I never comment or even "like" YT videos. But this is as straight to the point and clear as it can be. I'm going to give it a go! Thank you

Thanks for covering the quick link re-use question in the FAQ section. I’ve been wondering about that forever. Thanks for the great video!

hands down. best tutorial I've ever watched. Thank you and long life for you!

Great explanation! Thanks for the video

Never heard of this before, will give it a try!

The best "how to wax video" yet. Exactly how I do mine. You streamlined most of the things others do unnecessarily.

really simple guide, good job

Clicked for the sassy thumbnail, stayed for the great tutorial

Great vid, easy and simply explained.

Great video and explanation with all the details

Thumbs up the nod to ZFC. Adam is fantastic and an absolute mega-contributor to the cycling community. He is the gold standard when it comes to all chain things.

Great video and solid information without all of the fluff. I've been doing is exactly the same way for a year now. The only thing I do differently is when I'm ready to re-wax a chain that has been previously waxed, I boil it first.

Great stuff

Since I ride a recumbent trike my chain is huge. It's at least 2 if not 3 standard bike chains. If I decide to start hot waxing I'll definately go with the crock pot method. Good video!

Great video! Super easy to follow your technique. I will give it a shot before installing my new chain. Cheers!

Nice one! I am way too lazy and I use squirt wax based lube. Even with that one it is recommended to clean the chain as you showed, I even bought the jars but never did a proper clean yet.

Spot on how I figured out to do it, but I watched like 10 videos. Should have just watched this one.

Good vid. 👍

Thank you. I liked your video. Great tips for a beginner like me. Best regards.

Great video! Just ordered a bag of Silca wax to put on my new Canyon Grizl, have done a couple of rides with regular lube but it gunks op so quickly. Hoping this will be much cleaner and longer lasting!

Great video inspired me to use an old crock pot and do my chains.

Legend

Thank you for this excellent video. When waxing the first time, do we need to do any kind of special cleaning of the cassette and chain rings and derailleur since they have had a oily chain running through or just basic cleaning with degreaser and brush is enough?

Youve sold it to me been using squirt for a bit but this seems much easier after the initial cleaning

Honestly great guide, seen so many others which have just convoluted the whole process. Defininitely making the leap to waxed chains after watching this! Only question - when cleaning your bike after a ride, upon washing the frame, do you have to be careful not to get the chain wet? Or what's your process of washing the bike? Thanks.

This is a great and very clear video. Can you answer 1 question. I am doing LEJOG in may which will be around 1600 km. Clearly I cannot carry lots of chains so how do you maintain the chain on a long distance ride.

Thanks for the information how long the bag is usable....i was looking for this information....you are the first guy talking about it...i thought 45 to 50 bucks is a little much for one time use.

I did your cleaning method and then ultrasonicated with a water based degreaser - soooooo much more came out.

Nice video, thanks. 👍 Are there issues with chain rust? Would you recommend this method for others who live in not so sunny places? Do you use waxed chains in summer only or in both summer and winter? 🤔 cheers! JB

Great video mate! At the beginning and at 7:21 in the video you are standing in front of what appears to be some really cool cycling art. Any details where I can find it?

Nice video. Couple of questions/points: 1. What no one ever talks about is the cassette. Are you still supposed to lube that or apply GT85 as that will rust if just left as bare metal especially if you ride gravel or off road in wet and nasty conditions. 2. Another thing about waxing is the toxic chemicals used during the process. Ideally it should be done in a well ventilated area and using gloves. I’ve just started getting into chain waxing (how sad) and have started off with the finish line wax lube however, when you read the back of the bottle it contains some extremely toxic ingredients so always good to bear this in mind. Likewise with white spirit and the like. Not good for skin or the airwaves. Also it’s a PITA to dispose of if you want to do so in an ethical manner and not just pour it al into the water system. For me, some of this almost makes me think traditional lube is a better solution however I am sure the manufacturing process of this is also not great for the environment. Food for thought!

