From Silca, their hot melt wax has been released
The usp of this one is that the bag the wax comes in can be heated in hot water like Sous Vide to melt the wax. You can then put the chain in and keep everything in the bag. Argues that you can even use your ultrasonic cleaner to heat the wax and then run the cycle to get the wax into the pins.
Looks interesting
Yeah, I saw that. But for the $20 over MSW for a similar size bag, you can buy a small, cheap slow cooker to dedicate to waxing chains.
Regarding using the ultrasonic bath to apply wax, I would be interested in seeing that method tested vs. just swishing in barely melted wax (~154ºF or 68ºC), vs. just swishing at the temperature that Molten Speedwax recommends (200ºF or 90ºC I believe). However I expect that to be the most marginal of marginal gains, considering how few watts are being lost to the regular wax method and thus available to recoup.
Well, I think the convenience of this is a pretty smart move by Silca and a good way to think about it. They also claim their formula is better than MSW.
That said, if this is the USP, why not try to use Aluminium zip lock bags with MSW?
I’m actually looking for some now to try this out. Just for my own interest.
I think generally the idea is to avoid having to deal with the slow cooker. I bought some to give it a go anyhow and see how it works.
If the ultrasonic thing actually works that’s a nice bonus as you can really consolidate tools.
Sure… but the difference between paraffin and MSW is maybe a quarter watt. I’d want to see some amazing test results before expecting that Silca’s is another quarter watt better than that.
Not to take away from Silca, I like the innovation on application technique and the idea of having a supplemental wet lube is pretty smart. Whether the price difference is “twice as expensive” or “only $20 more for a year’s supply” is a matter of perspective.
Yup. True marginal gains.
That said…an OSP wheel is 200-300 dollars / pounds for 1-2 watts. Silca’s wax is “cheap” when thinking this.
That said, the kind of person going down the Silca route has a lot of money anyways 
So one could buy some high temp bags and DIY chains in the kitchen…
I’ve been thinking about waxing but when I look at Jonathon’s pictures at the start of this, it just looks like too much equipment and too involved for my tastes.
Or, if you buy the 1lb bag of molten speed wax you could probably get a lot more chains done out of it if you use the bag method.
This is my thinking too. I’m trying to find the right bag and then try this all out.
Would also speed things up. Boiling water vs sitting and waiting for a crockpot to warm up over like 2 hours.
I see lots of sous vide bags on amazon or bags advertised as “silicone reusable”.
There’s a huge, huge range of required equipment here.
At the point that you have an ultrasonic cleaner, if it’s as big a bad boy as josh recommends in his video about cleaning a chain ($300 I think?), then go to town using that and the Silca bag to apply wax too. Otherwise, a cheaper ultrasonic cleaner and really cheap slow cooker will do a fine job too.
https://www.amazon.com/Reynolds-Cooker-Liners-4-Count-Regular/dp/B002U0KKK8
I use these. Cheap and works good.
While that works for slow cookers, I’m keen on trying the bag method instead. It would be great to use hot water vs waiting for a slow cooker to come to temp. It would make “chain day” maintenance much, much faster for me.
I’ve actually been trying Smoove lube which is a wax in a bottle lube.
The hardest part is actually getting the chain clean enough the first time so that it doesn’t immediately get contaminated. Last time it took me an hour of scrubbing and rinsing until no more grease came off of it. (I ride Campagnolo and haven’t seen any pre-waxed chains.)
We are moving to a new house soon with lots of garage and workshop space so I may go ultrasonic then.
I’m curious what the standard process is for daily after ride drivetrain cleaning from all of you running waxed chains.
I do nothing. Maybe after a wet ride, I wipe down the chain with a paper towel just to get the excess water off. When the chain needs to be waxed it gets taken off and put into the “needs to be waxed” ziploc, then I proceed to use one of my other 5 chains that are waxed and ready to go. Every few months when they all need waxing, they get done all at once. No prior cleaning, unless caked in mud. Then a quick rinse off with boiling water and complete dry before getting the wax bath.
After ride
Next ride
This is the extent of my daily cleaning
Every 5-600km the chain gets squeaky, so i pull it off and put a freshly waxed chain on (I rotate through 3 chains). When there is no freshly waxed chains left to put on, I turn on the slow cooker and throw the 3 chains in, come back 1hr later, swish around, come back 20 mins later, swish around and remove and hang chains
Slightly more involved if ride is wet, in which case ill dry the chain with a cloth. If its not too gritty ill just leave it on, otherwise pull it straight off and replace with a freshly waxed one
So I guess just the same soap and water you are washing bike with on drivetrain?
You don’t clean your bike at all after riding?
You don’t clean your bike at all after riding?
No, i ride 5-6 times a week. I dont have time to wash my bike that often. Im lucky to wash it once a fortnight
Fair enough. I guess my question should be rephrased as what do those of you that wash your bike daily do for cleaning a waxed drivetrain.
I sweat a lot and my bike has a matte finish so often just a wipe down with rubbing alcohol. If there is more dirt/grime, I bust out the silca gear wipe and go over the bike with it, but not touch the chain. If the bike ever needs a soapy shower it’s probably about time to switch the chain anyways so I pop it off before washing the bike, let dry, then pop on a freshly waxed chain. My process might change now that I use the silca lube to refresh waxed chains. Maybe half as much waxing as I used to.