Wax your chain anywhere - make it yourself

This is a liquid wax you can bottle for easy transport.
Shellite equivalents.... benzine ,ligroin, petroleum ether ,white gasoline.

[@ClaviculaNotoria]

The wife is angry I melted all the candles but the chain is happy, life goals met

[@stephengomme777]

Hopefully no power cuts anytime soon 😅

[@RichardsWorld]

Happy bike, happy husband.

[@michaelmerrills576]

But it was for her bike!!!

[@andymapplebeck2374]

Used your wax/teflon chain recipe as you suggested and it has been brilliant. Also loved your clear, direct instructions and demonstrations......all of which has been a fine example to absolutely everybody who wants to make an instructional video, well done......

[@kevinferguson6652]

I've been using your wax recipe for years now. I got a slow cooker and ordered the wax and ptfe powder. Never looked back. I also make the liquid version after scraping some wax out of the cooker. It's awesome stuff and saves me money so I can buy more bike stuff. Thanks for the recipes and videos. Keep up the good work. I'll be watching from sunny Scotland 👀 😂

[@speckles9251]

I don't think we want, nor need to spread PTFE all over the place. I get along with my waxed chains WITHOUT that stuff just fine. Otherwise, good experimenting.

[@ralfhenning-venske6764]

Pope of cycling lubricant - big community contributor - Thank you, this is the missing piece in my OzCycle Chain Wax history - coming from 2019 with Petroleum - switching end of Dec 2019 to PTFE version and now a solid hack with the "on-track" version - Thanks a lot! Good to have you back chap!

[@stevenleffanue]

Improving lubricants is an ongoing process , maybe one day we will have belt drives with no lube.

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Very interesting.. Church candles and PTFE... Where do you find the PTFE in the USA??

[@garyaschenberger-cz2fj]

Ive been waxing my chains for about 3-4 years now and would never go back to the commercial products, cleaner longer lasting, thanks

[@FranticGuitar88]

You should mention that it is important not to get the wax anywhere near disc brakes. If a flake of wax gets on the brake pads it will wick in once heated and you'll never completely get rid of it.

[@Up2L842moro]

And then your next of kin will hear you praised for not being squeaky brakes guy at the funeral after flying off the road

[@johne7100]

Pull the wick out with a pair of pliers and use a kitchen grater. I usually swap chains (one in the wax, one on the bike) at 500 km but last chain I did with the petrol/boiling water/wax/PTFE method gave me 1000 km before it got noisy. Wouldn't make a practice of it, just wanted to see. Great method, thanks!

[@ltu42]

My tip for this top-up lube: if the wax is not dissolving completely and the small bits of wax are clogging the nozzle, put the whole applicator bottle with the DIY lube into a cup of boiling hot water for a few minutes. The paraffin wax will dissolve into a clear solution.

[@DavidCanet]

oh really???? thank you

[@DavidCanet]

I will try with precaution not exploding

[@oranjid]

2-3 years later still sticking to your Method Steve and it is working well. With candles and PTFE. It was a bit of search required, but just the most simple stick candles seemed to have the best wax. Very similar to those you have there. If anyone is not sure what kind of candles to pick, do not go for tea lights, white stick candles with no coating, the cheap stuff is the best here. Still not sure if this is for everyone. But for people who like to ride 20-30.000km a year this saves big money asides of the pleasure to always have a clean drive-train. thank you Steve!

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Very interesting.. Church candles and PTFE... Where do you find the PTFE in the USA??

[@LLF1234]

@@FooFahFoeFum I think on Amazon? I could find some there, but not sure if it's the right kind of PTFE (if that even exists)

[@The2808erik]

Thank you. If anyone in the EU is looking for Naphta or Shellite, lighter fluid or washing benzin is the same thing.

[@crabtrap]

also known as 'panel wipe' and 'camp fuel'

[@unaluv88]

Thanks!

[@paulb9769]

Do you mean Zippo fluid?

[@jybuys]

Yes, in Dutch it's called 'wasbenzine'. You can buy it in a supermarket.

[@pradeepknal]

In Germany I found the same as "Brennspiritus". But the wax doesn't dissolve much. Wrong choice? Or does it need to be warmed a bit?

[@yru435]

I appreciate your thorough and informative videos on the chain lube topic. I had an experience recently that provided for me, and perhaps for your viewers, some pointers. I applied an expensive commercial wax lube product to my clean chain, and the lube just sat on the links with little penetration. I decided to add some solvent to the lube to give it some added fluidity. I tried a number of solvents and found that best was ACETONE. It made a nice milky sauce that was better at seeping into the pins and rollers. Here are reasons that ACETONE is better than NAPTHA (SHELLITE)... 1. ACETONE evaporates more quickly. 2. ACETONE is *far less toxic* than NAPTHA (SHELLITE).

[@damionmiller4366]

I’m sold! Thank you for making this simple, affordable, practical, and fun!!! 🤩

[@Charl_Wait]

Still the best lubricant for your chain. My slow cooker broke, and the wax in it lasted longer than the cooker. They stole my bike last year, and yet the wax remains. 🙃

[@kousueki7024]

condolences for your stolen bike

[@gunnarguggs2725]

I have been using _Acetone_ as the carrier. It is considerably *less toxic* than Shellite/Naptha and it 'dries' faster.