Great video, thanks! Will the chain stay clean - ie not pick up much in the way of road contaminents, or do i need to do a full wash routine between waxes?

Hi Jason nice straight forward video. However turpentine, mineral spirits are both banned in California. Do you have another alternative that I can use?

Yeah quick links...i use them also more often.

Good summary, I do pretty much just as you describe. One difference is I use ultrasonic cleaner at the initial clean stage and also for the first wax to 'drive' the tungsten disulphide into the chain imperfections (no point after that as they are in there permanently). Also no point if not using a wax blend with that type of micro particle additive. Probably sounds crazy but I also keep a spreadsheet with all the chains I have and on which bike with the miles on each as it's really easy to lose track of what in on what and how many miles covered (in which type of weather).

Thanks for this video! I am just about to join the chain waxing bandwagon. Can i use 'No Nonsense Methylated Spirit' fron Screwfix (it says Ethanol but its purple in colour so got me worried) in place of the Isopropyl Alcohol?

Ultrasonic cleaner is like $100 USD and it more efficiently passes the chemicals through the rollers. Leave the denatured alcohol on the chain when you hot wax - the etoh evaporates and forces the wax into the rollers. Connex links can be used many many times instead of the “one time use” ones that everyone uses a dozen times.

Thanks Jason. Do I need to clean the chain rings and rear cassette thoroughly before waxing the chain?

Hi, great video! I use UFO drip but am considering using the silica wax (but in the bag rather than in the slow cooker as my wife would kill me). Does it leave any flakes on the bike following 2/3 rides? Hopefully that makes sense - cheers

i just want to ask, do you do a full submersive max every time or just initially and top it up with drip?

great video thanks! couple of questions/clarifications........1. do you just leave the wax in the slow cooker and then reheat it each time you re-wax?, 2. i've heard a lot of people talk about how great waxed chains are in the dry but how do they hold up in grim wet and cruddy winter cycling seasons (like in the UK 🙂) - is it still 300k ish before a rewax? 3. assuming the chain is dirty during winter then do you need to do a deeper clean before re-waxing? thanks!!!

Nice video! But for that amount of money, i could buy three new chains. But if i do not have a wax heater, can i use two cooking pots, one bigger to boil water and a smaller one, which i can put into the bigger one, to heat the wax?

👍🏼 - yea just keep it nice and simple What I want to know now is: How should I decrease my current drive train properly before using the waxed chain. Should I take apart the cassette etc??

So when it comes to re-waxing a chain I have taken the process to another level to ensure that the chain is clean and doesn't contaminate the wax. I submerge the chain in boiling water, remove and wipe the surface clean with a cloth. Then I lay the chain down on an old white towel and using a steam cleaner hit every link with steam. You'd be surprised at how much black wax comes out of the links of that "clean" chain. Once dry it is now ready for a new waxing. I do this with 4-5 chains at a time so at most this is a monthly routine in the summer. PS Up until now I have only used a paraffin and paraffin oil mix, no PFAS. Secret Chain claims not to have PFAS so perhaps I will give that a try.

Hej Jason, love the video thanks for the great explanation. I got myself a used Crockpot for the melting and on low it takes ages. Which model are you using since it only takes a few minutes as you got it melted while showering :)

Great video - thank you for this. Would you recommend waxing for gravel bikes, or is it not worth the effort? I live in the north of Scotland, so on the majority of gravel rides, my chain/bike will get a bit wet at points.

What do you do with the acetone and turpentine after you use them to clean the chains? Do you put them down the drain?

Jason I have noticed that every video that I watch about wax and cleaning chains always uses Shimano chains. Is the process the same for SRAM chains especially the one with the flat top?

I actually find it easier to clean a used chain, because factory grease is harder to remove than any chain lube I've used.

Great video ! Can we use a pan on very low heat instead of the pot ?

