Hot wax - Does it work?

[Headshot]

The big promo today for Squirt's new product made me wonder if its just hype or worth the expense and effort. I use Smoove on my bikes and it seems to last okay and I get reasonable chain life. Am I missing something? 

(No more comments under these articles so had to start an thread) 

[no calves]

And do they keep reusing the same quicklink? i see sram says use once??

[Michael Dewing]

15 minutes ago, Headshot said:

The big promo today for Squirt's new product made me wonder if its just hype or worth the expense and effort. I use Smoove on my bikes and it seems to last okay and I get reasonable chain life. Am I missing something? 

(No more comments under these articles so had to start an thread) 

If you already have a hot pot at home it’s probably worth it.. I wouldn’t try it if I didn’t have my wife’s old one from her spa days.. I’ll try this out when I have extra cash.. why not 🤷🏼‍♂️. 

[Headshot]

15 minutes ago, no calves said:

And do they keep reusing the same quicklink? i see sram says use once??

I re-use quicklinks like crazy and they keep on trucking 🙂 

[Michael Dewing]

17 minutes ago, no calves said:

And do they keep reusing the same quicklink? i see sram says use once??

SRAM and shimano quick links are use once.. but you can buy reusable ones and they can be taken on and off a bunch of times..

[Dexter-morgan]

I do the hot wax thing, the initial layout was a small expense, but you have to do it around once a month, one big benefit is a clean drive train when you work on it.

I got some Teflon from someone on Bikehub and I add in some Molybdenum Disulfied in the mix, My first purchase of wax (from Takealot) is still around from around 2 years ago.

There are definitely some watts in it.

There is another thread about it on Bikehub.

[DieselnDust]

yes it works.

is it worth the phaff? Only you can answer that after trying it.

I've tried it, it works, became too much phaff so i stared using Ryder lube with Luberetta. That's been my go too for a a few years.

For the hot wax stuff I use MTBSouthAfrica Enduro race sealant in the tyres and the hotwax on the chain

https://www.mtbsouthafrica.co.za/mtb-store/

[cadenceblur]

Worth it if you value a clean and drive train that requires minimal cleaning 

Worth it you want your stuff to last

Do a few chains at a time, this will extend the waxing process intervals which really only takes about 20 minutes or so 

I’m not to sure about the performance benefits but there’s that as well, particularly on a newly waxed chain that has just been worked in. Some people also have special powder that apply to their race chains

I also use enduro 

[Michael Dewing]

3 hours ago, cadenceblur said:

Worth it if you value a clean and drive train that requires minimal cleaning 

Worth it you want your stuff to last

Do a few chains at a time, this will extend the waxing process intervals which really only takes about 20 minutes or so 

I’m not to sure about the performance benefits but there’s that as well, particularly on a newly waxed chain that has just been worked in. Some people also have special powder that apply to their race chains

I also use enduro 

From when I looked into it I couldn’t see it taking that long.. I spend a ton of time cleaning my drivetrain anyways. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[cadenceblur]

1 minute ago, Michael Dewing said:

From when I looked into it I couldn’t see it taking that long.. I spend a ton of time cleaning my drivetrain anyways. 🤷🏼‍♂️

That was worst case, 

 

[Jono]

I’m a fan.

Use enduroseal wax from @MTB SA I find it’s overall less time consuming to manage the drivetrain. There’s essentially no cleaning. If the chain is just dusty, I wipe it down and chuck it in the wax. If very dirty I clean it in boiling water and use the wife’s hairdryer. I also have an ultrasonic cleaner, but hardly use it for the chain these days.

I don’t have numbers, but my chains have never lasted this long before, like multiples of life compared to using smoove or squirt.

I reuse shimano quick links without any issues.

The biggest drawback I’ve found is when the chain gets wet. I will rewax after every wet ride. This is quite a big drawback tbh. Towards the end of a wet ride, the drivetrain gets a bit noisy.

I don’t use km’s or hours to manage rewax intervals, just run my fingers over the chain every once in a while to feel how waxy it feels.

I don’t think waxing is for everyone though, it requires using a tool on your bike - quick link removal tool. It really is super easy but some people are adverse to these kinds of things. If you drop your bike at your lbs for a wash and lube, then just stick to that. 

[betaboy]

Have two chains in rotation and then you waxed. Apologies for the pun, I just couldn’t help myself.🤭

[cadenceblur]

1 hour ago, Jono said:

I’m a fan.

Use enduroseal wax from @MTB SA I find it’s overall less time consuming to manage the drivetrain. There’s essentially no cleaning. If the chain is just dusty, I wipe it down and chuck it in the wax. If very dirty I clean it in boiling water and use the wife’s hairdryer. I also have an ultrasonic cleaner, but hardly use it for the chain these days.

I don’t have numbers, but my chains have never lasted this long before, like multiples of life compared to using smoove or squirt.

I reuse shimano quick links without any issues.

The biggest drawback I’ve found is when the chain gets wet. I will rewax after every wet ride. This is quite a big drawback tbh. Towards the end of a wet ride, the drivetrain gets a bit noisy.

I don’t use km’s or hours to manage rewax intervals, just run my fingers over the chain every once in a while to feel how waxy it feels.

I don’t think waxing is for everyone though, it requires using a tool on your bike - quick link removal tool. It really is super easy but some people are adverse to these kinds of things. If you drop your bike at your lbs for a wash and lube, then just stick to that. 

A connex link removes the need for a tool and they are reusable , not available locally though. 

[dave303e]

honestly we over think this stuff way too much...

Current drive train, my chain is in spec at just over 4000km. The first 2000km were a bikepacking race where it got dragged through countless rivers every day, rained on, snowed on, frozen. All I did was wipe it with a rag and add more smoove lube when needed.

 

Chains(good ones) have come a long way and so has lube.

[Michael Dewing]

3 hours ago, dave303e said:

honestly we over think this stuff way too much...

Current drive train, my chain is in spec at just over 4000km. The first 2000km were a bikepacking race where it got dragged through countless rivers every day, rained on, snowed on, frozen. All I did was wipe it with a rag and add more smoove lube when needed.

 

Chains(good ones) have come a long way and so has lube.

I like experimenting with stuff when I can.. 

[dave303e]

13 minutes ago, Michael Dewing said:

I like experimenting with stuff when I can.. 

different story if it is something you play with yes.

But I see the same with reloading rifle ammo. there is a massive push to get everyone reloading, chasing the lands, looking for nodes etc etc etc. You see posts like you won't have accuracy with factory ammo, you need to reload.

Meanwhile people have been, and will continue putting meat in the freezer on factory ammo with ease. I ran out of time to load ammo a few wees ago for first hunt of the season so I bought factory ammo and spent a few days on the range with it and then had a very successful hunt. I would far prefer spending time on the range with factory ammo than losing range time trying to sort out reloads in a rush.
This weekend I went and loaded up 100rounds to get me through the season and probably next year but I did that to save money and because I enjoy experimenting and tinkering. 

 

Same as hot wax-

Left right and center you see posts saying use hot wax/dipping chains, its better, normal lube is obsolete and useless and then you see guys dropping money on pots, spending hours and stuff for essentially a tiny gain. They would be better off spending the time/money on an indoor trainer where returns are bigger.

Clean your chain, lube regularly and you get 95% there with ease and convenience.
If you want to tinker go for it.