The Silca Ultimate Chain Wax system, when used in conjunction with Silca’s own secret chain blend hot wax and stripchip hot melt chain degreaser, will allow you to degrease and wax a new bike chain with no prep and minimal effort.
It consists of a chain coupler adjoined to a chain hanging stand, plus a wax melter. The wax melter is positioned within the stand, then filled with 300g of secret chain blend hot wax, leaving 20mm at the top of the pot.
If degreasing and waxing together.
Push the temperature beyond its automatic 75°c to 125°c, then once the wax starts to melt, break off one piece of stripchip and place it on top of the wax.
Allow the wax and hot melt chain degreaser to fully melt, so that the stripchip is no longer visible, then use a cable coupler to lower your chain into the mixture, threading it through five to six links of the chain, spread out to allow a good number of links between each of these. Gently agitate it for 30 seconds, being sure not to spray wax outside the wax melter, then let it sit for 10 minutes.
Finally, agitate the chain for another 30 seconds, then lower the temperature of the machine back down to 75°c. Once it reaches that temperature, which should take around 10 minutes, it will be safe to use the cable coupler to remove the chain and hang it to dry on a waxing stand, before turning the wax melter off. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before handling or installing on your bike.
Please note, it’s easier if you articulate each link before installing, to break down the wax, and it may take 10-20 minutes of pedalling to break in the new chain.
If degreasing and waxing without stripchip.
Degreasing without stripchip requires an extra step and a bottle of silca’s ultimate chain stripper + wax prep. Two options are possible, you can add the ultimate chain stripper to an ultra-sonic cleaner for best results or simply find a glass jar with a tight-fitting lid, pour in 29ml of the solution, submerge the chain and shake.
Next, leave to soak for 10 minutes, to allow the solution to penetrate every part of the chain, then agitate again. Pour out the stripper, rinse and agitate in water, then repeat the rinsing process twice more. Finally, remove the chain and dry thoroughly with a microfibre towel before waxing.
Waxing the chain without stripchip.
Spread the chain out on the cable coupler, again looping through five or six links and letting the spare chain hang. Lower the chain into the molten wax, which will have melted at the standard 75°c. Allow a portion of the coupler to remain above the surface, though, for easy retrieval.
Agitate the chain in the wax, using the cable coupler, until no more bubbles from trapped air appear, at which point the wax should have fully penetrated between the rollers and pins of the chain. Now, slowly raise the chain and hang it from the drip stand by the cable coupler, to drip into the pot. Again, allow to cool for 10-15 minutes before handling or installing on your bike.
Please note, it’s easier if you articulate each link before installing, to break down the wax, and it may take 10-20 minutes of pedalling to break in the new chain.
If your chain has a quick link, this is not suitable for immersion in hot melt wax. If desired, instead apply silca super secret wax lube chain coating after you have installed the newly waxed chain. Be sure to allow a few hours’ drying time before use after applying on the rollers and pins, though.
Please follow manufacturer’s instructions for quick link usage with your chain.