Congrats on your shipping, thats was what surprised me. I am in Japan and I have ordered many things recently, all before I ordered your wax kit. I am still waiting for all of them, but your box arrived within a couple of days. I usually avoid ordering from small single shop sites like the plague, but I'll happily use your online shop again.
Looks like Strip Chip is just the thing that will get me into chain waxing. I use drip on wax now, and while it can be quiet and smooth, it still gets very dirty if the chain isn't 100% degreased and it's difficult to get the drip wax deep into the rollers. I think we reached the turning point, where submerging chains in wax is the simplest option.
I got the chips and luckly the wax ststem also. I didn’t use the chips as my chain was already pretty dirty, so I just went ahead and stripped it real quick. It does take probably a half an hour to melt the wax at 75* so just be aware of that. once melted i put the chain in there moved it around to to get all the bubbles until they were gone in 3 minutes. put it on the hanger unplugged the unit as it doesn’t seem to shut off when I push the button. The wax came out very nicely on the chain not all clumpy like I used to do it on the stovetop bag in boiling water. Moved around each individual link, put it on the bike did a 15 mile bike ride with some noise from the wax coming off the chain which is normal, and after a while it was completely silent. I think you have hit a home run with this product.
Got my kit, I had mounted a new waxed chain 1 month ago. Time to wax a couple more for my rotation. So…woke up, unboxed. Two strip chips later and new KMC and SRAM XX1 chains are beautifully waxed. Before 9 AM. Off to ride…SO MANY THANKS, THIS IS AMAZING!
So I ordered this whole set up and 4 chains. Am I to understand I put a bunch of wax in the Silca pot with a strip chip. Heat it up. Drop chain in. Next new chain I just add another strip chip and use the same wax?
Funny that often the focus is on being environmentally friendly, and then microfiber towels are recommended. Nonetheless great innovation and thanks for the answers!
I wish you would do an in depth video on how to prep the drive train for switching to a wax chain. I've looked all over you tube, and nobody really covers this. I'm not a bike mechanic, and know just enough to get myself in trouble most of the time. I have bought the whole system and am eager to switch to using a wax chain. Looks like the days of having a greased chain mark on my calf are about over.
The rest of the drivetrain just needs to be cleaned using a degreaser and then soapy water.. nothing special, just needs to be clean and dry when you reassemble and the waxed chain will keep it sparkling from there!!
Just got mine. Love it! I had no idea that SILCA was a local Indianapolis company. I waxed 3 chains with it; one older one and two new ones. Strip chips worked very well with the new chains and the older stripped chain without a strip chip. Temp control is great, and the directions were very clear.
hi, and how you wax 2nd new chain? For 1st one u used cca 300g of wax plus 1 tablet of strip chip and for 2nd chain u add another tablet of strip chip to that same pot? ... I have 2 new chains and want to wax them booth on the same pot.
Candle wax melting pot w/ hi and low settings melts wax faster on low than the Silca on hi… For less than half the cost. Plus you can buy paraffin wax at your discount stores for $4 a pound, a fraction of the cost of the “bike chain wax”!
Seems like the strip chip approach will be perfect for those of us who have gone to a two-bath waxing process. I have two crocks. Bath one has older wax, and crock two has fresher/cleaner stuff. I'll be adding a strip chip into bath one now. Getting my order Monday🤓
Thanks for the video! Request/suggestion - I would love to see a video on what you’ve learned and tips from ultra endurance athletes who use Silca. Thanks!
Great stuff! got my pot,strip chip and wax within 3 business days. Minor complaint, the cable you "screw" into the handle, broke off while trying to unscrew after dumping it into the hot wax.
I started running Silca wax on my chain 2 years ago and haven't looked back since. I just now purchased the wax melter and some additional sealant/replenisher from the official Silca website, because they're both amazing products IMO. The biggest barrier for me ordering anything from Silca in the past was the shipping costs outside of the US, which were quite high. I wasn't initally planning on ordering anything today due to how expensive the shipping/VAT had been on previous orders. I was very happy to see the prices on the website in Canadian and most importantly, FREE SHIPPING to Canada, finally!!! (unsure if there is a required minimum purchase amount to qualify for free shipping but happy either way). Love your products and look forward to the next game changing development from Silca
Is there an optimum temperature at which to pull out the chain once you've waxed it? I always seem to leave it too late and let it cool too much before pulling out resulting on loads of wax clumping on the chain when it dries.
IFL science! I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival! Question: When you say the "remaining wax is good for 70-80 waxings" are those re-waxings of a stripped chain and waxed chain or stripping a brand new chain and waxing it? I would assume the former but, want to be sure.
If I’m doing 3 chains back to back do I need to add some more wax pellets after the first or second batch if I only add 350g of it at first or just drop in a new chip? After the first chain should I let the mixture cool down all the way or can I just take it from 75 back up to 90 after removing the first chain add the chip and repeat. Thanks
I am in the Uk and will get a wax melter from Sigma Sports (they say) in late April on pre-order. Their data says the meter will work on either 115 or 240V on their website so I expect that's accurate info.
I've seen a couple videos where the chain handle fell into the wax. I think it needs some reengineering...make the chain longer?, add a hanger on the red tower to hold it while hot waxing?,???
@SILCAVelo I'm a little confused. Does the stripchip/factory gunk mixture seperate from the wax as it cools so you can remove it? If not, when you come to either wax a fresh chain or rewax an old one, there will be stripchip/grease etc in the mixture, diluting it so you won't be able to wax anything esle correctly? admittedly i am a bit of newbie ahving go the wax for christmas and only done 100 or so miles on each bike since so i haven't even rewaxed yet (I was going to use the super secret drip wax - but this makes rewaxing so easy...)