[@krak171]

Did it dissolve the wax fine? Mine is not dissolving with acetone and i dont have naphtha here

[@FunMushizzle]

Just got a new bike, and just learning the art of waxing chains! First time around I went the commercial wax mix in a bag, pre-made. It worked fine and I'm loving how clean the chain is. Next step after finding your channel is do this myself and the save the money! Thank you!

[@RayStrilec]

Having used this recipe, I find that the liquid congeals in the bottle at colder temperatures. That can be a problem during the winters here in Northeast US. My solution is to put the bottle in a container with warm water, occasionally shaking it till the liquid thins and flows easily. However, when applying the warm liquid to a cold chain it causes the wax to harden on the chain, so my solution for that is to warm the chain using a hair dryer before applying the liquid. Experimenting with temperatures, you'll find you can get the wax to flow into the rollers before it sets up. The cooler temps can actually work in your favor. Thanks for all your waxing tips, Oz Cycle dude!

[@stevenleffanue]

Great input,thanx 👌. Can't imagine what it's like to be that cold , coldest we ride in here would be 6degC.

[@Up2L842moro]

Or bring the bike inside the house where it’s warm (hopefully)

[@petrhanak6950]

I was wondering what this shellite is in EU. Well, it is white gas, reinigungsbenzin, or technicky benzin in Czech. Good tip from OZ!

[@mrsmradoch9584]

Taky hledám. :) Asi zkusím severochema White Spirit?

[@mrsmradoch9584]

Najdi komentář ot Eric S ... Píšou tam že použít se dá kerosene(petrolej) aceton a white spirits... Asi zkusím tu petrolej protože je nejlevnější :) u acetonu píšou že moc rychle mizi

[@jybuys]

In Dutch it is 'wasbenzine'.

[@edwiser]

Great to see people still doing this I started waxing my chains in the 80’s.

[@TikeMyson69]

You're doing something wrong. It takes only about 5 minutes for me.

[@edwiser]

@@TikeMyson69 I started waxing my chain in 1985. 😊

[@crabtrap]

@@edwiser are your palms harry yet?

[@vikingcove]

I started waxing my chain in the 70's while in high school. I have no recollection from where I got the idea. It worked great in New Jersey's cruddy winter and spring riding. I got my paraffin from huge bulk blocks left over from when we used to make sand candles.

[@bigwave_dave8468]

I was doing this in 1979 -- my neighbor was an Engineer from Hewlett Packard and an avid cyclist. He showed me how. I worked at a bike shop and we didn't have any paraffin based lubes in those days.

[@spektrumB]

Should I drop Squirt and use this homemade drip lube instead? Gonna made some this weekend and try it out.

[@derekhobbs1102]

I'm currently on the Squirt band wagon, I just make sure I thoroughly clean new chain before first application. Current low level chain is at just over 4,000km with no noticeable wear.

[@crack0n]

for all germans its: Rohbenzin, Waschbenzin, Feuerzeugbenzin 😉

[@damienm8416]

Naphtha ist Rohbenzin was man so einfach nicht bekommen kann . Das näher gelegene wäre Wundbenzin .

[@mrsmradoch9584]

HI, I am from Czechia and wonder if it is some kind of white spirit? Severochema do these? Don't you know? :D

[@mrsmradoch9584]

Is it the one to Zippo lighters?

[@rodionovivan]

I used your parafin-PTFE recepie for past 3 years or so in hot bath and in bottle. Perfectly happy with it.

[@RolfReiner]

Life saver!!! I ride MTB on a tiny, dusty, salty, sandy and windy island in the middle of the Atlantic. This is the solution, as it is very inconvenient and expensive to import products, particularly liquids.

[@kgu9870]

This diy mix is the best thing ive found for coating table saws, planers, and jointers for woodworkers out there

[@mohamedmonem2645]

Coach , HUGE THANKS , i tried this method (naphtha) and it's very easy and very effective , it only took around 10 minutes to prepare and the result is very good , i used only naphtha and it dissolved the wax (with a bit of shaking) , applied it as you said , and a smooth ride we have , thanks a lot

[@SniperSnake50BMG]

The revised version! Thanks you very much Oz!!!

[@lilth501]

I was thinking maybe a cheese grater or a vegetable grating devices would be better than using a knife?

[@andreybatashov2183]

Particles might be too big though. knife grating produces really fine stuff

[@TK-ov4hn]

Thanks for the update. You made me a believer about a year ago and I will never go back!

[@MuckingMunt]

I have saved most of your old, original chain waxing related videos in a play-list Steve; and I think a summary like this was overdue. On each of my two main bikes I alternate two fully immersed waxed chains. On the few longer 300-400k+ (randonneuring) instances I've set out from home I've used the Isopropanol 'carry along' small bottle solution suggested from your earlier videos. I'm defintely keen to try the "no kettle" shellite approach here too. My only small critique of this video is under-playing the original conversion to a wax vs. oil/petroleum based chain routine. Things are a bit more involved for the first time proper waxing of a chain slicked in OEM/factory lube. I had tried waxing some years before first seeing your channel; and I found your emphasis on totally washing, rinsing and removing previous petroleum based lubes made all the difference. Still a fan of your approach and undermining the BS of the broader industry. Keep it up.

