The Riding Gravel Forum

Anyone Out There Use Wax for Their Chain? Components - Discussion and Reviews
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Member 74 posts DKeane Member 74 posts
DKeane
Bought the supplies for this setup and was wondering about people's experience with gravel and wet riding?  Any differences in your experience between straight paraffin and Molten Speed Wax?
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dangle Senior Member 466 posts
dangle
It's fantastic for dry weather. If the conditions are going to make my chain wet, I use wet lube instead.

The Slowtwitch crowds seems to think there might only be about a watt difference between straight paraffin and MSW.
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DKeane Member 74 posts
DKeane
Interesting that in the wet, the wax wouldn't be as effective as lube.  I tend to do a bit of riding in warm/wet conditions.  Might mean more frequent re-wax or do you think that it won't last a single long ride?
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MIFAT Member 32 posts
MIFAT
I quit using it. Its very sandy here in west Michigan and it seamed like the waxes I tried tend to pick up the grains and hold them, making the chains terrible after 50-60 miles.  Last fall I switched to Boeshield T-9 on my gravel and fat tire bike, so far I am happy with it but no long term wear info yet.  I also switched my road/trainer bike to Hornady One Shot. One shot is amazing stuff but I can't say how long it would last if things got messy.
2019 Salsa Warbird
Force 1 42 x11-40
Easton ARC 24 on DT350 hubs
WTB Resolute 42 tires
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chas Senior Member 1,305 posts
chas
I'm lazy, so I use White lighting for chain wax for dry conditions. 
Boeshield T-9 works great, and its made in Michigan!  ;-)
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SeaPaul Starter 14 posts
SeaPaul
I used MSW for a while when I lived in a condo where I had no easy access to bike washing. It was good for that. I could wash the bike in my shower without greasy residue. But otherwise it was mostly a PITA. Lots more work, lots less life than more conventional lube. In wet abrasive conditions I got maybe 50 miles of use.

Now I have a hose again and can use regular lubes. NixFrixShun received very high marks from testers so I switched back to that and I'm much happier.
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clarksonxc Senior Member 358 posts
clarksonxc
I love NFS, wet or dry, it's my #1 lube
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dangle Senior Member 466 posts
dangle
DKeane wrote:
Interesting that in the wet, the wax wouldn't be as effective as lube.  I tend to do a bit of riding in warm/wet conditions.  Might mean more frequent re-wax or do you think that it won't last a single long ride?


Beats me, I don't know your conditions. If your chain will get fairly wet or get mud, wet sand, wet gravel, etc on it then I wouldn't bother with wax at all. I rotate between paraffin wax, Rock and Roll Gold, Rock and Roll Wet, and Premier Ultra Glide depending on the conditions and intended propose. There's lots of good options. Whatever is keeping your chain running smooth and picking up the least amount of crap on your chain that day is the right choice. 
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denyski Starter 11 posts
denyski
This is a good read regarding chain lube.      https://cyclingtips.com/2019/12/the-best-bicycle-chain-durability-and-efficiency-tested/
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DKeane Member 74 posts
DKeane
denyski wrote:
This is a good read regarding chain lube.      https://cyclingtips.com/2019/12/the-best-bicycle-chain-durability-and-efficiency-tested/


Thanks for that link.  I was hunting around some more and found this:  https://cyclingtips.com/2018/03/fast-chain-lube-that-saves-you-money/

According to these tests, looks like wax beats lube even in the wet?
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Cmtgravel Member 83 posts
Cmtgravel
For years ive heard people rave about waxing chains, but anyone ive ever known who actually tried it said it didnt work well. I've tried a lot of products, was  T-9 fan for a long time, but a few years ago switched to Rock n Roll Gold (for wet) and Rock n Roll Holy Cow (for dry). Love the stuff, runs smooth and quiet, super clean chain ( esp with the Holy Cow). I'm curious about the NFS, never seen it or heard of it. Is it avail online? Just checked Amazon, couldnt find it.
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DKeane Member 74 posts
DKeane
Cmtgravel wrote:
For years ive heard people rave about waxing chains, but anyone ive ever known who actually tried it said it didnt work well. I've tried a lot of products, was  T-9 fan for a long time, but a few years ago switched to Rock n Roll Gold (for wet) and Rock n Roll Holy Cow (for dry). Love the stuff, runs smooth and quiet, super clean chain ( esp with the Holy Cow). I'm curious about the NFS, never seen it or heard of it. Is it avail online? Just checked Amazon, couldnt find it.