So, I am a little fuzzy on this as well, but what I gleaned from the video was, you can use 1 strip chip per new factory lubed chain. BUT, you do not want to do "back to back" strip chips in the wax as it could make the chip-to-wax ratio too high. Sounds like the optimal method would be - do 1 factory new lubed chain to 1 chip. At some point you can add another chip to the same wax - but I'm also new to waxing so I'm not certain at what point this would be. You can continue to wax in the first "chipped" wax, but (after the initial chipped-wax) you will want to manually strip any new factory lubed chains until you add another chip (again, not 100% on when this would occur; maybe 4 or 5 reuses of the original wax/chip?) The "original chain lube" will be "waxified" in the pot (thanks to the stripchip) so you can wax said-stripped chains in the pot with original mixture all you want.
The StripChip converts the factory grease into a wax-like substance which just becomes a part of the wax itself. You can just continue to use the wax after using StripChip and will not see any reduction in performance.
It sounds like I can get rid of my ultrasonic tank and crockpot. The strip chip doesn’t seem like a product I’d use, I’d keep using chain stripper. Will you offer the melter as a standalone product?
"Nostalgia - its delicate, but potent. Lance told me that in Greek nostalgia literally means “the pain from an old wound.” It’s a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone. This device isn’t a crockpot, it’s a time machine. It goes backwards, and forwards… it takes us to a place where we ache to go again. It’s not called the wheel, it’s called the Silca Wax2dMax. It let’s us travel the way a child travels - around and around, and back home again, to a place where we know are loved... ...for JUST $99.99 with your Silca Membership"
Question: I listened to the entire video, and read the instructions that came with the new "Wax Melter". What I didn't hear or find in the instructions, was how long should a re-wax session last. I get that we set it to 75 degrees (c) for waxing without a chip, but once the wax melts and the chain is submerged, how long do we leave it in the wax (occasionally agitating) before pulling it from the wax? And like the old Instant Pot instructions, should we turn off the Wax Melter and let the wax start to cool somewhat before removing and letting the chain dry?
The chain needs ~5 minutes to fully come to temperature for a rewaxing.. you'll notice if you pull it early as it will be caked with wax as the cold chain in the wax makes what looks like a rock candy stick with wax just flash hardened to the outside of it.. after a few minutes, all comes to temp and it's ready to pull. No need to allow the wax to cool with the pot.. we recommended that as most crockpots on low run 90-100C which can leave the wax a bit too thin, but at 75 you are just a few degrees above the wax solidification temp, so you can pull it and hang from there and all is good.
Perfect. That makes a lot of sense and I’m glad I asked. New SRAM Red chain ready for a “Chip and a dip”!!! And yes, I will bump the heat up when adding a chip per the instructions.
Hey, I have a new factory chain that I will wax with strip chip and wax in the heater. Can I put another new chain in this wax in a couple of months? Or do I need to empty out the wax and take the new chain in the wax and add a new strip chip to the mix?
There’s a big difference between the viscosity of the factory grease/oil on say, a shimano higher end chain and a campag or Sram chain. Was it tested on the thickest, hardest to remove factory grease when deciding on the 6 chain range
So I need to get chain stripper for a used chain, but you only sell these in large quantities. It would be nice to have smaller bottles for those who don't need to strip dozens of chains and just want to get their used chain waxed.
OK now I’m worried that I’ve damaged the secret chain wax in my $12 crockpot when waxing and rewaxing my chain not paying attention to the temperature when it’s set on high. How do I know if I’m affecting performance or longevity of the wax?
Do you have a patent or any other published material on the technical aspects of StripChip? I'd like to see more detail than is likely to be popular on a youtube video, though I appreciate some things may be a trade secret.
hey @SILCAVelo apologies if i've missed this in the video, but when cooling from 125c to 75c (or even increasing up to those temps) is there a way of know that it has reached temp, I was kind of expecting a tone or something when it has reached temperature, when going up to 125c i see it creeping up but it reaches 125c before the was has melted so am assuming that its the PID target temp I am seeing rather than the actual temp, but at 75c there isn't really any indication that the wax is at temp. or am i just not being patient enough?
Hi, big fan of Silca; have tons of product. As such, you sold me on the kit, but I have one key comment of feedback / concern. In more than 30+ years of riding, I have never waxed a chain (I use Silca lubricant). So, given I am a total wax newb, can you do a video and/or a tip sheet for someone like me? For starters... - I ride Campy. I assume this is "chain neutral." (Y/n) - What else do I need to know, i.e., how often am I pulling the chain off and waxing? Or do I keep one chain on, one chain waxed and swap them out over XXX miles? My guess is for every "wax pro" that has rushed to buy this product for its ease of use, you will have total newbs like me that are willing to give this a try, but will need a bit more details / instruction.
I'm sure this has been covered a hundred times before but I have to ask: When you're re-waxing these commuter chains that see a ton of miles and therefore many re-waxings are you just churning through a bunch of quick links? Or is everyone on Wippermans? Thanks!
There is something I missed. What do you do with the hot wax that remains in the pot after you took the chain out? Can it be re-used for waxing again?? If yes how many times? Thanks!
I have a crockpot with super secret wax in it (covered). I've done four chains with chain stripper and immersion. Can I use that wax with the strip chip? I dont see why not, but digured i would ask.
So - semi stupid question, I ran out of Silica Chain stripper , I had a Jar of the Silica Bio Degreaser (lots of it) so I took a NEW XX1 chain and put into the 6 oz of Silical Biodegreaser just Like a I would for the Silica chain stripper, agitated for 1 min and soaked for 10 the agitated again, took the chain out and hot water rinsed it. it seems very clean and no feeling left of factory grease. Can I hot melt wax now? or should I order more Silica Chain Stripper and use it on this clean chain to make sure before hot Melt with Super Secret?
