My preference is to use an ultrasonic cleaner to properly clean the chain between waxings.
For a brand new chain I will strip it of factory lube with Silca’s chain stripper in a jar, then rinse and wax in the Silca pot.
After that I’ll use it for a number of rides, depending on the distance, and just wipe wirh dry microfiber after. Then I’ll top off with Super Secret drip lube. At some point, or if a particularly wet or dirty ride, I’ll take the chain off, put in ultrasonic cleaner with Simple Green HD (the purple one, not the green one) and clean it, then rinse with water and rewax in the pot.
Race day chains is the same process but only use for one event. Clean and rewax afterwards and put in a labeled Ziplock bag after until next event.
I know people put dirty chains into their wax pots, but this process keeps my wax dirt free.
Oh I’m definitely on the wax train. I just feel like the entire process is somewhat overhyped by Josh and Friction Facts. I won’t change back to lube. I also have a pretty powerful ultra sonic cleaner and feel it doesn’t do that good of a job. The mineral spirits method is time consuming but it’s the gold standard to me. Do 4 chains at a time it’s not so bad, but I do clean waxed chains periodically.
What solution are you using in your ultrasonic bath? Are you heating the water?
I usually run the ultrasonic cleaner for 7 min, then flip the chain around and run again for another 7 min. Then I just rinse under a faucet. Gets the chain super clean.
I tried a gun parts cleaning solution that at one point was recommended by Silca, but found it didn’t work nearly as well as the Simple Green HD.
I saw this video was released by Silca today which provides suggestions on certain additives and care for the chain waxing process when rain/cold/snowy weather is to be expected. Makes sense. If someone is planning to do a significantly long ride/race, or ride in them regularly, it would be reasonable to add some of these products.
The video and the concept of adding Synergetic to the wax is pretty interesting for cold or rainy days.
I did wonder if just putting Synergetic directly onto a waxed chain might get you most of the way there without contaminating the wax in your pot. I realize Silca said just put a strip chip in to bind it up, but now your paying for the third of the bottle of Synergetic and a strip chip.
As the temperatures start to drop here locally in Ohio, i may try just adding some Synergetic directly onto the waxed chain and see how it feels and holds up.
Has anyone here actually noticed any degradation of wax performance in the cold? I rode a lot of miles last Pennsylvania winter and never had a hint of an issue. FWIW, I use paraffin with PTFE added. I also re-submerge approx every 150 miles (240km). Is adding Synergetic another solution in search of a problem/market?
silca hot wax takes forever to break in in freezing conditions based on my experience, once it even was squeaking after a fresh wax. In my experience Gulf wax works much better for fat biking, works fine at 0°F, breaks in easy, don’t have to worry about contaminating expensive wax with salt and still lasts 8 hours or so of riding.
When I’ve ridden in 0-10 degrees Fahrenheit I felt like my chain had a lot of extra resistance and it was waxed, but it could have also been that my legs were frozen. I have a podcast interview with Josh tomorrow and I plan on asking him what would be his recommendation at really low temps.
Anything above 20 degrees I’ve never felt any extra resistance
@chasethebiker - if you get a chance please ask him if simply applying some Synergetic over a waxed chain would work heading into either a really cold day, or a day that has rain in the forecast?
To me that would be a really easy solution if those are not typical days you ride in and need a quick fix for your chain.
So after today 35km morning ride I run my finger through the chain and it’s clean again
So I conclude after application the leftover residue will flake off itself after about 80-90km or 3 hours ride
I use drip wax on my MTB and gravel bikes, but not my fatbike. I think the wax solidifies too much in the cold and flakes off too easily. A friend of mine (anecdote, but instructive nonetheless) rode the ITI one year on a waxed chain, and had several instances of broken chain until he replaced the chain and started using wet lube. Riding in the snow is also quite clean, so I find using wet lube isn’t as dirty as riding in the dusty summer.
After talking with Josh, he said if you’re biking in really cold weather (around 0 degrees Fahrenheit) you should add half a bottle of Silca Synergentic lube to your wax and that will make it softer/perform better at cold temps. If it’s just one or two cold rides, or more around 32 degrees you can add just a splash of Synergetic into the wax mixture or directly on your waxed chain.
You can use “waxingwithwark” and save 15% off the Silca website also if you need to buy a bottle
I don’t tend to ride on really cold days but do get out at times when just above or below 32. Just putting a little Synergetic directly onto my waxed chain seems like the simplest option.
