the hassle factor is high IMO.
Breaking the links takes about 30 seconds over a dowel and installing again another 30.
i don’t ride as much as you though. I top out at like 150 a week in the summer. But… it’s the same effort doing 1 as doing 5 chains.
If you ride a lot in the rain/wet it’s not worth it though IMO.
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I'm not keen on using PTFE but I'll give the raw stuff a go.
The safety sheet for Silca Stripper says it's hazardous to skin and eyes - you guys use it ok with a brush, not had any problems?
The safety sheet for Silca Stripper says it's hazardous to skin and eyes - you guys use it ok with a brush, not had any problems?
#1166
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I use a double boiler (pot of boiling water with another pot in it) and degrease with either Simple green or mineral spirits. Rewax when you think the chain needs it ... noisy or whatever. Everyone's mileage will always vary. I also recommend doing many chains ... once the wax is hot, doing more chains really doesn't take any longer.
if you try it for a few rounds and don't like it ... only loss is the cost of a couple block of wax. Make candles for your friends and don't tell them the "colorful pattern of spots" is road grit and metal filings.
if you try it for a few rounds and don't like it ... only loss is the cost of a couple block of wax. Make candles for your friends and don't tell them the "colorful pattern of spots" is road grit and metal filings.
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re-do every 10 hours? that is almost every week for me. no thanks. i wax but only re-do once a month, about 400mi. i think it is distance/environment that dictates the frequency.
#1169
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Grab a coffee and watch the video below. Start from around 5 minutes 45 seconds.
Ignore the chain stand part for now, I just hang mine off my bike stand.
Chain waxing sounds like a bit of work and complicated, which is what put me off for YEARS. Don't get too bogged down though, it's not that hard. Once got my head around the process, and bought the gear I needed (slow cooker, wax, quick links, metho, turps) and gave it a go, I realised it was actually pretty damn easy.
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#1170
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That's what I do. I switch chains after around 300km, which is likely quite conservative. I then rewax 3-4 chains at a time.
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#1171
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Well you now have a new addict to the “how clean can I get a chain?” game while I try to prep this properly.
This is a used chain after;
a normal citrus degreaser & rag clean
shake in isopropyl alcohol
20 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner
2 more dunks and shimmies in fresh alcohol
Kind of finally getting there, wipe rag is coming out nearly clean now but thinking I might need to get some mineral spirits
This is a used chain after;
a normal citrus degreaser & rag clean
shake in isopropyl alcohol
20 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaner
2 more dunks and shimmies in fresh alcohol
Kind of finally getting there, wipe rag is coming out nearly clean now but thinking I might need to get some mineral spirits
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#1172
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Right then, been out for a proper ride now. British weather so the roads were caked. Chain came back actually in ok condition but definitely has some filth on it, gave it a quick wipe and the rag was pretty dirty so muck has sprayed onto it and stuck.
So I'm well within the usual 200+ km maintenance window but feels like I should do something about it. What's the recommended "can't just put it straight back in the wax but doesn't need a full clean" approach ? Boiling water? Back in the isopropyl for a swish or two?
So I'm well within the usual 200+ km maintenance window but feels like I should do something about it. What's the recommended "can't just put it straight back in the wax but doesn't need a full clean" approach ? Boiling water? Back in the isopropyl for a swish or two?
#1173
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choddo Do you have odorless mineral spirits in the UK? Look for the version spelt odourless mineral spirits or white spirits. That works much better than isopropyl alcohol.
#1174
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choddo Do you have odorless mineral spirits in the UK? Look for the version spelt odourless mineral spirits or white spirits. That works much better than isopropyl alcohol.
Much better than my mate who managed to split his bottom bracket shell
#1175
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i'd put it in the hot wax on a screen/mesh tray. Move it around a few times.
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