If I have 3 new chains that I plan on Waxing, sounds like it might be more cost effective to do them in bulk using the chin stripper and not use the strip chips. In terms of the Wax, I can add 300G of wax and do all 3 chains one after the other without adding any more Wax to the pot?
I understand that there's plenty of wax for multiple applications. But what about the durability of the master link? How many waxing cycles can I go thru before I need to replace it?
According to SRAM and Shimano, their master links are supposed to be single use. KMC says their reusable links can be used 5 times. I reuse a master link as long as it feels tight when I reinstall it, once the fit is loose you are done and need to replace it.
Short answer would be to use them until they don't click anymore which is often 3/4 times, or with a new chain. But officially it depends on the brand. Most Sram and Shimano quicklinks are recommended for single use, KMC and Connex make reusable links. For me personally the low cost of a new link is not worth the risk of a snapped chain so I use them once and keep a few used ones in the saddlebag for emergency repairs
Hey Silca/Josh. What is the significance of the 125C requirement when using the Strip Chip? I'm assuming that's just a temperature where the viscosity of the factory grease is low enough for it to flow out of the chain with agitation, or is there something more chemically advanced happening at that temperature?
Would it be possible to also use it to boil water to clean off chain with old wax. I think I heard you say that in this video but just for clarification.
Wish I saw this video 2 days ago, was bummed that the wax melter was out of stock and went with a different brand Cyclowax much more expensive but hey still using SILCA wax 😊
facial hair wax melters w/ temp controls are $20 on amazon. pretty easy to make any kind of stand (I just put a nail in the wall of my workbench) and some bailing wire to loop the chain through. the silca system kit is incredibly overpriced.
I bought the waxing system along with more drip wax, it seems as if the drip version doesn't dry on as hard as the hot melt. Is this normal and if so should I expect more dirt to get into the chain?
I get it that chains will last really well if waxed correctly over time Josh - is this also the case for chain rings and cassettes when using a hot waxed chain or will they wear at the usual rate?
It would depend what soap you use. Silca market their bike wash as wax friendly, so you can wash with the chain on. If you use another cleaner and/or degreaser then I'd remove the chain first as this could interfere with the wax (although could get costly if you keep having to replace single use quick links)
hi great video ! just to get it right : after using the chain stripper to "clean the factory chain", i can use the secret chain blend in the waxing system with additives if necesseray ? please correct me if i'm wrong, best, JL
Couple of question that don't directly relate to the new Strip Chip. 1. I have several lightly used chains with Smoove lube in them. I understand the Strip Chip won't remove Smoove lube, but will the chain stripper? I've heard different comments on Silca videos. 2. I use two Crock Pots on low. If that's getting to around 100°C, should I be allowing the pot to cool to 75°C before removing the chain?
Smoove is a mixture of wax and oil, so Stripper will remove it as it will attack and remove the the oil and any remaining wax on/in the chain is just wax. You don't have to wait until 75C to pull it, but you will end up with more wax in the chain as the wax is lower viscosity at 100C and will run out faster when the chain is removed.
Question on your chain stripper....can I use this to remove the old silca chain wax before applying the Drip wax out on a tour? Don't have a large pot to boil water to melt off the old wax when I'm on a bikepacking tour.
Will chip strip restore wax contaminated with factory grease? Or, if I dropped a new chain in silica wax, the wax is permanently damaged and needs to be replaced? Thanks.
StripChip is just for the very first time with a new factory chain. After that you just put the chain back into the wax for a recoat. Chain should just be wiped or rinsed off to remove surface dirt and contaminates.
I did my först selfinterpreted waxing yesterday. I didn't understand the temperature advise, so I waxed in a waterbath, 100 d C. Does that ruin the performance of the waxing?
You should be fine, but maybe let it cool for a few minutes before removing the chain from the wax so that it cools faster and retains more wax inside the chain.
When re-waxing (after stripchipping), do you still need to run the temp to 125C or is the 125C just for the first time with the stripchip and a factory greased chain?
Just to be clear then, do you put a Strip chip in with the chain first and then wax or does it all go in together 🤔. And for a rewax do you just put it back into that or just wax?
Hi Josh. Another question. A fresh waxed chain will have the wax fill the voids around any worn pins or rollers. This suggests that it will affect chain wear measurement. Should we be checking for chain wear after a boiling water immersion?
It sure seems like you should have made it capable of switching out the pot. A single device that allows someone to strip, boil, and apply non stripchip wax would truly be the better option.
Just wipe any surface dirt away and you can go straight into the hot wax. If the SuperSecret chain is more than just mildly dirty, you can boil it, or even just shake it in hot water for a minute and then into the wax.
Think of it this way. One load of 300g of wax should be good for 8 cycles, period, whether on a new chain or rewaxing. The chip is added to a single cycle if the chain is new and not previously stripped.
I'm not sure if there's enough oil on the gears to really be a contamination problem (oil is bad for wax!),but cleaning it off is easy enough, so that's what I do.
Yes! In fact, it's WAY better than conventional lubes because it doesn't attract & hold grit and dirt. Just wipe or hose down your chain, and then apply some fresh Super Secret in the evening. Every so often, dunk the chain in Hot Melt.
Hi I've just degreased using chain stripper and a strip chip in your new chain wax system, while following all online videos and instructions etc., to a brand new 12 speed (Shimano 105 M7100) chain. After fitting the chain and going for a cycle I can't believe how noisy the drive train is, such a loud grinding mechanical noise, especially at high cadence when the chain is moving fast. I've cycled for 30 mins and it is possibly slightly quieter. But still the noise from the chain is far, far louder than the wet lube setup I'm used to. You would think there is a mechanical issue it is so loud. Is this normal? How long in time/km should it take a new waxed chain take to bed in to normal operating noise/mobility/resistance? In your videos you describe how quiet chains run with wax, but my experience has shown the opposite, far louder. Will you please comment on this? Is a waxed chain after bedding in generally quieter or louder than a wet lube chain? p.s. the product and system appears to be a great solution for applying wax, but the noise has disappointed me initially to be honest coming straight from a wet lube setup. Thanks!
