[Closed] Putoline Wax

Get the worst of the mess off it - and join the other threads!

Just as easy to have a quick answer to a quick question.

If it was only one thread your response would not have needed a plural 😉

Mark

Definitely clean it first. Cleaner means it'll stick for longer in my experience.

I put a brand new chain in and I think I burnt the factory oil on. This is of no significance to your question but what the heck.

I always clean mine. Just don't like the idea of putting anything in the wax that doesn't belong there, even though it probably isn't important.

jkomo - interesting though 🙂 probs worth degreasing a new one then, let alone an older, gunkier one!!

Mark

I tend to not want to put too much of a gunky chain in the fryer.

So I do give it a good clean with degreaser. Then I do wash the degreaser out.

Then a good fry. Seems to work OK.

I ran mine under the hot tap to get the muck off it then chucked it in the fryer today. Lovely noise...

Close to plugging the fryer in.....

How long do you fry it for?

Assuming its up to temp (I think I read 170 degrees)....how long in the fryer?

Thanks

(it will be a new chain as existing oily one is 'stretched'......)

I give it 15 minutes, then turn fryer off but leave chain in as it cools, giving it a shoogle every so often.

I found that if I whisked chain straight out the wax would be too runny and would drip off chain too quickly.

Also, let chain dry after degreasing! All the water in the rollers will flash to steam and splatter wax everywhere...

I just started using Molten Speed Wax as I knew I’d get Putoline all over my clothes.
Definitely need the chain as clean as possible and make sure you really agitate it a lot when it’s in the hot wax to get it in every nook and cranny

I fancied some Molten Speed Wax for the summer bike. Putoline performance but s shinier chain! 😁

Maybe I could putoline the summer chain then clean off the outer surfaces and just apply some Squirt as a top coat...

Bit if you're using plutoline (as opposed to MSW or parrafin wax homebrew) don't let it cool too much or you won't be able to wipe off the excess and it'll be super sticky. I find taking it out straight away and Lying it on its side in a rag to cool works best IMO.

Cool - cheers for the top tips.

So am I sticking a new chain in white spirits first??

Will it matter that the cassette and chainring have low level dirt levels on them?

I am not really getting why people who have an already putolined chain are having to clean them before re-waxing. Mine just doesn't collect dirt. Gets a hose off after each ride and just stays looking the same so I just chuck it straight back in the wax when it needs it.

Will it matter that the cassette and chainring have low level dirt levels on them?

Crud is generally less than ideal for any drivetrain, and l while you have the chain off its an ideal time to clean.

It need not be super thoroughly cleaned, I tend to just scrub the cassette, chainring and jockey wheels with old toothbrushes, paintbrushes and rags (anything that can get in a nook or cranny and dislodge crap) while the putoline melts and the chain sinks into it...

Given it is a paraffin wax I use paraffin to clean muggle chains, shake the worst of that off then in it goes, seems to work fine. Previously Putolined chains just go straight in next time.

Oldnick - is this a reply to the coating on a new chain and whether to white spirit clean it first?

ta

Is this the official new Putoline thread, or just a spin off series?

Either way, has anyone noticed if your Putoline/Wax starts to transfer from your chain and coat your cassette etc after while?

There are lots of putoline threads on STW 🙂

This is Putoline 23.0 Covid Edition

I read that that wax transfer will then help keep crap of the cassette....happy side effect?

That’s what I was thinking, running ASX so anything that helps with cassette life will be marvellous.
I did consider dropping my cassette into the fryer, wonder if it would give problems getting it back onto the hub?

I have no idea.....but any resistance during re-installation would be minor I would think?!

I have cleaned any truly dirty chains before the putoline treatment with white spirit and then left to dry.

I'm pretty new to the Putoline thing but have been converting all of our bikes as and when I am doing other general maintenance or cleaning.

Had my first decently mucky ride with my son since switching on Monday and the drivetrains on both bikes were loads cleaner than they would normally have been.