[@stevenleffanue]

Yes a chain must always be fully cleaned before any waxing

[@crabtrap]

Use a powered ultrasonic cleaner w degreaser solution. Will strip chain clean. They cost $60US....and have many uses

[@stevenleffanue]

Gasoline contains oil , so no.

[@stevenleffanue]

OK. If it dissolves wax and evaporates without leaving any substance it should work.

[@robertmcfadyen9156]

My friend was told by Clarence Street Cyclery that it was unnecessary , casual mechanic's suggestion . I ended up sterilizing​ his chain and starting from scratch with Holy Cow . I had this in stock .@@stevenleffanue

[@aveedub7403]

I couldn't readily get hold of Naphtha, but lighter fluid, like Ronson etc seems to be a substitute, its virtually 99.9% the same.

[@nordictenor]

Hello Oz, I just made the first batch of liquid wax to carry with me on long rides. Assuming that after 200 to 300 km I can feel the original wax wearing off and I apply the liquid wax (without PTFT) how far approximately can I go before applying again?

[@aldunne2001]

As always thanks Steve. I have been using your “recipes” for hot wax with a slow cooker for 5+ years with great success for both road and mountain biking. The only issue I have is that winters are very cold here (Canada) and I find the wax results in poor shifting when cold, say less than -10C. I can only attribute this to the wax getting too hard. Is there a way to adjust the recipes, either hot wax or drip wax that would make it softer for cold temperatures? Maybe mix the paraffin wax with paraffin oil, or thin it out with Xylene? Any thought on what experiments I can try for cold weather? Cheers!

[@stevenleffanue]

You can soften it with paraffin oil. Try half by volume , that's 50:50

[@SniperSnake50BMG]

Yeah I was thinking of that cases using liquid paraffin.

[@Eduardo1007]

How does it work for mountain biking? How often do you need to re-do the bath process?

[@stevenleffanue]

Hot wax every 300km

[@oranjid]

We do not have really cold winters, but 0 to -10C happen - depending on the mixture I started to get issues earlier. Wax does not last that long, shifting quality then decreases already after 80-120km and not the usual 450. I think it might make sense to run a winter chain - with a different mixture. My normal mix is 100% stick candles, that wax works well in most conditions, with PTFE powder. I tested mixing 30-50% of tea candles into the mix. Have to test around a bit, they seem to have a higher oil content. The "no stick" effect is slightly reduced though. But the higher oil content seems to work better in freezing temperatures. It is a bit of a compromise though and I would not want to contaminate my summer chains or wax mix with those candles, and it takes some experimenting to get the mixture just right.

[@PeterBollen]

Been using your immersion method for 3 years now! But I still have some old bottles of squirt left. Thinking about using that for a multi day trip. Any thoughts vs the diy solution? Thx!

[@corvus400]

Have you seen other video when he devolve Ptfe/paraffin mix shavings with some isopropyl alcohol in a small bottle. I think that would be superior to just paraffin in a bottle.

[@epacris78]

@@corvus400 Surely it is better than using Shellite too

[@wiciman5388]

Can someone in the EU please direct where to purchase Tungsten (Wolfram) Disulphide WS2 powder?

[@pierrex3226]

Been using your technique for years, thank you. 2 comments. 1. I use a bain marie for the hot wax bath, ie a metal container on top of boiling water. Works fine, avoids having to use a bulky appliance. Does mean I do it in my kitchen though. 2. Afaik a lot of store candles are soy wax, not paraffin. I suspect soy wax also works, but idk if that's been tested. If it doesn't say on the label, idk how you can tell.

[@tresorr1]

after using wax one year, 2 bikes (for citi and road bike) I noticed only one coins: in winter, when is many salt on roads, chain start rusting. So then you need to clean chain after ride in that salti conditions

[@wiggidymig1335]

Dont use PTFE... holy fuck. We are still not grasping the amount of problems, we are havin with it.

[@neta1538]

so cool! thanks so much for sharing your experiences and your knowledge, greetings from frankfurt germany

[@tcmcdcac]

Just a quick warning. I used the method and it worked perfectly - thanks! However, when applying, I stupidly splashed the shellite carrier on my old shimano dura ace C24's and disolved one of the stickers! No problem, but be careful when applying the mixture!

[@shahedsaffari365]

Hi Guys about to go wax for first time., this solution i guess is only needed for big tour rides right? Submerged re wax lasts 200Km approx and only needs clnea wrag to wipe down between rides right?

[@colincarter5266]

I love the feel and quietness of a freshly waxed chain (I use the immersion method with melted candle wax) but have been wanting good instruction on a freshen up drip application. Thanks for your clear and easy instructions. Will be trying this very soon!