Check that the chain isn't routed over top of the tab on the derailleur cage under the top pulley.. 99% of the time we hear about wax drivetrain noise, it's this, or it's a Shimano chain that has been reinstalled backwards..
@@SILCAVeloThank you, yes I appear to have installed the chain backwards and had not respected the directional arrow on the Shimano quick link…much quieter now 👍
It works on those as well, grease is just a mixture of oil and thickeners with friction and corrosion additives. Campagnolo grease just has more thickener, but StripChip works just the same.
If anyone can help me, I'm sorry, I'm French and I'm having a bit of trouble understanding. If I want to wax 3 new chains: - I put 300gr of wax and one stip chip with a single chain in the pot then I keep these 300 grams of wax with the stip chip diluted in it if I want to rewax my chain later. Start again with the other 2 chains. So I need 900 grams of wax that I can reuse later, is that correct?
Well I got the answer, "Yes, you can keep adding strip chips and more wax to the base wax in the pot as you need to strip more chains, just don't go beyond 6 chips per 500gm bag of wax." @@Verfblikje
Hello, I dont understand one thing: You said we need at least 300g of wax in the pot, then we can add ONE strip chip in the pot Then you said : 6 strip chips per 500g of wax How? Can we add another strip chip to the wax already used with a strip chip for a new chain?
Yes, you can keep adding strip chips and more wax to the base wax in the pot as you need to strip more chains, just don't go beyond 6 chips per 500gm bag of wax.
Boiling water will not have any real affect on factory grease which is not water soluble, nor sufficiently reduced i viscosity at those temperatures . Boiling IS a great method for a chain that has already been converted to wax which also isn't water soluble, but will melt off completely at those temps.
Watch out for the Forrester (Bullwhip) effect on re-stocking the melter..... it's one of the problems which is savaging the Bike Industry.... ultimately there is a finite number of people who will buy the stripper so don't over-order
Can we call the melter the "Silca Volcano"? 😀👍
The best invention for chain maintenance ever! Well done
Congrats on your shipping, thats was what surprised me. I am in Japan and I have ordered many things recently, all before I ordered your wax kit. I am still waiting for all of them, but your box arrived within a couple of days. I usually avoid ordering from small single shop sites like the plague, but I'll happily use your online shop again.
Great video. Love the openness and easy style. Don't see that a lot these days, This guy really knows his waxing😂
I like the 'drillium' on the new pot. Very nice all around, pretty incredible how much the industry has changed in just 10 years.
Looks like Strip Chip is just the thing that will get me into chain waxing. I use drip on wax now, and while it can be quiet and smooth, it still gets very dirty if the chain isn't 100% degreased and it's difficult to get the drip wax deep into the rollers. I think we reached the turning point, where submerging chains in wax is the simplest option.
I got the chips and luckly the wax ststem also.
I didn’t use the chips as my chain was already pretty dirty, so I just went ahead and stripped it real quick.
It does take probably a half an hour to melt the wax at 75* so just be aware of that.
once melted i put the chain in there moved it around to to get all the bubbles until they were gone in 3 minutes. put it on the hanger unplugged the unit as it doesn’t seem to shut off when I push the button.
The wax came out very nicely on the chain not all clumpy like I used to do it on the stovetop bag in boiling water. Moved around each individual link, put it on the bike did a 15 mile bike ride with some noise from the wax coming off the chain which is normal, and after a while it was completely silent. I think you have hit a home run with this product.
Got my kit, I had mounted a new waxed chain 1 month ago. Time to wax a couple more for my rotation. So…woke up, unboxed. Two strip chips later and new KMC and SRAM XX1 chains are beautifully waxed. Before 9 AM. Off to ride…SO MANY THANKS, THIS IS AMAZING!
Great to hear! Enjoy your silent drivetrain!
@@SILCAVelo It's been my understanding that KMC chains are not suitable for waxing. Am I incorrect in my understanding?
@@jimkarcher48I've got 11 speed KMC SL and Dura Ace both in my rotation. Can't really tell any difference between the two.
I received mine today. It was super easy. The only thing I would suggest is make the hanger cable a bit longer.
True. Spoke might be more convenient to use
My wax melter pot and chips showed up today. Can’t wait to use them. Great work on this Josh!
Thank you for the clear simple instructions *and* the explanation for why it is done that way. It really helps cementing what needs to be done.
So I ordered this whole set up and 4 chains.
Am I to understand I put a bunch of wax in the Silca pot with a strip chip. Heat it up. Drop chain in.
Next new chain I just add another strip chip and use the same wax?
Funny that often the focus is on being environmentally friendly, and then microfiber towels are recommended. Nonetheless great innovation and thanks for the answers!
I wish you would do an in depth video on how to prep the drive train for switching to a wax chain. I've looked all over you tube, and nobody really covers this. I'm not a bike mechanic, and know just enough to get myself in trouble most of the time. I have bought the whole system and am eager to switch to using a wax chain. Looks like the days of having a greased chain mark on my calf are about over.
The rest of the drivetrain just needs to be cleaned using a degreaser and then soapy water.. nothing special, just needs to be clean and dry when you reassemble and the waxed chain will keep it sparkling from there!!
When will the stripchip be available with third party resellers over in Europe?
