Re: [CR]Waxing chains

(Example: Component Manufacturers:Ideale)

From: <NortonMarg@aol.com>
Date: Tue, 14 Jan 2003 14:36:27 EST
Subject: Re: [CR]Waxing chains
To: heine@mindspring.com, classicrendezvous@bikelist.org


In a message dated 1/14/03 11:05:54 AM Pacific Standard Time, heine@mindspring.com writes:


> What do people think?
>
> Will the components last as well as with oiled chains?
>
> How to do it best?
>

I did that for a while (20 years ago) when I was running alloy freewheels and got pretty good chain life. It's a good idea to do a couple of chains at once, so you can do a quick swap when you need to re-do it, rather than put it off because it's involved. I melted paraffin wax with some oil mixed in. Put the chains in and let them "cook" for a little while so you get good penetration, then hang them over some newspaper to drip. When cool, you'll have to go over and flex each link to get rid of the extra wax that will fall off anyway. That was before the modern spray wax in a can became available, I'm using those now. The older method likely leaves the chains a little cleaner, but I'm older and lazier now (not really, just too much to do).
Stevan Thomas
Alameda, CA