NFS is this:
http://nixfrixshun.com/nixfrixshun-ultimate-bicycle-chainlube/

There used to be a variant made in conjunction with Silica, but I don't believe it is made any longer.
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Craig75 Starter 8 posts
Craig75
I've used molten speed wax and paraffin wax. I use wax exclusively and have not noticed any difference between the two. 
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DKeane Member 74 posts
DKeane
Craig75 wrote:
I've used molten speed wax and paraffin wax. I use wax exclusively and have not noticed any difference between the two. 


Interesting.  I'm thinking of just keeping an extra chain waxed and ready to go.  And that way I can swap a chain quickly and wax two at the same time.
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Craig75 Starter 8 posts
Craig75
I also have a waxed chain hanging on a nail waiting to be used. I rotate every 300 miles.
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fastonflats Starter 12 posts
fastonflats
I use MSW exclusively on all my bikes. I've found that the initial cleaning to remove all traces of grease and lube is crucial to getting good performance out of any wax. I do a triple solvent wash, followed by ultrasonic cleansing for the first application. After that, the chains only need be boiled in hot water and rinsed in acetone before re-applying a fresh wax. https://moltenspeedwax.com/pages/clean-your-chain

I also wax multiple chains at the same time, and keep one to swap out when the time comes. I'm getting between 500 - 700 miles in dry conditions and between 300 - 500 miles in wet, sandy conditions.

That being said, I spend a lot less time cleaning my bikes now. A simple wipe down after a ride is all it takes to keep the bikes clean.
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DKeane Member 74 posts
DKeane
Nice - thanks for the information.  I'm running my first waxed chain (the bike is mostly on a trainer unfortunately) and basically cleaned the used chain using the method you described above.  When you boil the chain, you using a cruddy pot?  Don't want to get yelled at for leaving wax all over a good kitchen pot.
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fastonflats Starter 12 posts
fastonflats
@DKeane Yup - dedicated crock pot for the wax and a dedicated pot to boil the chains. I was able to justify the ultrasonic cleaner by telling my wife I'd clean all of her jewelry.
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chas Senior Member 1,305 posts
chas
fastonflats wrote:
I was able to justify the ultrasonic cleaner by telling my wife I'd clean all of her jewelry.
 

Now that is the way to do it.  Any recommendations on what to look for in an ultrasonic cleaner?
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Zurichman Senior Member 1,526 posts
Zurichman
I have tried everything out there. My LBS just recommended this and I have just a few runs on it but so far it looks fantastic. Rock n Roll Extreme. I doesn't collect dirt/grime like everything else I have used.

Zman
If it was easy it wouldn't be a memory. You just hope you don't have all your memories in the same ride. been there dun that Zman
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DKeane Member 74 posts
DKeane
chas wrote:
 

Now that is the way to do it.  Any recommendations on what to look for in an ultrasonic cleaner?


I bought one that is large enough to fit a rear cassette with 34 teeth.  You will want one that has a heat function, as it is more effective on grease.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009BC4S0G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
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Zurichman Senior Member 1,526 posts
Zurichman
DKeane wrote:


I bought one that is large enough to fit a rear cassette with 34 teeth.  You will want one that has a heat function, as it is more effective on grease.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009BC4S0G/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1


DKeane I did at least look at it. Do you use any liquids with it or does the ultra sonic just clean without using any liquids?

Thanks
Zman
If it was easy it wouldn't be a memory. You just hope you don't have all your memories in the same ride. been there dun that Zman
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DKeane Member 74 posts
DKeane
There are a couple of ways to go about it. 
1) Heated water and Dawn dish detergent.
2) Heated water and Simple Green HD.
3) Heated water and a higher strength degreaser (ZEP or similar).

The part needs to be submerged in a liquid for the ultrasonic cavitation to have an effect.  Hot water by itself will not be able to get a chain or cassette properly "clean" of grease.  Depending upon how fanatical you are about cleaning your parts (and how you want to dispose of your waste liquid), you can choose any of the options above.
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Craig75 Starter 8 posts
Craig75
Ultrasonic cleaner is definitely the way to go. But I'm cheap. I just put everything that has grease on it through 3 stages of cleansing. And once the grease is off this doesn't need to be done again until you start with a new chain. Using wax only the cleaning process is much simpler.
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