[@DavidSeigneur]

I just waxed my chains for two bikes using the melted wax + PFTE, and looking forward to seeing the results. I'm really interested in how this liquid wax would work for "touch up" on the chain. Wouldn't the solvent used in this recipe also dissolve the wax previously on the chain? I'm just wondering how you get ahead with this process. Thanks for any feedback!

[@stevenleffanue]

As long as the carrier evaporates fairly quickly its fine. I suggest wait 5 minutes after application before riding .

[@eduardopinto4533]

Is there another product that can replace naphtha? Something biodegradable?

[@fernandomedeiros3393]

This is Gold! I like your recipes so much that I don't even bother waxing my chain on the pot anymore. This is all I use. Just wipe the dust off after the ride (If any), apply the lube, remove excess and you're done. I've made batches using IPA, OMS and Naphtha, all three performed flawlessly, IPA being my favorite.

[@MrAnon-2024]

I realise this was posted 5 months ago but, when you say IPA, are you referring to ISOPROPYL ALCOHOL? I have this in the garage (99.9% purity) so it would be great if I could use that as the carrier for the home made wax 👍

[@mogosialexandru36]

So....is the alchool good as a carrier? I want to make but i only have alchool

[@daniele_trioni]

​@@MrAnon-2024yeah, I think It's that!

[@MrAnon-2024]

@@daniele_trioni 👍

[@jybuys]

​@@MrAnon-2024lets ask the app Perplexity: will paraffin dissolve in isopropylalcohol? Paraffin wax does not readily dissolve in isopropyl alcohol. Here are the key points: 1. Paraffin wax is non-polar, while isopropyl alcohol is polar. As a general rule, "like dissolves like", meaning non-polar substances dissolve better in non-polar solvents[1][4]. 2. Experiments have shown that only a very small amount of paraffin wax (about 0.5 grams) will dissolve in 100 mL of boiling isopropyl alcohol. The solution becomes cloudy upon cooling[3]. 3. To effectively dissolve paraffin wax, non-polar organic solvents are required. Some options include: - Naphtha or mineral spirits[2] - Toluene or xylene[4] - Vegetable oil (for small amounts)[4] 4. In histology procedures, isopropyl alcohol is sometimes used as a dehydrating agent before paraffin embedding, but an intermediate step using a solvent like xylene is required to allow the paraffin to properly infiltrate the tissue[5]. In summary, isopropyl alcohol is not an effective solvent for paraffin wax. Non-polar solvents are much better suited for dissolving paraffin. Citations: [1] Cleaning with Organic Solvents, Part 2: Iso-Paraffins and Modified ... finishingandcoating.com/index.php/cleaning-pretreatment/1576-cleaning-with-organic-solvents-part-2-iso-paraffins-and-modified-alcohols [2] Question for you who wax your chain - Page 6 - Bike Forums www.bikeforums.net/road-cycling/1191601-question-you-who-wax-your-chain-6.html [3] RE: [Histonet] Isopropyl alcohol and paraffin wax - Histosearch www.histosearch.com/histonet/Sep03A/RE.HistonetIsopropylalcoh.html [4] How to dissolve candle wax (paraffin)? - Chemistry Stack Exchange chemistry.stackexchange.com/questions/17109/how-to-dissolve-candle-wax-paraffin [5] Dehydrating and embedding in paraffin www.ronaldschulte.nl/en/dehydrating-and-embedding-in-paraffin.html

[@paulperry2120]

Okay I made some lube up this way. Magic mate. Best lube yet and so easy.

[@SianaGearz]

If you need an applicator bottle, you can also get a dropper bottle from a pharmacy or a vape shop.

[@garycook3943]

I've been enjoying smooth and clean chains following your hot wax method, but I strongly suggest not working with shellite in a kitchen due to the lingering odour. I'm triggered from multiday bushwalks of my youth with a shellite stove that tainted everything in the pack!

[@ctawfiq]

I use squirt lube. Next time will try to make my own. Nice video, as always.

[@genixia]

I assume that the excess of shaved wax keeps the solution near saturation, and shaking the bottle simply adds the energy needed to ensure complete saturation. Have you tried making the solution with molten wax and naptha in similar ratios? I'd think that the excess wax would precipitate out as fairly fine particles. If that's the case you could simply melt the wax in jar in a warm oven (170F) before adding it to a jar containing naptha. Along those lines, you could just take clean molten wax from your hotpot next time you refill it.

[@crabtrap]

no need just shave wax into jar. then add naptha to jar and cap. it will desolve wax. then just pour jar into bottle

[@davidmacdonald287]

Thank you for recommending Connex Chains eons ago.

[@RonaldBeirouti]

I was wondering... ZeroFrictionCycling says that their Super Secret liquid wax and UFO wax is 80% wax and 20% carrier (water). They say that this is important because after the carrier has evaporated, this would only leave a 20% empty space for dirt and grind to enter the chain. The other dry lube such as white lightning which only have a little wax to high amount of carrier performs very poorly in their tests. They are actually some of the worse chain lubes. I was wondering if you have tried your formula with a higher proportion of wax to carrier.

[@stevenleffanue]

The bottled wax is a temporary lube until you can hot wax your chain.