Just got mine. Love it! I had no idea that SILCA was a local Indianapolis company. I waxed 3 chains with it; one older one and two new ones. Strip chips worked very well with the new chains and the older stripped chain without a strip chip. Temp control is great, and the directions were very clear.
hi, and how you wax 2nd new chain? For 1st one u used cca 300g of wax plus 1 tablet of strip chip and for 2nd chain u add another tablet of strip chip to that same pot? ... I have 2 new chains and want to wax them booth on the same pot.
Candle wax melting pot w/ hi and low settings melts wax faster on low than the Silca on hi… For less than half the cost. Plus you can buy paraffin wax at your discount stores for $4 a pound, a fraction of the cost of the “bike chain wax”!
Mine showed up today as well! Will be using it soon!
Seems like the strip chip approach will be perfect for those of us who have gone to a two-bath waxing process. I have two crocks. Bath one has older wax, and crock two has fresher/cleaner stuff. I'll be adding a strip chip into bath one now. Getting my order Monday🤓
Thanks for the video! Request/suggestion - I would love to see a video on what you’ve learned and tips from ultra endurance athletes who use Silca. Thanks!
Great stuff! got my pot,strip chip and wax within 3 business days. Minor complaint, the cable you "screw" into the handle, broke off while trying to unscrew after dumping it into the hot wax.
Brilliant product, looking forward to getting mine 👍
I started running Silca wax on my chain 2 years ago and haven't looked back since. I just now purchased the wax melter and some additional sealant/replenisher from the official Silca website, because they're both amazing products IMO. The biggest barrier for me ordering anything from Silca in the past was the shipping costs outside of the US, which were quite high. I wasn't initally planning on ordering anything today due to how expensive the shipping/VAT had been on previous orders. I was very happy to see the prices on the website in Canadian and most importantly, FREE SHIPPING to Canada, finally!!! (unsure if there is a required minimum purchase amount to qualify for free shipping but happy either way). Love your products and look forward to the next game changing development from Silca
Great stuff, Josh. Congrats on such a successful launch.
Looking forward to mine coming in!
How to proceed if I have two new chains? Should I use one StripChip for the first one and for the second chain another StripChip in the same wax?
I just did two new chains this morning. 1 strip chip per new chain one chain at a time. Really easy.
Is there an optimum temperature at which to pull out the chain once you've waxed it? I always seem to leave it too late and let it cool too much before pulling out resulting on loads of wax clumping on the chain when it dries.
Two hand nail brushes, hold one each side of the chain, back spin a few revs. Takes off dust. Drop in hot wax.
IFL science! I'm eagerly awaiting its arrival! Question: When you say the "remaining wax is good for 70-80 waxings" are those re-waxings of a stripped chain and waxed chain or stripping a brand new chain and waxing it? I would assume the former but, want to be sure.
Former
If I’m doing 3 chains back to back do I need to add some more wax pellets after the first or second batch if I only add 350g of it at first or just drop in a new chip? After the first chain should I let the mixture cool down all the way or can I just take it from 75 back up to 90 after removing the first chain add the chip and repeat. Thanks
I have the same question.
When will the 240V version be out?
i use 240V cyclowax wax heater
@@Alexander-Reitz looks nice, but doesn’t have the high temp option needed for the strip chip
My EU-Plug system was delivered today, it's out and orderable
I am in the Uk and will get a wax melter from Sigma Sports (they say) in late April on pre-order. Their data says the meter will work on either 115 or 240V on their website so I expect that's accurate info.
I've seen a couple videos where the chain handle fell into the wax. I think it needs some reengineering...make the chain longer?, add a hanger on the red tower to hold it while hot waxing?,???
@SILCAVelo I'm a little confused. Does the stripchip/factory gunk mixture seperate from the wax as it cools so you can remove it? If not, when you come to either wax a fresh chain or rewax an old one, there will be stripchip/grease etc in the mixture, diluting it so you won't be able to wax anything esle correctly? admittedly i am a bit of newbie ahving go the wax for christmas and only done 100 or so miles on each bike since so i haven't even rewaxed yet (I was going to use the super secret drip wax - but this makes rewaxing so easy...)
So, I am a little fuzzy on this as well, but what I gleaned from the video was, you can use 1 strip chip per new factory lubed chain. BUT, you do not want to do "back to back" strip chips in the wax as it could make the chip-to-wax ratio too high.
Sounds like the optimal method would be - do 1 factory new lubed chain to 1 chip.
At some point you can add another chip to the same wax - but I'm also new to waxing so I'm not certain at what point this would be.
You can continue to wax in the first "chipped" wax, but (after the initial chipped-wax) you will want to manually strip any new factory lubed chains until you add another chip (again, not 100% on when this would occur; maybe 4 or 5 reuses of the original wax/chip?)
The "original chain lube" will be "waxified" in the pot (thanks to the stripchip) so you can wax said-stripped chains in the pot with original mixture all you want.
The StripChip converts the factory grease into a wax-like substance which just becomes a part of the wax itself. You can just continue to use the wax after using StripChip and will not see any reduction in performance.
It sounds like I can get rid of my ultrasonic tank and crockpot. The strip chip doesn’t seem like a product I’d use, I’d keep using chain stripper. Will you offer the melter as a standalone product?
It is available on its own. At least in Europe
"Nostalgia - its delicate, but potent. Lance told me that in Greek nostalgia literally means “the pain from an old wound.” It’s a twinge in your heart far more powerful than memory alone.
This device isn’t a crockpot, it’s a time machine. It goes backwards, and forwards… it takes us to a place where we ache to go again.
It’s not called the wheel, it’s called the Silca Wax2dMax. It let’s us travel the way a child travels - around and around, and back home again, to a place where we know are loved...
