Go to a mechanic if you're unsure. The main advantages of the method I use (dipping the chain in hot wax) is that (once you're set up) it's fast, it's easy, and it produces a chain that neither picks up dirt nor produces greasy "tattoo" marks on you or your clothes. Once the chain is reasonably clean, you can re … This is pretty obvious. Copyright © great idea! Wax is the best lubricant choice if you live in extremely dry conditions, according to cycling expert and author Jim Langley. The use of cooking oil originated from the use of castor oil. Additionally, the solvents in these types of lubricants act as degreasers, stripping away any lubricant placed on the chain by the manufacturer and effectively increasing the amount of wear on your chain. Reply For this reason, I find it superior to oil. It took them 40 times to figure out the formula that is now known as WD-40. Choosing a brand of chain cleaner is a personal choice and, I often will use Maxima chain cleaner on my bikes. Grease may not be the best idea in cold places while light lube may not work best in a hot area. This is appropriate in many cases, but you should consider your normal riding conditions to find the best lubricant for your biking needs. The main problem with thick lubricants, however, is that they pick up more dirt as you ride, which can grind your gears down over time if you do not regularly change the oil. Very nice and detailed, I am heading to the store to get parafin now. Paraffin seeps in to all the spaces. Thank you, great post! Share it with us! LIVESTRONG is a registered trademark of the LIVESTRONG Foundation. Then you have a big problem. Different Types of Chain Lube. Use a light, specially-formulated bike lubricant and not any old junk that you find in your garage. It can also be used to lubricate moving parts but temporarily. This assumes you have removed them from the bike following the link in the previous step. Note: Always use a cleaner and lubricant designed for bike drivetrains. and See the picture. REI does not recommend using WD-40 on your bike (it is a cleaner but not a lubricant. Privacy Policy You can find other chain lube options and alternatives that are made from biodegradable vegetable oil instead. Have never actually tried though I am curious as I have a couple of projects in mind for the future that will involve melting. Run the chain backwards while dropping oil down both sides of the rollers. You don't really want the lube anywhere but the chain and any overspray can hit the brake rotors. It's almost magical. This is the way grease lubricates anyway, and since paraffin is just a long chain crude oil product, it should operate the same way. Altair - a Tripod Mounted Refracting Telescope. [1] X Research source You can find bike lubes of all kinds online or at your local bike shop. Yes. 2. If the candles are paraffin (petroleum-based), yes. Then I put the two halves of the Power-link on the wire and give it a couple of twists to hold it all together as shown. (This is why you want to leave it in the dip a while.) The key to making this work is leaving the item in long enough to get it warm enough to let the wax flow freely when removed. Jones suggests: “First, use less oil as you lubricate. But it's messier. if it does, how would you clean it? Whatever you do, do not use motor oil. This is how the chain grease works already - it does not slide back in after being pushed out because the grease is semi-solid, not a true liquid. Dry and wet are pretty much universal terms and most chain lubricant manufacturers will offer these two variants as a minimum. Dry lubes are for the driest conditions and cleanest chains. If you can, you should remove the cable from the housing so you can adequately work on it. Edible oils such as Olive oil, Sunflower oil, or other cooking oils can be used as a short-term fix to lubricate your bike chain and are certainly better than not using any oil at all. Different types of bike chain oil are suitable for different weather and riding conditions – find out which one you need! I use an SRAM "Power-Link", pictured. But, ask just about anyone who rides and maintains their own bike, Kerosine is arguably the best chain cleaner around. This is a picture of me "dipping" my chain at my workbench. And the best part is, you can do it all at home with the right supplies and some basic knowledge. does the chain need to be particularly clean before you dip it (for the first time as opposed to the re-waxing) or would the wax clean the chain as well? It should not be Phil Wood Tenacious Oil and Tri-Flow are popular light oils among cyclists. If you buy an SRAM chain, they usually come with one of these things included. A short length of easily worked wire. Alternatively, baby wipes work pretty well, too. Leave the chain in the wax for 4 - 6 minutes. By: Jaimie Zinski . I have a roll of ceiling-grid wire, available at almost any hardware or home-improvement store, good for a thousand uses. As does the rest of your bike and you.Lather, rinse, repeat every 300-400 miles or so.If you like this Instructable about non-obvious bicycling lore, you might like my blog, Practical Cyclist. on Introduction. My brother and I believe heavily in the hot wax method and sites like Friction Facts have tested the superiority of the hot wax method. Most bike cables are made of steel and require lubing. The main advantages of the method I use (dipping the chain in hot wax) is that (once you're set up) it's fast, it's easy, and it produces a chain that neither picks up dirt nor produces greasy "tattoo" marks on you or your clothes. It actually forms a shell around the moving parts, protecting against contaminants. Shift through all of the gears to spread the lubricant evenly through the drivetrain. The name stands for “water displacement” with the 40 referencing the number of attempts it took to create. Probably lots of other suggestions in other projects involving wax on Instructables. They do a lot of movement because they serve as a linkage between the brakes, gears, and wheels. The bottom line is, paraffin is solid enough that it doesn't displace easily, the way oil or other liquid lubricants would. Railroad Rail Lantern / Sign Stand Split With Axe. Its probably pretty easy to substitute something else for the wax heater. We hope to be in Velo news' next lube test which is slated for this fall, 6 years ago Are the forces in a bike chain not high enough to move the wax? I'm not a lubrication engineer, so I can't answer it. You can use the rag to scrape crud off of the derailleur pulley wheels and chainrings. . Different weather cycles will call the various lubricating mechanisms especially if you ride in extreme weather. I don't understand how this can work as a chain lubricant. Did you make this project? How to Lubricate Spinning Bikes. What to Use to Lubricate Your Chain You can balance it against the frame of the bike for stability. 12 years ago This is because it washes away rather easily, leaving your bike chain exposed. Rain, snow, and slushy roads can wash away dry lube on a bike chain. Be VERY CAREFUL about using a non thermostatically controlled heat source! The frequency at which chain lube should be re-applied is like any other component’s maintenance interval: it depends on how often you ride, in what conditions, the type of lube used, and your attention to chain care between re-lubing. 6. A wax heater. on Introduction, AWESOME! Hold the nose of your lube dropper against the chain with your left hand. This type of chain lube is non-toxic and is, therefore, a far better option for the environment. In order to limit the amount of wear on the chain and sprockets caused by this friction, you need to regularly lubricate your chain. Lubricate the inner circumference of the chain, on the side that faces the sprockets along the top of the lower run of the chain. I lube my chains this way every 3 weeks or 300 miles. https://www.livestrong.com/article/403713-what-type-of-oil-for-my-bicycle-chain You can reapply to your clean chain and cassette, whilst spinning the wheels again. Terms of Use I just failed at using the reply button. Copyright Policy See how clean and shiny the chain is? Cooking oil is a standard lubricant in the home that is ideal for keeping away rust from metal surfaces. Use a drip lube and put a drop along each joint, each link across the roller. Though it is more of a challenge to apply, melted wax very effectively penetrates the chain and then dries in place. 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