Chain life of SLX 12 speed chains??

[Cardy George]

maybe give was a go, i love it as fine dirt doesn’t stick, jockey wheels stay clean..i use a kmart rice cooker, heat up candles, add paraffin oil, when melted let chain sit 5-10 you’re done, let cool. petrol clean chain before starting

So much, so wrong.

It's all in the prep. But waxing is the shiz. Don't use petrol, it leaves an oil residue. Don't use candles, unless you know they're 100% pure paraffin. Don't add oil, it's makes the dirt stick

This is the method I use
MSW Chain Prep

Mineral Spirits = Mineral Turps
Denatured Alcohol = Methylated Spirits

And 100% pure low melt paraffin wax
Low Melt Paraffin

Sees 200+ dusty kilometres per week. I run 5 chains so I only have to wax once a month. But if you only do 200km per month one chain will see you thru. Chuck it in the slow cooker while you wash, lower leg service etc etc

Cheap candles are an option. But they HAVE to be pure. Any added oils (like fragrances) will make the dirt stick and you're back to square 1

 

[DMan]

So much, so wrong.

It's all in the prep. But waxing is the shiz. Don't use petrol, it leaves an oil residue. Don't use candles, unless you know they're 100% pure paraffin. Don't add oil, it's makes the dirt stick

This is the method I use
MSW Chain Prep

Mineral Spirits = Mineral Turps
Denatured Alcohol = Methylated Spirits

And 100% pure low melt paraffin wax
Low Melt Paraffin

Sees 200+ dusty kilometres per week. I run 5 chains so I only have to wax once a month. But if you only do 200km per month one chain will see you thru. Chuck it in the slow cooker while you wash, lower leg service etc etc

Cheap candles are an option. But they HAVE to be pure. Any added oils (like fragrances) will make the dirt stick and you're back to square 1

I might have to look into this I think with our conditions. Especially as I ONLY did 200km last month. It's been a slow month ok!!!

 

[Cardy George]

I might have to look into this I think with our conditions. Especially as I ONLY did 200km last month. It's been a slow month ok!!!

Do yourself a favour tho, buy a brand new chain(s). I use KMC around the $35 mark. The absolute key to it all is having a totally oil free chain. The wax sticks like shit to a blanket on bare metal, not so much on oily metal.

 

[DMan]

Do yourself a favour tho, buy a brand new chain(s). I use KMC around the $35 mark. The absolute key to it all is having a totally oil free chain. The wax sticks like shit to a blanket on bare metal, not so much on oily metal.

I'm stuck with Shimano though it seems due to 12sp. But I'll grab a couple of new SLX chains and give it a go. Where do you get your wax? Something like this??

Paraffin Wax - Low Melt - Adelaide Moulding & Candle Supplies

450gm block of low melt paraffin wax used for skin softening or spa treatment on hands, cuticles and feet and heat treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and other joint mobility issues. *There is no refund on any wax once it is open, change of mind, or if you do not...

www.amcsupplies.com.au

 

[Cardy George]

I'm stuck with Shimano though it seems due to 12sp. But I'll grab a couple of new SLX chains and give it a go. Where do you get your wax? Something like this??

Paraffin Wax - Low Melt - Adelaide Moulding & Candle Supplies

450gm block of low melt paraffin wax used for skin softening or spa treatment on hands, cuticles and feet and heat treatment of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia and other joint mobility issues. *There is no refund on any wax once it is open, change of mind, or if you do not...

www.amcsupplies.com.au

Lol, that's my link , but yes, that's the stuff. My batch is due to be replaced, but 1kg has done 2 years now

 

[Daniel Hale]

So much, so wrong.