...for JUST $99.99 with your Silca Membership"
Question: I listened to the entire video, and read the instructions that came with the new "Wax Melter". What I didn't hear or find in the instructions, was how long should a re-wax session last. I get that we set it to 75 degrees (c) for waxing without a chip, but once the wax melts and the chain is submerged, how long do we leave it in the wax (occasionally agitating) before pulling it from the wax? And like the old Instant Pot instructions, should we turn off the Wax Melter and let the wax start to cool somewhat before removing and letting the chain dry?
The chain needs ~5 minutes to fully come to temperature for a rewaxing.. you'll notice if you pull it early as it will be caked with wax as the cold chain in the wax makes what looks like a rock candy stick with wax just flash hardened to the outside of it.. after a few minutes, all comes to temp and it's ready to pull. No need to allow the wax to cool with the pot.. we recommended that as most crockpots on low run 90-100C which can leave the wax a bit too thin, but at 75 you are just a few degrees above the wax solidification temp, so you can pull it and hang from there and all is good.
Perfect. That makes a lot of sense and I’m glad I asked. New SRAM Red chain ready for a “Chip and a dip”!!! And yes, I will bump the heat up when adding a chip per the instructions.
Great stuff Josh. Thanks.
Hey, I have a new factory chain that I will wax with strip chip and wax in the heater. Can I put another new chain in this wax in a couple of months? Or do I need to empty out the wax and take the new chain in the wax and add a new strip chip to the mix?
There’s a big difference between the viscosity of the factory grease/oil on say, a shimano higher end chain and a campag or Sram chain. Was it tested on the thickest, hardest to remove factory grease when deciding on the 6 chain range
So I need to get chain stripper for a used chain, but you only sell these in large quantities. It would be nice to have smaller bottles for those who don't need to strip dozens of chains and just want to get their used chain waxed.
OK now I’m worried that I’ve damaged the secret chain wax in my $12 crockpot when waxing and rewaxing my chain not paying attention to the temperature when it’s set on high. How do I know if I’m affecting performance or longevity of the wax?
All instructions say to use low. If you’ve overheated the wax, you will probably not get as many miles as you should otherwise.
My chain wax starts to 'smoke' a bit if it goes above 130C.
When overheated wax cools, it takes on a yellow hue that isn't present with wax that wasn't overheated long enough to break it down
Do you have a patent or any other published material on the technical aspects of StripChip? I'd like to see more detail than is likely to be popular on a youtube video, though I appreciate some things may be a trade secret.
hey @SILCAVelo apologies if i've missed this in the video, but when cooling from 125c to 75c (or even increasing up to those temps) is there a way of know that it has reached temp, I was kind of expecting a tone or something when it has reached temperature, when going up to 125c i see it creeping up but it reaches 125c before the was has melted so am assuming that its the PID target temp I am seeing rather than the actual temp, but at 75c there isn't really any indication that the wax is at temp. or am i just not being patient enough?
So once a chain has been stripped, if a new one were to go in another strip chip needs to be added?
Also, how about a full demo video?
Hi, big fan of Silca; have tons of product. As such, you sold me on the kit, but I have one key comment of feedback / concern. In more than 30+ years of riding, I have never waxed a chain (I use Silca lubricant). So, given I am a total wax newb, can you do a video and/or a tip sheet for someone like me? For starters...
- I ride Campy. I assume this is "chain neutral." (Y/n)
- What else do I need to know, i.e., how often am I pulling the chain off and waxing? Or do I keep one chain on, one chain waxed and swap them out over XXX miles?
My guess is for every "wax pro" that has rushed to buy this product for its ease of use, you will have total newbs like me that are willing to give this a try, but will need a bit more details / instruction.
I do get a LOT of dirt in the wax even after boil cleaning the chains. Two chain waxings and a clear wax becomes pretty much black.
I'm sure this has been covered a hundred times before but I have to ask: When you're re-waxing these commuter chains that see a ton of miles and therefore many re-waxings are you just churning through a bunch of quick links? Or is everyone on Wippermans? Thanks!
There is something I missed. What do you do with the hot wax that remains in the pot after you took the chain out? Can it be re-used for waxing again?? If yes how many times? Thanks!
Yes, you just keep reusing it until it is used up, or you need to add more. You can expect ~50 waxings per 500gm bag of hot wax.
I have a crockpot with super secret wax in it (covered). I've done four chains with chain stripper and immersion. Can I use that wax with the strip chip? I dont see why not, but digured i would ask.
The chain stripper liquid works so good I would never use the strip chip.
So - semi stupid question, I ran out of Silica Chain stripper , I had a Jar of the Silica Bio Degreaser (lots of it) so I took a NEW XX1 chain and put into the 6 oz of Silical Biodegreaser just Like a I would for the Silica chain stripper, agitated for 1 min and soaked for 10 the agitated again, took the chain out and hot water rinsed it. it seems very clean and no feeling left of factory grease. Can I hot melt wax now? or should I order more Silica Chain Stripper and use it on this clean chain to make sure before hot Melt with Super Secret?
What video did you use “pouring hot water “ over the chain ring, for a quick clean. What “minute” in the video. I want to show it to some one. Thx
If I have 3 new chains that I plan on Waxing, sounds like it might be more cost effective to do them in bulk using the chin stripper and not use the strip chips. In terms of the Wax, I can add 300G of wax and do all 3 chains one after the other without adding any more Wax to the pot?
Very cool! Science!
I understand that there's plenty of wax for multiple applications. But what about the durability of the master link? How many waxing cycles can I go thru before I need to replace it?
According to SRAM and Shimano, their master links are supposed to be single use. KMC says their reusable links can be used 5 times. I reuse a master link as long as it feels tight when I reinstall it, once the fit is loose you are done and need to replace it.
Short answer would be to use them until they don't click anymore which is often 3/4 times, or with a new chain. But officially it depends on the brand. Most Sram and Shimano quicklinks are recommended for single use, KMC and Connex make reusable links.
