W@nted Posted September 4, 2025 Posted September 4, 2025 1 minute ago, JoeMerida said: After Lubing always give the chain a wipe. No matter what lube you use. It will collect less dirt while you ride. Agreed, but in my experience there is no comparison between squirt "lube" and the silca super secret chain wax "top up" lube I am using now. Squirt attracts way more dirt and build up gunk, compared to silca. Hence my comment regarding the use of normal squirt as a waxed chain top up. ewep, JoeMerida and michaelbiker 3
TDKVerbatim Posted January 13 Posted January 13 On 6/19/2025 at 1:24 PM, sboschnoob said: Question: What pot do you guys use for melting the wax? Does that generic small nail wax unit on takalot work or is it too small or does not go high enough in temperature? Have you found an answer to this? I looked at the pro100 wax heater thing and it seems like none of them have actual temperature control, just a power setting. I am too loskop for that. I'm keen to import the Silca unit but I am considering getting one of these https://www.joanlab.com/product/Digital-Display-Magnetic-Hotplate-Stirrer.html because it will have a much higher WAF because it can also be used for wax and chocolate.
sboschnoob Posted January 14 Posted January 14 8 hours ago, TDKVerbatim said: Have you found an answer to this? I looked at the pro100 wax heater thing and it seems like none of them have actual temperature control, just a power setting. I am too loskop for that. I'm keen to import the Silca unit but I am considering getting one of these https://www.joanlab.com/product/Digital-Display-Magnetic-Hotplate-Stirrer.html because it will have a much higher WAF because it can also be used for wax and chocolate. I opted for a R100 small pot from Shoprite and used a double boiler setup to melt the wax. Larger pot with water on gas stove, smaller pot with wax inside. Worked quite well.
W@nted Posted January 14 Posted January 14 I pulled the trigger on the Silca wax pot during the black friday sale. Makes the process much easier with the accurate temp control. Especially when only removing the chain from the wax once cooled to 75 degrees C. Much easier than the double boiler method which typically takes the temp to around 97 degrees C. TDKVerbatim 1
TDKVerbatim Posted January 14 Posted January 14 36 minutes ago, W@nted said: double boiler method which typically takes the temp to around 97 degrees C. Ja I'm worried about this degrading the lubricant, I think the Enduro wax says to apply at 75C, thanks for the feedback!
cadenceblur Posted January 14 Posted January 14 get yourself an instant read thermometer - sorts out temp concerns. Great for cooking purposes as well.
W@nted Posted January 14 Posted January 14 27 minutes ago, TDKVerbatim said: Ja I'm worried about this degrading the lubricant, I think the Enduro wax says to apply at 75C, thanks for the feedback! Yip 75 degrees C is the sweetspot for removing the chain from the wax pot. If the wax is too hot, most of the molten wax just drips from the chain when removing it from the pot. If the wax is too cold when you remove the chain, you sit with too much excess wax on the chain. Like mentioned, an instant thermometer removes the guessing, but you still need to manually play/adjust the temperature. A more expensive pot with proper temp control takes away the additional faff.