It's all in the prep. But waxing is the shiz. Don't use petrol, it leaves an oil residue. Don't use candles, unless you know they're 100% pure paraffin. Don't add oil, it's makes the dirt stick

Cheap candles are an option. But they HAVE to be pure. Any added oils (like fragrances) will make the dirt stick and you're back to square 1

the amount of oil in the petrol is tiny, and as paraffin wax (or petroleum wax) is derived from petroleum and actually has oil in it - the oil has a slightly lower Carbon number & happily combines with wax so isn’t a problem.
Even if present it just thins out the wax slightly, as does the paraffin - using pure wax even small amounts of oil are not enough to get dirt to stick to the wax, most of the additives in fancy candles are solids at room temperature, so it isn’t a problem either in regard it won’t be sticky i use the cheapest candle i can get, they seem to be the most basic wax only, nothing in them
i tried pure candles but the wax is a bit thick & heavy it tended to cake on the chain when drying

 

[Cardy George]

the amount of oil in the petrol is tiny, and as paraffin wax (or petroleum wax) is derived from petroleum and actually has oil in it - the oil has a slightly lower Carbon number & happily combines with wax so isn’t a problem.
Even if present it just thins out the wax slightly, as does the paraffin - using pure wax even small amounts of oil are not enough to get dirt to stick to the wax, most of the additives in fancy candles are solids at room temperature, so it isn’t a problem either in regard it won’t be sticky i use the cheapest candle i can get, they seem to be the most basic wax only, nothing in them
i tried pure candles but the wax is a bit thick & heavy it tended to cake on the chain when drying

Yep, you do you.

I'll do 2.5 years/ 20,000km of real world dirt commuting experience.

 

[DMan]

Lol, that's my link , but yes, that's the stuff. My batch is due to be replaced, but 1kg has done 2 years now

What do you mean, your link? Do you sell it?

 

[Cardy George]

What do you mean, your link? Do you sell it?

No no. That's link the in my first post

 

[DMan]

No no. That's link the in my first post

Great minds think alike then. And I should be more observant.

 

[Dales Cannon]

What do you mean, your link? Do you sell it?

He only sells the perfumed version for back sack and crack use.

 

[Cardy George]

He only sells the perfumed version for back sack and crack use.

It's a lucrative market around these parts

 

[Flow-Rider]

I do wonder. When I get home from a ride my driveline sounds like I've poured sand in it. I do wipe down and lube for that reason after every ride, but there's still grit in there. But I've still got good life out of Eagle and KMC chains.

I bought 3 x 10 speed Deore chains years ago and didn't get very good life out of them compared to the XT and XTR. If you're getting surface rust on the chain after rides, it's helping the quick demise of it.

 

[DMan]

I bought 3 x 10 speed Deore chains years ago and didn't get very good life out of them compared to the XT and XTR. If you're getting surface rust on the chain after rides, it's helping the quick demise of it.

No, nothing like that. It looked good. That's why I was surprised by the wear. I am tempted to try XTR. To see how long it lasts

 

[Dales Cannon]

It's a lucrative market around these parts

Which parts?

 

[Cardy George]

Which parts?

That's private. And furry

 

[Dales Cannon]

That's private. And furry

Wax doesnt work?

 

[teK--]

I thought that was just the high end Eagle chains due to larger rollers?

Yeh not sure about that it was just an idea!

I bought a 12spd tool which I am lead to believe also results in a more accurate measurement for lesser speed chains as it doesn't push the far ends of rollers towards each other thus skewing the measurement.

It maintains a consistent roller/pin position at both ends of measurement to give you true wear.

IMO just wiping down the chain doesn't do a lot for debris that gets caught within the rollers and pins. That is where a lot of wear occurs.

Get a park tool chain scrubber or any other brand of chain cleaner tool, and really immerse the fucker in degreaser to get sand and dirt out periodically.

 

[Cardy George]

Wax doesnt work?

That's an entirely different fetish

 

[DMan]

Yeh not sure about that it was just an idea!

I bought a 12spd tool which I am lead to believe also results in a more accurate measurement for lesser speed chains as it doesn't push the far ends of rollers towards each other thus skewing the measurement.

It maintains a consistent roller/pin position at both ends of measurement to give you true wear.

IMO just wiping down the chain doesn't do a lot for debris that gets caught within the rollers and pins. That is where a lot of wear occurs.

Get a park tool chain scrubber or any other brand of chain cleaner tool, and really immerse the fucker in degreaser to get sand and dirt out periodically.

I do. But after a ride (Night ride) I figure a wipe and relube is better than nothing. Coincidentally, I had fully degreased that chain twice with RideMechanic degreaser.
What is your chain measurement tool?