TobinHatesYou wrote: ↑Mon Sep 13, 2021 6:07 pm
And my bet is that 1:10 PTFE:wax by weight (as recommended by Oz and his disciple musiclover) is worse than plain paraffin. Would you support that assumption?
In Oz's comments in his most recent wax recipe video, he states that plain paraffin alone is much less durable than a 1:10 PTFE mix and requires much more frequent rewaxing (he says 100km vs 300km), so it's not just about friction.
I am new to this waxing lark, but I am keen to learn. I am currently using Oz's 1:10 formula, but I will probably try the Silca Secret Chain Blend for my next batch as the published test results for both efficiency and longevity are second to none, and it's not all that expensive in absolute terms when you factor in the number of chains you can treat with it. (Would be nice to have some proper test comparisons against Oz's formula).
Nevertheless, my experiences with Oz's blend so far are very promising. In my Crockpot, the PTFE powder blended into the wax with no caking or clumping, and the mixed "solution" has a smooth, milky appearence when molten. My top up bottle made from wax shavings and isopropyl alcochol has remained as a milky solution without lumps or clumps after initial heating and shaking when cool, although I have yet to use it on a chain.
I have prepped 4 bikes and they're all now running with waxed chains and I have a few other chains ready for rotation:
Bike 1: Aero bike - Red AXS Chain - 258 mi / 412.8 km on first wax with no top ups. Mostly dry rides, but caught in some light showers. Drive train is still quiet, clean and smooth.
Bike 2: Winter bike - Force AXS Chain - 63 mi / 100 km on first wax, no top ups. Wet and very wet rides, wiped down with microfibre towel post ride. Still quiet, clean, smooth and no rust. This will be the big test over the next few months.
Bike 3: Steel bike - KMC EL 11 Gold Chain - 45 mi / 72 km. Only one ride so far, but gold chain absolutely gleaming and drive train looks and sounds great! Occasional use bike.
Bike 4: Light bike - KMC EL 11 Silver - 0 miles. Just put the chain on last night, but too wet to ride this one today. This will probably end up on smart trainer over winter.
I am really sold on the cleanliness and the promises of increased drive train component life (especially given the cost of AXS and Red 22 cassettes!), and I am really hoping I can make wax work for me over a typical wet Scottish winter/autumm/spring.