TDKVerbatim Posted January 14 Posted January 14 43 minutes ago, cadenceblur said: get yourself an instant read thermometer - sorts out temp concerns. Ahhh but will it also sort me out? I'm definitely the problem in this feedback loop haha, thanks though I will definitely use one! Just managed to order from MTBSA so will hopefully give it a go this weekend. ChrisF 1
michaelbiker Posted January 14 Posted January 14 19 minutes ago, W@nted said: Yip 75 degrees C is the sweetspot for removing the chain from the wax pot. If the wax is too hot, most of the molten wax just drips from the chain when removing it from the pot. If the wax is too cold when you remove the chain, you sit with too much excess wax on the chain. Like mentioned, an instant thermometer removes the guessing, but you still need to manually play/adjust the temperature. A more expensive pot with proper temp control takes away the additional faff. I've experimented with both 90C and 75C and honestly cannot tell the difference in longevity apart from pulling the chain at 75C wastes a lot of wax. I think it's just a conspiracy to sell more wax and also overcomplicate the whole process. MSW and Rex both recommend just pulling the chain once it's warmed up to the temp of the wax. https://rex.fi/en/shop/bundle/bundle-product/black-diamond-hot-wax https://moltenspeedwax.com/pages/waxing-your-chain Hot waxing chains has become this complicated religion. It's pretty simple. Heat the wax to 90C, put the chains in for 5-10 minutes, swish them around, pull them out. I do 6 chains at a time. They last between 300km and 600km depending on the conditions I am riding in - mostly dusty MTB and gravel rides. Dexter-morgan, W@nted, cadenceblur and 1 other 4
cadenceblur Posted January 14 Posted January 14 a small rice cooker does the trick and took me out of the kitchen and out of trouble with the wife! The enduro melts very quickly, https://www.takealot.com/mellerware-rice-cooker-with-glass-lid-plastic-white-600ml-300w/PLID96241589 https://www.takealot.com/sunbeam-rice-cooker-white-src-000a/PLID95604282 https://www.takealot.com/electric-rice-cooker-1-8l-capacity-700w-power/PLID98937729
cadenceblur Posted January 14 Posted January 14 2 minutes ago, michaelbiker said: I've experimented with both 90C and 75C and honestly cannot tell the difference in longevity apart from pulling the chain at 75C wastes a lot of wax. I think it's just a conspiracy to sell more wax and also overcomplicate the whole process. MSW and Rex both recommend just pulling the chain once it's warmed up to the temp of the wax. https://rex.fi/en/shop/bundle/bundle-product/black-diamond-hot-wax https://moltenspeedwax.com/pages/waxing-your-chain Hot waxing chains has become this complicated religion. It's pretty simple. Heat the wax to 90C, put the chains in for 5-10 minutes, swish them around, pull them out. I do 6 chains at a time. They last between 300km and 600km depending on the conditions I am riding in - mostly dusty MTB and gravel rides. I think Shawn also recommended putting chain in pot with wax still solid and remove once melted. michaelbiker 1
michaelbiker Posted January 14 Posted January 14 11 minutes ago, cadenceblur said: a small rice cooker does the trick and took me out of the kitchen and out of trouble with the wife! The enduro melts very quickly, https://www.takealot.com/mellerware-rice-cooker-with-glass-lid-plastic-white-600ml-300w/PLID96241589 https://www.takealot.com/sunbeam-rice-cooker-white-src-000a/PLID95604282 https://www.takealot.com/electric-rice-cooker-1-8l-capacity-700w-power/PLID98937729 Which rice cooker of these three are you using?
cadenceblur Posted January 14 Posted January 14 4 minutes ago, michaelbiker said: Which rice cooker of these three are you using? i have a cheaper version which I see is no longer available, nut works the same. this is it michaelbiker and ChrisF 2
Zebra Posted January 14 Posted January 14 I STILL think my idea, of a young man waxing chains - affordably & thoroughly - for a living, has merit, (well, opinion of ONE!) but I just decided to create this pic for fun! ChrisF 1
cadenceblur Posted January 14 Posted January 14 3 minutes ago, Zebra said: I STILL think my idea, of a young man waxing chains - affordably & thoroughly - for a living, has merit, (well, opinion of ONE!) but I just decided to create this pic for fun! indeed the initial cleaning step is probably the most critical step and more costly due to required solvents and potentially an ultrasonic cleaner as well, thereafter its a breeze. Zebra 1
Zebra Posted January 14 Posted January 14 @cadenceblur understood. My idea was a 'customer' to have 3 NEW chains, then off to young man for stripping the OEM coating & then wax; each chain has a MINI alu dog-tag with customers name on it. 2 chains are returned to the customer, & 1 is hung up in the wax depot (!) for customers next visit... Customer 'uses up' the 2 waxed chains, returns them for re-waxing, and collects the 3rd waxed chain. What could go wrong! 😉 😁 Wannabe, cadenceblur and Daniel de V 3
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