Since many years I reuse the quicklink for the whole chain life. Means around 20-50 times, depending how often i clean the chain off the bike! Never had a problem, they still click in nicely. I do that for Shimano and Sram chains.

Hello. After installing my new waxed chain, the chain is skipping when going up from cog 12 to 11 and 10. Both the cassette and the chain are new. And the chain has been installed correctly. I have cycled around 1h. Should it take longer to bed in? Or should I adjust the derailleur? It is a dura ace 12 speed chain. Thanks!

i now wax my chain & its amazing, but interestingly for me, my slow cooker didn't melt the wax at low (60-70 degrees celcius), had to put it on medium (80-90)

I am an absolute new cyclist. Only using a Brompton for leisure and commuting in London. I have no idea about what kind of care my chain needs except for cleaning and putting a wet lube (it rains a lot here). So, what I get from this tutorial is that to keep my chain nice, clean and efficient, all I really need is to wax it every 200-300km. Is that it?

Also just use cheap candle wax. It’s all the same. Add Teflon powder if you are keen, but make sure it’s super micro fine or it won’t penetrate. Bought chain waxes are just marketing

Do you think if I just use UFO drip rather than immersion, how much worse is it?

Just seen this video.. can i ask, does it work on Gravel Bikes??? Have you or anyone else waxed a chain for Gravel.. Many thanks 👍

Can i just use the waxed based lube instead of the submersion? If i use the wax submersion, can i just use the drip wax lube after those 2-300km for the rest of the chain life? Thanks a great video.

Is waxing any good for daily commutes all yr round in all weathers? I commute almost every day on shifts here in Ireland including the rain. Mudguards fitted .

Do I just leave the wax in the pot until the next time I melt it down for reapplication? Thank you for the great video btw!

Can you describe the steps for rewaxing a dirty mtb chain? How many times do you recommend for each step? I’m curious because I’ve soaked/shaken with mineral spirits about 5x and the liquid is still fairly dirty. Continue until it’s clear before moving to alcohol stage?

I’m really new, so please forgive me if this is a stupid question, but would you wax the cassettes? Reason I ask is that I bought a second hand bike a few months bag, been using wet lube so far but I want to start waxing at some point. So when I replace the chain, would I need to clean and wax the cassette to make sure it’s clear of any lube and grime?

When one lot of wax is "done" (too dirty to continue using), what is the most environmentally responsible way to dispose of it?

Do you notice more noise on your drive chain with this? I have followed all the steps but it is much louder than expected

How are we supposed to dispose of the acetone and mineral spirits?

For years I have been waxing my chains with excellent results and I've developed a system that is far simpler than the waxing procedure described above. It is potentially cheaper as well though for convenience sake, I splurged on the heating mechanism for its convenience and simplicity. I did try a crock pot but heating the lubricant took an unacceptably long time. I was surprised that Jason's crock pot was so fast though I'm unsure whether or not he brought the paraffin to liquid state prior to immersing the chains.. First, with regard to cleaning the chain: I respectfully submit that the procedure described is both more expensive and time-consuming. I do agree that starting with a clean chain is best since trying to clean a dirty chain is undeniably messy and requires multiple steps. With a used and dirty chain, Jason's procedure will work well. To remove almost all the preservative grease from a new chain, I just pour some gasoline into a small pan and swirl the chain around for a minute or two. Some residual grease will remain but only a very small, almost imperceptible amount that will be eliminated once the chain is immersed in the lubricant mix. The greasy gas will be used by the lawn mower. I use a Duxtop Portable Induction Cooktop, Countertop Burner Induction Hot Plate with LCD Sensor and a Duxtop Whole-Clad Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Saucepan with Lid, 1.6 Quart, Kitchen Induction Cookware. I use a strainer that I got at the grocery store that nests nicely in the pan making chain-handling simpler than using spokes. Obviously cheaper alternatives are available but I really like this combination. The main objection to the lubricant used is that the expense is exorbitant. One can go to most stores or even to Amazon and buy a box of canning paraffin (US term) for about $3. The missing ingredient is motor oil. Mixing a pound of canning paraffin with 9 ounces of motor oil produces a very effective lube that does not attract dirt and the chain is completely flexible. Shifting is quick and, of course, the chain is silent. I relube every 300 miles but the lube may last longer though I haven't tested for this. I bring the temperature of the lube to 140 F and at that temperature, the lube has the consistency of water. It takes less than a minute for the lube to completely reach the inner parts of the chain. I made up a solution of this lube over 20 years ago and I have been using it ever since since relubing a chain takes only a extremely small amount of lube. Another advantage of chain waxing is that the entire chain is protected from corrosion. This is something to consider if riding in the rain is a frequent experience. In maritime areas this is good as well. Alas, no solution is perfect. Chain waxing is something done at home. When it comes to multiday tours and gravel riding, especially in races that can last hundreds or even thousands of miles, the chain's lube won't last as long as the ride. In this case a different lube is required. Dumonde Tech is a favorite for these rides. For my next tour, I'll be using it. It has been highly praised in Bicycling Quarterly. You may find the following link interesting: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/asd9bL2d3ZnViWQ.html