[@uvdpuqhcpenfyalf]

Do you ever worry about naphtha dissolving plastic containers not meant to hold volatile hydrocarbons?

[@stevenleffanue]

True , some plastics will begin to dissolve. Food grade plastics seem fine tho.

[@morph__]

Been following Steve's waxing advice for the past few years and believe it has saved me at least 2 replacement chains and prabably a cassette too. This is with one batch of candle wax + ptfe brew. I'll give this liquid a try as a "touch up" when I forget to do a proper hot wax. Thanks Steve!!

[@ianwilde1800]

i was ranting on then seen your post yup you right

[@coypatton3160]

I bet you could use a mix of camping stove gas with your hot wax base to have s liquid lube.

[@FooFahFoeFum]

Very interesting.. Church candles and PTFE... Where do you find the PTFE in the USA??

[@PaulStoopNL]

Hey Steve, Thanks fou your excellent explanation of your 'wax anywhere' recipe! I have just started immersion waxing my chains and have high expectations. With the 'wax anywhere' recipe I have one problem: Shellite of nafta is called petroleum ether or ligroïne here in the Netherlads but it is hard to come by. I can mail order it (not cheap) but it is not sold off the shelf. Do you have any suggestions for another solvent? Maybe lamp oil? I read that petroleum ether / nafta / ligroïne is also used as lamp oil... Best Paul PS O sorry I just read... Shellite equivalents.... benzine ,ligroin, petroleum ether ,white gasoline. Still unsure. Benzine or gasoline is fuel for cars right? I would not use that as lamp oil as it is highly flammable. But maybe I can stull use it to solve paraffine wax?

[@nordictenor]

I have had the same problem here in Denmark, I can't find anything just like shellite. I tried acetone, which everybody says should work, but it just didn't dissolve the wax. I now use Isopropanol 99% (see other video by Steve), it has to be heated to dissolve the wax, but it works, it is easy to come by and it can be used for other purposes too.

[@jybuys]

In NL it is called 'wasbenzine'. Gewoon bij de AH :)

[@ianwilde1800]

another good vid mate iv converted my bikes to wax its so much cleaner and the chain life is so much better and i live in wet region of the uk it really is best solution instead spending fortune on fancy dirty oils im still using the first lot of ptfe and wax a year later and i love it its clean my drivetrain looks butifull all nice shiny instead of horrible oily anyone looking to do this believe me i really love it and im cyclist i don't even own a car i have my 3 bikes hybrid mountain bike and road race bike

[@stevenleffanue]

Butiful 😁

[@ResmeN]

Love your work Oz cycle but I don't want to be breaking bad. Just wanna ride my bike man. I use regular lube & always get 10000km or more per chain

[@stevemullin1195]

I currently ride a recumbent trike and switched to the wax/PTFE hot wax last year...and I'm now switching to the silica hot wax mix for my tour this year. My chain is over 10' long and plan to switch to a 2nd chain every 300-400 miles. I have the super secret drip wax lube to treat the chain along my route if it needs it. Hoping to stay at some hostels and warm shower hosts along the way where I can do a proper rewax using a double boiler setup. My tour this year will be from Seattle to LA along the pacific coast route which is over 1600 miles...hoping to do this in less than 2 months averaging 40-50 mile days with camping everynight. I've got the park chain cleaner which I can use with degreaser, rubbing alcohol to clean the chain then treat the chain with my drip lube if the chain gets to dirty...but most of the route is on tarmac. Any suggestions on ways to maintain the chain on long tours?

[@corvus400]

Try vax remover liquid for cleaning your vaxed chain.

[@Kref3]

Question for the GERMAN guys around here: Is Naphta / Shellite the stuff we know as REINIGUNGSBENZIN here? And of course: Thanks Oz cycle for the content, really great.

[@jybuys]

I think so. In NL we call it 'wasbenzine'.

[@satpalmodinagar7172]

What we can use in place of naphtha?

[@pawelkarakula9010]

Is it okay to use this as only method, without hot waxing? Let's say i'm going to "pocket waxing" my chain with this mixture every 100km, like with those on the market (Momum, Pro Wax, etc).

[@stevenleffanue]

Yes you can. So relube the chain at least every 100km.

[@pawelkarakula9010]

@@stevenleffanue Fantastic. Thank You for Your work!

[@ChrisLowden]

Looking forward to watching this video. Truth, I look forward to all your uploads Steve and have put into practice many of your tips. Keep up the great work, always enjoyed and rewatched!

[@Suesses-Einhorn]

You are the best person for presenting this. I make 10 chains at once, clean them with car gas in a sealed container, let them sit over night, and rewash them one more time. You can reuse those 2 sealed containers and the same gas. Then i use the wax warmer for hair removal and wax all the chains. When i can hear some squeaking from the chain i put it into a old can and flush it with boiling water, put the chain out and eject the water from it and clean it with a rag. Then i rewax all 10 chains. Its very simple, you just dont want to breath those fumes, so do it outside. I use a latex glove over a working glove to handle hot stuff. And remember, gas is a fire hazard.

[@naz4323]

Hi serious question here, does it work with motorcycle O-Ring chain?