Somewhere between 160 and 180 and 15-20 minutes and an occasional shake of the basket is all mine have had. I have tended to take out while still quite hot to make wiping the outside down easier. I may not have that totally right looking at the above and others are more practiced at this than me.

Other thing I would say is it does pong a bit. Make sure you have plenty of ventilation. Next time I might put the fryer outside if it's a dry day.

Whilst we are here. I re-did my chains for the first time in ages and ages. My main MTB had had a couple of drip lube applications when I needed to ride and hadn't got round to frying it. The drip lube seems to re-flow some Putoline and it lasts ages again.

Anyway two of my chains that were fitted 6 months ago are now on 1/32" stretch and one is on 1/64".

Oh, and I think 170 is too hot. I'm on about 140. I think if it's too hot you run the risk of any water foaming the stuff.

The speed wax actually says 200 on the packet.
Off to check whether that’s C or F!

Is this the official new Putoline thread, or just a spin off series?

Spiltists at work! Burn the heretic!

5 more mins.

It’s black. Wasn’t expecting that.

Or to have to fight the tin to open it.

170 in cheap fryer is probs not 170 so hopefully it will come out ok.

No frying sounds though, quite underwhelming.

No frying sounds though, quite underwhelming

You forgot the batter

No frying sounds though, quite underwhelming.

Need a bit of water on it next time

Well its on, and all appears fine.......we will see how it handles the High Peak and Monsal Trails tomorrow 🙂

Not heard of MSW so just checked it out.

As far as Black Friday sales go, they've nailed it 🤣

Some great deals in there, for sure!! 🙂

So 43 miles on the old railway lines around Matlock and Bakewell......bike is back and rinsed off.....chain looks clean.....lets see if its rusty in the morning!

Certainly sounded like crisper shifting for the first half of the ride.....then mud took over and graunchy.....but no more or less graunchy than it ever is when there is that much gritty mud and autumnal mulch!

lets see if its rusty in the morning!

Probably will be. I love the performance of a Putoline-d chain but it doesn't hang around on the surface of the chain for long, so I still lube the chain after wet muddy rides.

I wouldn't bother with Putoline now were it not for how good the drivetrain feels with a fresh application.

I just did an hour and a half in some quite shitty and wet conditions (but not the worst). Previously the first few puddles would see my chain grinding, which is one of the things that puts me off muddy riding, but my chain was completely silent throughout.

As for the surface rust - I spray WD40 onto a rag and run the chain through that. The wax stays inside the chain that way but the WD40 keeps the surface bit kept rust-free.

Sorry to hijack thread but I’ve got an associated question. Been using Putoline for road and mtb bikes. Very happy so far. My indoor trainer bikes chain is now creaky. Just wondering if I will get fling off the chain. I’m worried about getting wax on the carpet...anyone tried this??

Chain feels good in the dire conditions we're having but I'm struggling with the surface rust part of putoline....starting to spray some GT85 on agter washing but unsure if that's acting as a solvent and washing away the wax....

Just wondering if I will get fling off the chain.

It's solid at room temp, so no, it won't fling. Far less likely to do so than liquid lube. However - the first time you ride it bits of excess wax are scrubbed out of the chain, and they are visible on the surface. There's a slim chance these could drop off on your carpet. But you can remove these with a rag with WD40 or similar sprayed on it, then your chain is clean as anything. You could always try it with some plastic or paper under the bike just to be sure.

However, I am not sure it's necessary for an indoor bike, since it's not getting mud and dirt. On the other hand, if you did wax it, you'd probably never need to do it again.

starting to spray some GT85 on agter washing but unsure if that’s acting as a solvent and washing away the wax….

Don't spray it on the chain - spray it on a rag and wipe the chain down.

.starting to spray some GT85 on agter washing but unsure if that’s acting as a solvent and washing away the wax…

IME yes

Need a bit of water on it next time

But not too much.

Ask me how I know... 🙄

I appreciate there's other threads and I'm sure it has been asked before but its hard to find things haha

Using putoline for a wee while and liking it so far, however I'm never sure when it is actually needing re-done as after 2 rides its totally dry on the outside and there's no real way to know if there's any wax left inside. Last time I left it too long and it started squeaking but must have ran out a bit before then. Any tricks or just get into the schedule of doing it once a week in these winter months

there’s no real way to know if there’s any wax left inside.

