Waxing Chains?

Does anyone have any statistics regarding the length of time paraffin
wax lasts as a chain lubricant? Either in miles/kilometers ridden,
days/months between lube jobs, or other statistics?

When I used to use wax I used to re-wax probably every two weeks or so
but wonder whether a more relaxed schedule might be sufficient?

On 21/11/16 11:51, John B Slocomb wrote:

Does anyone have any statistics regarding the length of time paraffin
wax lasts as a chain lubricant? Either in miles/kilometers ridden,
days/months between lube jobs, or other statistics?

When I used to use wax I used to re-wax probably every two weeks or so
but wonder whether a more relaxed schedule might be sufficient?


I think it is pointless for different people to compare chain re-lubing
as a time based maintenance operation. While one person rides 500km
weekly, another might take a month to complete the same distance. The
wax doesn't fall off without the bike being used, so hours of use or
distance travelled is a far more appropriate yardstick.

Rain and other environmental conditions (e.g. dust) will affect chain
maintenance.

I live in a relatively dry and clean riding environment, though I
sometimes ride on dirt roads.

I haven't taken time to record when I perform maintenance on my chain
recently, but I know I spend less time and effort than I used to when I
used all wet lubricants.

My wax is a mixture of candle wax, gear oil and a blob of moly grease,
for good measure. It starts to soften at 30-40 degrees C.

At the moment I guess I ride 2-3000km between re-waxing. After a 1000km
or so the chain might start to sound a little dry. I find a very
sparing squirt of WD40 and wipe off the excess keeps the chain running
silently for another 1000km. My guess is that the WD40 softens the
remaining wax and turns it into grease and oil for a while.

I rode 100km yesterday after a little squirt of WD40. The chain ran
silent and smooth, but it's been a few months between re-waxing and
chain swapping, so I'll do that very soon.

--
JS

On 11/20/2016 7:51 PM, John B Slocomb wrote:

Does anyone have any statistics regarding the length of time paraffin
wax lasts as a chain lubricant? Either in miles/kilometers ridden,
days/months between lube jobs, or other statistics?

When I used to use wax I used to re-wax probably every two weeks or so
but wonder whether a more relaxed schedule might be sufficient?

Checking the notes and memory I have, both my touring bike and our
tandem got their chains waxed about 250 miles ago. Neither one seems
anywhere close to needing a re-lubrication.

I think I get at least 500 miles out of a chain wax job, but it might be
quite a bit more. That's paraffin wax with a little bit of oil in it.
(It might be gear lube. I concocted the mix so long ago I've forgotten
which oil I used.) I do it with the chain on the bike, using a torch
for heat. I do use fenders, and I don't ride a lot in the rain.

I definitely don't re-wax on any time or mileage schedule. I re-wax
when I hear the gentle chirp from a single link. Even if I'm starting a
50+ mile ride, the squeaks increase only very slowly.


--
- Frank Krygowski

I offered a commercial wax, Pedro's 2.0* followed with CRC HD Silicone (Walmart).

This during road use on clean roads in a limestone silica sand soil well contained in a warm to hot climate.

Pedro's lost lubricity after several short rides n 1-2 weeks on chain. CRC spray renewed lubricity.

Due to the low soil contain ation, this process appeared effective over a month/100 miles.

* 2.0 may be replaced ?

Pedro's plus CRC both for chain n CRC for mechanisms looks like optimum for the Silk Toad/Wal group

On Mon, 21 Nov 2016 12:49:09 +1100, James
wrote:

On 21/11/16 11:51, John B Slocomb wrote:

Does anyone have any statistics regarding the length of time paraffin
wax lasts as a chain lubricant? Either in miles/kilometers ridden,
days/months between lube jobs, or other statistics?

When I used to use wax I used to re-wax probably every two weeks or so
but wonder whether a more relaxed schedule might be sufficient?


I think it is pointless for different people to compare chain re-lubing
as a time based maintenance operation. While one person rides 500km
weekly, another might take a month to complete the same distance. The
wax doesn't fall off without the bike being used, so hours of use or
distance travelled is a far more appropriate yardstick.


Well, I did say "Either in miles/kilometers ridden,
days/months between lube jobs, or other statistics?' ;-0

But my guess is that weather aside, and we are into the dry season
now, that a schedule based, essentially on miles/kilometers would
probably prove a good starting place.

If, for example, you ride 500 km weekly and I ride 500 km monthly and
if you re-wax at, say 3,000 km intervals and I do the same, it will
probably be a good starting schedule.

Rain and other environmental conditions (e.g. dust) will affect chain
maintenance.

I live in a relatively dry and clean riding environment, though I
sometimes ride on dirt roads.

I haven't taken time to record when I perform maintenance on my chain
recently, but I know I spend less time and effort than I used to when I
used all wet lubricants.

My wax is a mixture of candle wax, gear oil and a blob of moly grease,
for good measure. It starts to soften at 30-40 degrees C.