[@stevenleffanue]

No

[@kdw2176]

Would this be sutable for a couple of weeks trip away? Staying in hotels, and immersion waxing not really convenient

[@stevenleffanue]

Yes. Apply every 100km

[@VeloSansFin]

Hi Oz, According to your experience which carrier has worked best for you? 1) naphtha 2) iso-propyl alcohol 3)xylene+paraffin oil? is it ok to go with any of the three based on availability in our local stores?

[@stevenleffanue]

Best carrier gets the wax into the links before it evaporates. Shellite worked best but the three you mentioned are all good too. If you mix in paraffin oil the chain will attract a little dirt but prevents rust.

[@JeanFrancoisDesrosiers]

Careful with all and anything that is/was in contact with naphta. Mostly that paper towel you throw in the trash. It can react and ignite.

[@abirkhanrafee1889]

I dont have naphtha available in my country (Bangladesh) . What can i use instead of that? Will paint thinner do the trick?

[@stevenleffanue]

Google "hydrocarbon solvent in Bangladesh "....you should get a few ideas

[@stephenshoobert5930]

How do you prep the chain from oil lube to wax please?

[@stevenleffanue]

See the video " Ultimate chain clean".

[@dae3xt]

have you tried gasoline with parafin wax? won't that be the same thing? thanks for this video

[@stevenleffanue]

Gasoline contains oil, oil attracts dirt.

[@VeloSansFin]

Hi Oz, I did a 175km ride today with waxed chain and it was awesome. Thank you for the videos.

[@7had]

Steve have you ever tried substituting graphite for the 1:10 PTFE? I would rather not use PTFE as it is a "forever chemical".

[@stevenleffanue]

Yes graphene works but leaves dark grey marks on whatever it touches.

[@kostais]

First of all thank you very much! I tried to repeat both of your recepies of liquid wax. Of course I could not find the exact ingredients on my local market. I use: - xylol instead of xylene - kerosine instead of parafin oil - white-spirit instead of shellite These are probably not the same, but this works! The only problem is the smell of my ingredients. Do xylene and shellite have strong smell?

[@stevenleffanue]

Xylene evaporates very quickly leaving no smell. Shellite has very slight smell.

[@davidshepherd2927]

If the wax separates from the carrier solvent, you have the wrong solvent. Naphtha/camp stove fuel will remain mixed as a clear liquid, if there's not too much paraffin in the mixture, or the temperature too low. The two parts will not separate. If you get a paraffin and solvent mix that's white, warming the mixture should turn it into a clear liquid. If not, you have a suspension, not a mixture. That won't penetrate or lubricate as well as a true mixture. My mixture has a water-like viscosity and is completely clear when applied. When the solvent evaporates, it works like hot wax. A mixture of one part paraffin to 4-6 parts naphtha (by weight) will mix completely, but may need a temperature of at least 80F to remain clear. Lower temperatures turn the mixture into a mush. Acetone will not dissolve paraffin. The two will remain as some sort of suspension.

[@crabtrap]

very good observations. this is my first naptha/wax mix and as you stated it does appear clear. white lightning which is a similiar mix of naptha appears cloady and needs heavy shake to get milky consistancy. i normally just remove chain and hot wax in heated ultrasonic bin

[@darciobraga6941]

OZ I use you was formula with PTFE. That is fantastic! About this video I have a question or observation I believe that naphtha can damage the bike paint. For that reason I’d stick with alcohol.

[@stevenleffanue]

If you spill some on your paintwork simply wipe it off with a clean rag. The natpha evaporates quickly anyhow.

[@PatrickLino]

Great stuff OZ!

[@gilreitsma7348]

Thank you- have been waxing my chain since seeing your videos a few years back :). Do you have an eBay link to the bottles?

[@stevenleffanue]

Depends which country you live?

[@gilreitsma7348]

@@stevenleffanue Aussie :)

[@gilreitsma7348]

Or what size (ml) bottle are you using?

[@andrewmallagh3367]

Hi Steve, is there a reason why you have stopped using Isopropyl Alcohol in preference to Naptha for the carrier on the applicator lube ?

[@stevenleffanue]

IPA evaporates too fast and requires heating to dissolve the wax.

[@andrewmallagh3367]

@@stevenleffanue Thanks Steve, you put me onto chain waxing a few years ago and have never looked back, but I was still using IPA that you used to suggest. I would have thought fast evaporation would be good (?), but I have always had trouble dissolving wax in it. Heating it up to dissolve for the first time isn't an issue, but it does drop a lot out again as it cools. Does the Naptha dissolve a lot more wax per volume of carrier at room temperature ? Any idea how much more ? I am keen to use something that dissolves more wax to make it more effective, but when I look up 'Naptha' in the UK it is simply described it as a crude oil distillate and that cover a very wide range of oils depending on how light they are. It would appear Naptha is a generic term of crude oil distillate and I couldn't find anywhere to buy it under that name. Is here another chemical or commonly used name you can suggest ? Thanks for you help. Andrew

[@stevenleffanue]

Shellite is best. Yes it dissolves a lot of wax so you can make it as thick as you like. IPA evaporates before it gets into the links properly.