For me personally the low cost of a new link is not worth the risk of a snapped chain so I use them once and keep a few used ones in the saddlebag for emergency repairs
Get a Connex link. No tools required to open or close them and can be used a lot more often then the KMC
Hey Silca/Josh. What is the significance of the 125C requirement when using the Strip Chip? I'm assuming that's just a temperature where the viscosity of the factory grease is low enough for it to flow out of the chain with agitation, or is there something more chemically advanced happening at that temperature?
That's part of our trade secret here, but safe to say that both are correct and then some.
Would it be possible to also use it to boil water to clean off chain with old wax. I think I heard you say that in this video but just for clarification.
Wish I saw this video 2 days ago, was bummed that the wax melter was out of stock and went with a different brand Cyclowax much more expensive but hey still using SILCA wax 😊
facial hair wax melters w/ temp controls are $20 on amazon. pretty easy to make any kind of stand (I just put a nail in the wall of my workbench) and some bailing wire to loop the chain through. the silca system kit is incredibly overpriced.
I thought of that but I don’t have space for a workbench or access to a garage to work on my bike
I bought the waxing system along with more drip wax, it seems as if the drip version doesn't dry on as hard as the hot melt. Is this normal and if so should I expect more dirt to get into the chain?
Diggin it. This chit really does make things easier. I use the chain cleaner before re-applying wax... the red stuff.
I get it that chains will last really well if waxed correctly over time Josh - is this also the case for chain rings and cassettes when using a hot waxed chain or will they wear at the usual rate?
Cassettes and rings will see similar growth in life expectancy.
When I wash my bike using foam soap should I be taking my waxed chain off first
It would depend what soap you use. Silca market their bike wash as wax friendly, so you can wash with the chain on. If you use another cleaner and/or degreaser then I'd remove the chain first as this could interfere with the wax (although could get costly if you keep having to replace single use quick links)
Am I supposed to do anything different in wet conditions vs dry?
Does wax work in Shimano SIL-TEC coated chains?
I’ll have to her version 3 because I’m already waxing and my chain is lasting too long lol
wish you had this before ı got start waxing :D
hi great video ! just to get it right : after using the chain stripper to "clean the factory chain", i can use the secret chain blend in the waxing system with additives if necesseray ? please correct me if i'm wrong, best, JL
Yes, just rinse the chain well with water to remove all of the encapsulated factory grease, dry and then straight to wax!
@@SILCAVelo thanks for your answer. And if my chain is already used what do you suggest ? best,
If the chain is used you will want to use multiple baths of chain stripper until the liquid remains clear, then rinse with water before waxing.
Do the strip Chips also work at 120 degrees celsius (as this is the max setting of my existing wax melter…)?
Couple of question that don't directly relate to the new Strip Chip.
1. I have several lightly used chains with Smoove lube in them. I understand the Strip Chip won't remove Smoove lube, but will the chain stripper? I've heard different comments on Silca videos.
2. I use two Crock Pots on low. If that's getting to around 100°C, should I be allowing the pot to cool to 75°C before removing the chain?
Smoove is a mixture of wax and oil, so Stripper will remove it as it will attack and remove the the oil and any remaining wax on/in the chain is just wax. You don't have to wait until 75C to pull it, but you will end up with more wax in the chain as the wax is lower viscosity at 100C and will run out faster when the chain is removed.
Question on your chain stripper....can I use this to remove the old silca chain wax before applying the Drip wax out on a tour? Don't have a large pot to boil water to melt off the old wax when I'm on a bikepacking tour.
You can. It won't remove the wax, but will remove any external contaminants, dirt, oil, etc.
Can I use strip chip to "clean" up my old wax pot that might have been containmated previous
Contaminated with what?
Will chip strip restore wax contaminated with factory grease? Or, if I dropped a new chain in silica wax, the wax is permanently damaged and needs to be replaced? Thanks.
hope this item becomes available in the Philippines
I’ve never ever waxed a chain before. Every time we re wax and not just use a brand new chain do we just use the wax and Silca strip chip each time?
StripChip is just for the very first time with a new factory chain. After that you just put the chain back into the wax for a recoat. Chain should just be wiped or rinsed off to remove surface dirt and contaminates.
Is it one strip per factory greased chain or can i strip two chains with one chip in the same round of waxing??
One chip per one factory chain.
I did my först selfinterpreted waxing yesterday. I didn't understand the temperature advise, so I waxed in a waterbath, 100 d C. Does that ruin the performance of the waxing?
You should be fine, but maybe let it cool for a few minutes before removing the chain from the wax so that it cools faster and retains more wax inside the chain.
What if we clean a used chain completely (degrease). Could we then use the StripChip and Chain Waxing system?
if the chain is totally clean you would not need the strip chip - just wax
Ty sir.. ❤❤
From a purest standpoint, is it better to use Chain Stripper on a new chain than Wax it rather than use StripChips?
How often do I need to rewax?
Should ride in the UK, cleaning process in Autumn Winter is not an easy wipe down🫣😊👍
Whats up with the aspect ratio of the Silca vids? I've got black bars on all sides.
When re-waxing (after stripchipping), do you still need to run the temp to 125C or is the 125C just for the first time with the stripchip and a factory greased chain?
Reading the instructions, a re-wax session is at 75C
Hi Josh. At 11 min ish you talk about crock pots damaging the wax at 140 -150 degrees. To be clear this is degrees C correct?
yes
Just to be clear then, do you put a Strip chip in with the chain first and then wax or does it all go in together 🤔. And for a rewax do you just put it back into that or just wax?
Strip chip for first new chain. Just wax the rest of the exposures. As he says in video, one bag of wax will accept no more than 6 total strip chips.
