HK

Anyone else using (semi)solid lube to lube their chain? I bough a small jar of Frog lube years ago but never tried it until a few weeks ago, and I have been very happy with the results. This method isn't producing results as good as the factory lube, but it is significantly better than deep cleaning and re-lubing with oils as it goes deep in the links, does not wash away easily and does not gunk up the drive train at all.

Here's my process:

1. remove chain, dunk in an eco-friendly degreaser. If you can, try to give it some good vibrations. I placed the vessel with the chain on an inverted orbital sander.
2. if still crunchy, I wash it in water, then hang and let dry, a heat gun helps with faster drying
3. I take an old ceramic mug, added two spoons of the waxy lube, then heated it with a heat gun until mildly hot
4. dunk the chain in the mug (it helps if you pre-heat the chain with a heat gun), shake well, make sure the liquefied lube covers it well and seeps into every crevice
5. before it cools down, hang the chain so the extra lube drips back in the mug and let it cool down. When cooled, it is easy to remove the extra waxy lube without too much mess with a clean cloth. You can reuse the unspent lube in the next cleaning session.

I make my own solid lube. It's much better than any oil.
Alone the fact that the drivetrain stays reasonably clean, makes everything run smoother and live longer.

Instead of a cup and a heat gun, I've upcycled an old rice cooker.
I also dry the excess lube off while the chain is still hot. That makes for an even cleaner result, and has no negative impact on the lubrication.

Never wet lube again.....ever!

Magura

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DIY all the way

Magura - What is your recipe for lube? Straight paraffin or something special?

Paraffin, paraffin oil, a dash of Teflon powder if available (makes no significant difference as far as I can tell).
Solid and oil in approx 50-50 ratio.

Johnsons Baby oil and tea candles for the win


Magura

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DIY all the way

Did this topic slip everyone's attention?
As far as I can tell, this is the best since sliced bread.

It's clean
It's dirt cheap
It's easy
All ingredients are readily available
It can be done in an old rice cooker
It's fast
It makes your drivetrain run very smooth
It makes your drivetrain last longer

What's not to like?


Magura

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DIY all the way

Thank you mr. Magura! I'll try your recipe for sure.

At how many miles does one generally experience a used that chain that needs so much attention?

IME, replacing the chain is a great way to simplify and to extend the life of the gear teeth it meshes with. Every one should have a few brand chains in their parts department.

Not to take away from your method for recovery, though Sti.

It does look like some good lube, but I'm not sure if bikes are the best application.

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'Merica's Finest City

I'd be interested in knowing why you think so?


Magura

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DIY all the way

I think this was a misunderstanding.
The point of this type of lube and maintenance, is to make things work better and last longer. Not to revive a dead chain.

Like this you throw the chain in the wax pot every 300-500km, and have a fresh drive train in minutes.
The grand point is that solid lube is rather nifty, especially in grubby conditions, as it repels the dirt instead of attracting it like oil does.



Magura

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DIY all the way

Yeah, what Magura said. Riding in conditions that alternate between wet, dry and dusty gets me a chain loaded with dirt, it becomes very crunchy. This method is IMO superior to cleaning it with a chain cleaner and lubing with usual liquid lubes, I get a couple of weeks of riding without having to touch it.

Sti,

Do you mind changing the topic to something more descriptive?
I somehow fail to understand why this is not a top topic, I take it's cause people think we sit and debate chain lube brands?

Magura

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DIY all the way

Better? I am open to your suggestions.

Yeah, that'll probably work. Perhaps adding how to make your own solid lube?

Magura

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DIY all the way

I've tried your recipe today, Magura. So far so good - we shall see how it is going to work, soon.

You're gonna be one happy camper!

I have a *ahem.....cough* umber of bikes, and so does the Mrs. Life was never easier. It's been cutting the time I spend on maintenance by like 80% or so. In total, the household is running some 15 different bikes on regular basis. Not having to clean and lube every couple of weeks, but just having to take the chain off, dip it, put it back on, and the rest of the drivetrain remains clean......you do the math


Magura

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DIY all the way

Total cost for all the lube you can spend in a decade: ~$20 plus napkins!

A pictorial:

Magura

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DIY all the way

Very nice! I've done the first ride with the waxy-waxy chain today and the drive train stayed clean indeed.

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DIY all the way

Time for a one month update Sti.....

Magura

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DIY all the way

I remember some roadies who used a cookie sheet in an oven. Put the chain on the sheet with the wax and heat it up together for better flow into the rollers. The cooker idea does that and you can do it outside so you don't piss-off the spouse.

Do they make unscented baby oil? That stuff makes me nauseous.
Maybe sub citronella candles for the tea candles for insect repellent during stops?

I've installed a new drive train and a new chain.

The scent of baby oil goes away after it's been heated up a few times.
For the unscented version, look for lamp oil.


Magura

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DIY all the way

You had one task, one task!

Magura

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DIY all the way

Time for a long term experiment #2.

About time, as you're the official independent test group.

Magura

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DIY all the way

Batch #2 has been mixed. This time with purer paraffin and Johnson baby oil. I used a bit more oil in the mix, too. To melt the wax, I acquired a small volume slow cooker on Amazon for $9.99 shipped. In my previous experiment, I used some candle leftovers that my wife gave me that likely contained soy wax and other impurities, and the lube wouldn't last beyond 2-3 weeks of heavy use. This new batch looks significantly better!

2-3 weeks of heavy use is not bad at all

Magura

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DIY all the way

Do any of these mixtures dry kind of sticky? Had a bike come through the shop that was waxed and the chain was sticky like the lube on a new chain. I don't know how long it had been on since I didn't talk to the owner, I just worked the front derailleur loose from winter road grime.

Not really, but the mix with more oil has a definitely less "waxy" texture and melts faster on touch so perhaps with more oil added, it would feel more sticky. I don't miss that stickiness though, I like how clean the chain stays and how little crud it attracts on chainring and RD jockey wheels compared to usual lubricants.