[@andrewmallagh3367]

@@stevenleffanue Looks like Shellite is a Australian specific brand name. Not really quite sure what it is and therefore how to source it. And I think Naphtha is a term that covers a range of crude oil distillates. This is a definition I have found online - 'any of various volatile, highly flammable liquid hydrocarbon mixtures used chiefly as solvents and diluents and as raw materials for conversion to gasoline'

[@andrewmallagh3367]

​@@stevenleffanue After a lot of online searching it looks like Shellite is an Australian only brand name and not available elsewhere. Naphtha is a generic term covering a wide range of chemicals produced by the fractional distillation of petroleum: it is the fraction that boils between gasoline and kerosene and is used as a fuel, solvent, and illuminant. As such Naphtha is not something that is specific to go out and buy off the shelf. To emphasize this, here is another definition - 'Naphtha comes in many varieties and each are referred to by separate names such as petroleum ether, petroleum spirits, mineral spirits, paraffin, benzine, hexane, ligroin, white oil or white gas, painters naphtha, refined solvent naphtha and Varnish makers' & painters' naphtha (VM&P)' to name a few. There are many definitions online that say something similar. If you can give us any more information about what you are now using, in terms of its chemical name, then that would be much appreciated. Maybe Shellite in Australia could help. That way I might be able to find an equivalent in the rest of the World. I'm keen to use the best option if you have found something better then IPA which I have certainly found has a low dissolution rate for paraffin wax at room temperature. Thanks again Andrew

[@dirkhunt9425]

Hello OZ, I have been using the PTFE/Paraffin mix and it works great. I keep 3 chains for my road bike and 3 chains for my gravel bike and just swap chains when needed. (that way I am only heating the crockpot with wax and a temperature controller one every other month or so). A year in and my chains have yet to show any wear at all. With the concerns of forever plastics, have you tried WS2 (Tungsten Disulfide) instead of the PTFE?

[@stevenleffanue]

Yes , tried WS2 quite a few years ago but it didn't prove as efficient as PTFE.

[@mickp10]

Thank you, quietest chain lube I have used (haven't tried crock pot waxing). The gear changing is silky smooth. I bought my parrifan wax beads from Spotlight, then mixed it into an old Pump water bottle, as tried a large applicator bottle but it leaked when shaking it.

[@DDai-qd8uk]

Hey mate, curious if you ever tried tungsten disulfide and how it compares to ptfe in your testing? Or perhaps combined them?

[@stevenleffanue]

PTFE presented less friction.WS2 leaves grey marks on what it contacts.

[@beefkd]

I strongly suggest informing yourselves about PTFE and what toxic crap it is if you want to add a dry lubricant please use MoS or WoS, for your health, for the environment

[@iskiiwizz536]

for the environment? What are you, a vegan?

[@beefkd]

@@iskiiwizz536 it's a PBT substance go do some research

[@pbalerig]

Great videos always thank you

[@simonklakegg4315]

Can I use liquid Mos2 instead of PTFE for the use anywhere wax? So that would be: carrier, wax, liquid mos2

[@stevenleffanue]

Yes , absolutely.

[@simonklakegg4315]

@@stevenleffanue Thanks!

[@danieletognozzi7641]

Dear OZ, I have been following your tips since a while. I have had great experiences with paraffin, the only doubts are about PTFE, it seems an ecological disaster and a dangerous material to be exposed to. I wonder how it would be to use graphene powder instead, but I am not sure whether it is possible to find some on the market. I don´t find much information on how to find some. Have you tried to get your hands on some? Thanks for your content.

[@yifankach]

I too couldn’t source PTFE, so I’ve been using graphene online, works perfect just looks black instead of white in the crevasses of the links

[@danieletognozzi7641]

@@yifankach oh thanks. How do you find graphene?

[@stevenleffanue]

Not tried it yet as it's not readily available

[@genixia]

How about graphite powder sold for lubricating locks?

[@danieletognozzi7641]

@@genixia I am trying now, will keep you posted.

[@Surestick88]

My only suggestion would be to ditch the PTFE powder (it's a "forever chemical" and not the most environmentally friendly) and use tungsten disulfide powder instead.

[@T_Town3737]

Does the naptha damage the paint on the bike ie the chain stay? Because naptha is also used to thin paint 🙂

[@stevenleffanue]

No as it has evaporated and leaves just the wax on the chain

[@T_Town3737]

@@stevenleffanue Tq for your speedy reply mate. can I use thinner or turpentine instead of naptha? Easier to obtain thinner and turpentine from a local hardware store here.

[@stevenleffanue]

A strong paint thinner should work.

[@LestaAZL]

How is the Shellite and Naphtha different than isopropyl? Cheaper?

[@richardpelletier3110]

Look at my earlier comments on the issue. Best dissovant of paraffin wax: xylene. Naptha second choice. isopropyl is not a very good dissolvant.

[@GeneralKato]

Just the cleanliness of this method pushed me over!