Do the specific metallic coatings on the chains of various suppliers get attacked, damaged or removed with the chain stripper or acetone?
Or low friction coatings such as used on some Shimano & YBN chains (both of which I hot wax)?
Hi Josh. Another question. A fresh waxed chain will have the wax fill the voids around any worn pins or rollers. This suggests that it will affect chain wear measurement. Should we be checking for chain wear after a boiling water immersion?
Chain wear should only be checked on a stripped/naked chain, you are correct that wax will make the chain appear less worn!
It sure seems like you should have made it capable of switching out the pot. A single device that allows someone to strip, boil, and apply non stripchip wax would truly be the better option.
If I'm using Super Secret chain lube do I need to clean that off of my chain before waxing it or can I just place it in the Secret Chain Blend?
Just wipe any surface dirt away and you can go straight into the hot wax. If the SuperSecret chain is more than just mildly dirty, you can boil it, or even just shake it in hot water for a minute and then into the wax.
How do you know when to add the next Strip Chip into the wax melter?
The Chip is for every time you want to wax a brand new factory greased chain.
Six chips in a pack = six new chains.
@@Slopes_N_Singletrack So once you do one chain, you're good until you either run out of wax from rewaxing one chain or you do a new chain or both?
@@EricWohnig pretty much.
Think of it this way. One load of 300g of wax should be good for 8 cycles, period, whether on a new chain or rewaxing. The chip is added to a single cycle if the chain is new and not previously stripped.
@@Slopes_N_Singletrack yep
Do you need to clean the cassette from a bike that is changing over to the silca wax system?
I'm not sure if there's enough oil on the gears to really be a contamination problem (oil is bad for wax!),but cleaning it off is easy enough, so that's what I do.
One of the beauties of waxing is how clean everything stays, even in harsh conditions, so starting with everything clean and shiny really helps!
Is waxing good for us mountain biker? Thanks
Yes! In fact, it's WAY better than conventional lubes because it doesn't attract & hold grit and dirt. Just wipe or hose down your chain, and then apply some fresh Super Secret in the evening. Every so often, dunk the chain in Hot Melt.
Hi I've just degreased using chain stripper and a strip chip in your new chain wax system, while following all online videos and instructions etc., to a brand new 12 speed (Shimano 105 M7100) chain. After fitting the chain and going for a cycle I can't believe how noisy the drive train is, such a loud grinding mechanical noise, especially at high cadence when the chain is moving fast. I've cycled for 30 mins and it is possibly slightly quieter. But still the noise from the chain is far, far louder than the wet lube setup I'm used to. You would think there is a mechanical issue it is so loud. Is this normal? How long in time/km should it take a new waxed chain take to bed in to normal operating noise/mobility/resistance? In your videos you describe how quiet chains run with wax, but my experience has shown the opposite, far louder. Will you please comment on this? Is a waxed chain after bedding in generally quieter or louder than a wet lube chain? p.s. the product and system appears to be a great solution for applying wax, but the noise has disappointed me initially to be honest coming straight from a wet lube setup. Thanks!
Check that the chain isn't routed over top of the tab on the derailleur cage under the top pulley.. 99% of the time we hear about wax drivetrain noise, it's this, or it's a Shimano chain that has been reinstalled backwards..
@@SILCAVeloThank you, yes I appear to have installed the chain backwards and had not respected the directional arrow on the Shimano quick link…much quieter now 👍
Question 10, when will it be back in stock?
1:00 in around 10 Days
No mention of campagnolo chains? Their factory grease is thick and buttery
It works on those as well, grease is just a mixture of oil and thickeners with friction and corrosion additives. Campagnolo grease just has more thickener, but StripChip works just the same.
@@SILCAVelo thanks!
If anyone can help me, I'm sorry, I'm French and I'm having a bit of trouble understanding.
If I want to wax 3 new chains:
- I put 300gr of wax and one stip chip with a single chain in the pot then I keep these 300 grams of wax with the stip chip diluted in it if I want to rewax my chain later.
Start again with the other 2 chains.
So I need 900 grams of wax that I can reuse later, is that correct?
From what I understand, is that you can use the 300g again with a new strip chip. So, 300g in total.
@@Verfblikje oh ok thanks, I thought it was necessary to add 300 grams to avoid exceeding the 300gr/1 stip chip ratio
Hm, oh right. Well he did say, max 6 strip chips per bag of wax. Idk how much a bag is.
@@Verfblikje 500gr
Well I got the answer, "Yes, you can keep adding strip chips and more wax to the base wax in the pot as you need to strip more chains, just don't go beyond 6 chips per 500gm bag of wax."
@@Verfblikje
Any benefits of waxing cogs?
No
Question 10. Can we eat the forbidden chocolate? 🍫 🤤
Hello, I dont understand one thing:
You said we need at least 300g of wax in the pot, then we can add ONE strip chip in the pot
Then you said : 6 strip chips per 500g of wax
How?
Can we add another strip chip to the wax already used with a strip chip for a new chain?
Yes, you can keep adding strip chips and more wax to the base wax in the pot as you need to strip more chains, just don't go beyond 6 chips per 500gm bag of wax.
Why is it that you develop a wax melting system that holds 400g of wax but you sell your wax in 500g bags?
So... I always stripped factory wax by boiling my chain in water... why is this better?
Boiling water will not have any real affect on factory grease which is not water soluble, nor sufficiently reduced i viscosity at those temperatures . Boiling IS a great method for a chain that has already been converted to wax which also isn't water soluble, but will melt off completely at those temps.
Watch out for the Forrester (Bullwhip) effect on re-stocking the melter..... it's one of the problems which is savaging the Bike Industry.... ultimately there is a finite number of people who will buy the stripper so don't over-order