I am currently using a 80-20% mix of paraffin and bee's wax - seems to
make a stickier mixture - with a blob of MSDS grease in it.

At the moment I guess I ride 2-3000km between re-waxing. After a 1000km
or so the chain might start to sound a little dry. I find a very
sparing squirt of WD40 and wipe off the excess keeps the chain running
silently for another 1000km. My guess is that the WD40 softens the
remaining wax and turns it into grease and oil for a while.

I rode 100km yesterday after a little squirt of WD40. The chain ran
silent and smooth, but it's been a few months between re-waxing and
chain swapping, so I'll do that very soon.

On Sun, 20 Nov 2016 21:06:42 -0500, Frank Krygowski
wrote:

On 11/20/2016 7:51 PM, John B Slocomb wrote:

Does anyone have any statistics regarding the length of time paraffin
wax lasts as a chain lubricant? Either in miles/kilometers ridden,
days/months between lube jobs, or other statistics?

When I used to use wax I used to re-wax probably every two weeks or so
but wonder whether a more relaxed schedule might be sufficient?

Checking the notes and memory I have, both my touring bike and our
tandem got their chains waxed about 250 miles ago. Neither one seems
anywhere close to needing a re-lubrication.

I think I get at least 500 miles out of a chain wax job, but it might be
quite a bit more. That's paraffin wax with a little bit of oil in it.
(It might be gear lube. I concocted the mix so long ago I've forgotten
which oil I used.) I do it with the chain on the bike, using a torch
for heat. I do use fenders, and I don't ride a lot in the rain.

I definitely don't re-wax on any time or mileage schedule. I re-wax
when I hear the gentle chirp from a single link. Even if I'm starting a
50+ mile ride, the squeaks increase only very slowly.

When I used wax, probably three or four years ago I don't remember
what interval I re-waxed but, as I remember it I had no squeaking or
chirping.

Re "hot waxing". I have a tube of commercial "wax" chain lube that
seems to be, based on warnings of "highly inflammable" some sort of
wax-highly volatile solvent mix. I have a faint recollection of
someone mixing paraffin with gasoline at elevated temperatures for
some purpose, not that I want to attempt that feat :-) but I wonder if
paraffin is soluble in some sort of volatile liquid. It might be a
means of formulating an emergency (carry some with you) chain lube.

your planet is wetter than ours ....clean n relub with GoldBond at 1500 miles is disastrous both in wear n energy expenditure...we would epect loss of 2 gears at 500 miles with synthetics not wax. I doahn believe wax gets past 100 miles.

(((((((((((((((((((((((-

your planet is wetter than ours ....clean n relub with GoldBond at 1500 miles is disastrous both in wear n energy expenditure...we would epect loss of 2 gears at 500 miles with synthetics not wax. I doahn believe wax gets past 100 miles.

my opinion is wax has 2 uses: 1) MTB short rides wax falls off chain wit dirt from impact from sharp point CR teeth ( this is the purpose of wax ...wax isnot per se applicable to road equipment as an alternative to synthetics - a more definitive situation thana past alternative to dino petro) and 2) is less odorous and cleanable off Mom's Persian rug.

On 11/20/2016 4:51 PM, John B Slocomb wrote:

Does anyone have any statistics regarding the length of time paraffin
wax lasts as a chain lubricant? Either in miles/kilometers ridden,
days/months between lube jobs, or other statistics?

When I used to use wax I used to re-wax probably every two weeks or so
but wonder whether a more relaxed schedule might be sufficient?

You can't go by time _or_ mileage, there are other factors as well.
What's the weather? Are you mixing oil in with the wax so there is a
lubricant still present once the wax is displaced?

What the Experts say About Chain Waxing:

"When wax was popular, we'd get customers coming in all the time
complaining about shifting problems on their bikes. Removed the wax and
lubed with conventional stuff and voila, shifting back to normal." Mike
Jacoubowsky, co-owner of Chain Reaction Bicycles.

"Wax is not mobile and cannot return to a location from which it has
been removed by rotation of one part on another." Jobst Brandt, author
of The Bicycle Wheel

"If you use dry lube or wax, follow product directions and use it often.
In some cases, dry lube should be used for every ride. It wears off very
quickly and no new lube can flow to the critical wear areas." Craig
Metalcraft, manufacturer of Super Link III.

"Downsides of the wax approach include the fact that it is a great deal
of trouble, and that wax is probably not as good a lubricant as oil or
grease." Sheldon Brown

"Paraffin (canning wax), although clean, works poorly because it is not
mobile and cannot replenish the bearing surfaces once it has been
displaced. This becomes apparent with any water that gets on the chain.
It immediately squeaks.

[I have found that motor oil works poorly: it washes out of the chain
due to its detergent properties -- John Allen.]"

Of course Jon Allen is clueless, and it hurts to see him wrecking
Sheldon's web site. You don't use detergent oil on a chain, if you are
going to use motor oil then you use non-detergent oil, i.e.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0052KYAMC


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