[@oefzdegoeggl]

Yeah that will work. But the solvent is nasty. Here in Germany, you can order a 5-liter can of 45% water-based wax emulsion (which should be pretty much what "squirt" is) for around 40€ from a supplier of technical chemicals. Pretty sure you get that from chemical suppliers anywhere in the world.

[@stevenleffanue]

Is it PARAFFIN wax?

[@oefzdegoeggl]

@@stevenleffanue Yes. Paraffine. Most likely not mixed with other nonsense as they sell this for technical applications like paper coating and stuff so they'd get their ass kicked quickly when mixing in some nonsense.

[@steva_nolimits]

The Magic Wax man 💪 no1 know with ur videos how many people started to wax their chains

[@stevenleffanue]

Like any industry improvements are made over time.

[@mythos14]

thanks for the update. have not managed to get a solution like this, but will try again with ur added information.

[@mythos14]

i used 3/4 of an candle (45gr.), 0.75 Liters of wihte spirits, table spoon ptft. it seams a bit to heavy on wax but we will see

[@Mububban23]

What’s the experience of quick links when people are regularly removing chains for hot wax baths? Officially some say not for repeated use but this must be occurring for chain removal?

[@giraffar9264]

as long as theres a crisp snap when installing or removing its still good, when you can remove it with bare hands its time to change it.

[@dirkgross1603]

I use the Shimano CN-HG701-11 speed chain with Shimano quick link. I use the same link for the life of the chain, which lasted 8500 miles for the last one. I use the crock pot method with PTFE every 200-250 miles.

[@Makebelieve123]

Does applying the naphtha drip lube not remove some of the dipped wax from the chain when reapplying ?

[@stevenleffanue]

Yes , to some extent, hence the need to reapply every 100km for the drip wax.

[@Makebelieve123]

@@stevenleffanue thanks Steve…I’m have 2 chains which I dip, but don’t like the sticky residue from some of the drip on lubes on the market , hence I’ve tried making your mix…I’ve Made a few samples different viscosities. I’m happy to use the drip on after every ride if I have to…preserving my new expensive groupset is the first reason, the clean and silent chain is the secondary reason. Thank you

[@MountainParameters]

I got a lot of bottles of liquid paraffin years ago and have been using it as chain lube. As we ride in the winter when temps can drop to -20C, I have noticed that the small bottle I carry does freeze at temps below -5C, so I guess my next idea will be to make a more viscose 'winter mix' by adding some naptha. Also I have learned here that adding ptfe would also be a good idea.

[@MountainParameters]

@@sabertoothmeowsi I find it seems to fade away quite quickly so I keep a mister bottle of it in my bag and usually spray it on every few days I use it full strength from the bottle, at the moment with no naptha, etc. Probably next winter I'll use the naptha as this stuff can freeze, but I'll have to titrate the ratio, I'll probably start with about 25% naptha.

[@suryandiimanuel264]

U think we can use wash benzine for replace shellite? Because in my place not have shellite just have wash benzine, thanks for your answer🙏🏼

[@stevenleffanue]

Yes it should work.

[@jybuys]

In NL we call it 'wasbenzine'.

[@yodel_diploma2315]

Very good advice! Would this work with an atomizer also?

[@yodel_diploma2315]

Update: I tested a squirt bottle, unfortunately it jams up quickly.

[@DavidCanet]

is it TURPENTINE PLEASE? INSTEAD OF SHELITE ? THANKS

[@stevenleffanue]

No. White spirits will work.

[@Thomas-vx8yf]

thanks for the video greetings from Greece

[@wiciman5388]

Thanx for a great video! I live in Sweden where Shellite is hard to come by. I have sourced some of your suggested alternative carrier solutions (white gasoline f ex) but I am having a hard time getting the paraffin to melt all the way. I use pellets, not shavings like in the video. Through the glass jar, I can see that the pellets start to melt but only to about 50%. I have tried adding more fluid, shaking the jar, leaving for a week but still no luck. Can I use a stand mixer to get the mix completely dissolved?

[@stevenleffanue]

Eventually the pellets will dissolve. Meantime you could make another batch with shavings instead of pellets?

[@michalsuchy8902]

Just heat it.

[@stefanwagener]

I swapped to waxing two years ago by following the advices here and couldn't be more happy. Thanks a lot! But one question to hot rewaxing in the rice cooker. After initial waxing the wax in the cooker is still clean, but after reusing it for the first rewaxing the wax gets dirty because the chain isn't really clean after using boiling water. When do you think is the point of replacing the wax in the cooker completely? Or do you use fresh wax every time? I saw that the bottom of wax in the cooker is more dirty than the top, so probably some sediments falling to the ground of the cooker. So cutting the lower part of the chunk might leave a more clean upper part of the wax but cutting isn't really easy. So any tips when to replace the wax or how to maximize the reuse of the wax?

[@stevenleffanue]

It happens to all immersive waxing unfortunately. Even so , with the wax going greyer with every waxing the chain life is still very long because of the low friction. I recommend making a new wax batch before it gets dark grey.

[@tonyhands-heart5492]

Can't find Shellite or Naphtha in UK ?

[@davehunt6998]

I`m gonna try mineral oil used on chopping boards 🤔