Please stop using our kitchen appliances for weird things Jason…

Ever tried to use stearic acid in the mix as a fat, oil an dirt solidifier?

Bravo...............i just sub to you channel

How about longevity in rainy weather, live in sweden. And occasionally it can rain almost everyday for weeks, and winter time how about that?

how do you store the ax to be reused?

Today I cleaned my new shimano chain using this method. I shook the chain 4 times in white spirit and the first time let it soak for 15min. Then shook 4 times in denatured alcohol. I wiped the chain with a cloth after each time. I noticed that after the last bath in alcohol there was still a little dark residue left on the cloth. So there would still be a little factory grease residue left on the chain. I'm not going to hot wax it this time but going to try Squirt - would this little factory grease residue be a problem in the long run?

I didn't understand what you said about when to remove the chain from the wax , I let mine stay until the wax cool down , what's the problem with that ? You said something I couldn't understand sorry!

Does waxing suitable for muddy or sandy area ?

How do I prep the crankset and cassette if i'm converting to wax?

How many liter is your slow cooker?

Please note: Not sure about using a hair dryer near and on flammables!!!!

I wonder if someone did it on a used chain. I could imagine the wax occupying a bit of space which reduces some of the stretch

3:22 I promise you, you are not evaporating grease here haha. If there is any grease on this chain at this point, it will be there after the alcohol evaporates.

Im hearing that waxed chains are noisy, is that correct?

I waxed my chain using some basic white candles. Cost 4 euros total and it does the job perfectly fine. First waxbath gets rid of most of the stuff you miss while degreasing so 2 or three baths in clean wax will get you a good result. I was surprised at how well it worked given the chain wasn't factory clean.

Great video. But Why you wearing warm winter hat in a apartment :)

Don’t use glass jars. They can smash.

Why not wax the super look?

Nice copy of Oz Cycle the original chain waxer!

Dude, probably a little risky using electric appliances around flammable liquids. I wouldn’t use the hair dryer

flash evaporating the grease away???? what kind of mad science is this?

You are using the word 'literally' as an unnecessary filler word

you are not simplifying things at all. you are repeating the tired old myth of chain cleaning, which is anything but simple. you dont need to remove the factory grease so you can omit those steps entirely. the liquid paraffin which we use to soften the candle wax of our chain waxes, is a very powerful solvent (used by generations of mechanics to clean things), esp when HOT! and will dissolve the grease as well as any other solvent, and it will not be harmful in the resulting mixture. in fact it will be beneficial because it potentially has some anti rust properties. the wax will bond perfectly well to the chain without a preparatory clean in another solvent. its just a waste of time. just put the new chain in your hot wax pot and your done. an old chain, esp one thats been oiled, then yes its best to clean it in separate solvent first so as not to contaminate the wax pot with dirt