I finally tried wax-based chain lube after years of oily mess

I always thought wax lube was just a fad for weekend cruisers, but after 6 months of commuting in the rain here in Portland, I gave it a shot. My drivetrain stays clean for weeks now and I don't have black gunk all over my pants. Anyone else have a product they resisted that ended up surprising them?

2 comments

2 Comments

nina_butler3d ago

Oh man, that Portland rain is brutal on chains, right? I was a "wet lube or bust" guy for years, thinking wax would just wash off the second I hit a puddle. What finally got me was the grime buildup making me re-cable my shifters every three months. Switched to a drip wax last spring and my drivetrain actually looks new after a thousand miles. Only heads up is you gotta let it dry completely, like overnight if you can, or it turns into a sticky paste instead of a clean coating.

abbyd363d ago

That thing about letting it dry overnight is spot on. I learned that the hard way when I got impatient and lubed my chain right before a ride, ended up with a sticky mess that actually attracted more dirt than regular lube. Had to scrub the whole drivetrain with degreaser and start over. @nina_butler you been using that Squirt or Silca stuff? I tried the Molten Speed Wax dip method for a while but the drip is way less hassle since I don't have to pull the chain off every time.