It just gets noisier. It's up to you when you think the noise is too loud.

Once a week is much to soon IME - just keep riding until it sounds a bit squeaky. For me, this is about 5 or 6 properly filthy rides, and in the dry it was about 4 months.

I also have some questions:

- Has anyone used a slow cooker (all of the american advice I've seen recommends a crock pot) with putoline?

- Is it possible to have a nice looking shiny chain with putoline? It looks like it would make the chain look all grey and that's been putting me off a bit.

It just gets noisier. It’s up to you when you think the noise is too loud.

Once a week is much to soon IME – just keep riding until it sounds a bit squeaky. For me, this is about 5 or 6 properly filthy rides, and in the dry it was about 4 months.

Ok thanks, i just worry i wont really notice it being noisy and end up running it unlubed wearing things out which is the opposite of the whole point of it really, probably just need to not worry about it much.

I am doing about 4-5 absolutely filthy slopfest rides a week at the moment

I've used a small slow cooker with homebrew wax in the past. It takes a long time to melt (like 45mins to 1hr). Putoline would probably melt a bit quicker as it's softer to start with. If a slow cooker had a basket it might be OK to wait, but the basket just saves so much messing about trying to hook chains out of the wax and then suspend them above it. Inevitably one will fall in and splash hot wax around. I'd never go back to the crock pot/slow cooker. You can have mine for cost of postage.

I try to pre-emptively re-wax before squeaking occurs. Sometimes you can notice the chain getting a bit rattley before it starts to squeak. If it's been wetter you can be fairly confident that you'll need to rewax sooner than if it's been dry.

You could polish the remaining wax off exterior to make it shiny if you wanted but I think it's foolish.

– Has anyone used a slow cooker (all of the american advice I’ve seen recommends a crock pot) with putoline?

Cant see why not, but why would you forgo the advantages of having temoerature settings and a basket? I cant see why you wouldn't use a mini fryer.

– Is it possible to have a nice looking shiny chain with putoline? It looks like it would make the chain look all grey and that’s been putting me off a bit.

Wipe it with a rag (and in thick work gloves) whilst still hot. Gets most of the wax off the outside. It turns all the steel/chrome/nickel parts of the drivechain a matt grey as the wax/graphite is transferred, but you dont then get that horrible gunky black mess later on.

And as is regulalry pointed out, being clean at the start of a ride is pointless if it's filty (or worse, dry) after the first few miles of mud.

I cant see why you wouldn’t use a mini fryer.

I might want to use fancy racing wax on my racing bike so being able to swap it over would be good. I think you can use slow cooker liner bags for this.

Using putoline for a wee while and liking it so far, however I’m never sure when it is actually needing re-done as after 2 rides its totally dry on the outside and there’s no real way to know if there’s any wax left inside. Last time I left it too long and it started squeaking but must have ran out a bit before then. Any tricks or just get into the schedule of doing it once a week in these winter months

I'm just coming round the the idea of regularly topping up the Putoline with another lube, and then maybe once a month applying the Putoline again.

It's partly an OCD thing, even if the drivetrain is still running quietly because the rollers are still full of wax, I can't bear to leave a chain quietly rusting away for the next ride.

To be honest in proper muddy conditions it is sort of making me re-evaluate the point of the Putoline, if you apply any wet lube sparingly enough and wipe off excess then there's never really any build up to speak of, and I'm not sure I'm methodical or fastidious enough to really notice if the Putoline extends my drivetrain life much. So I'm really just doing it for the sake of that first ride post-Putoline when the drivetrain feels amazingly fast and smooth.

I might want to use fancy racing wax on my racing bike so being able to swap it over would be good. I think you can use slow cooker liner bags for this.

Sounds like a monumental faff. Has anyone actually tried that too? A slow cooker works by having a constant low-ish power heater slowly boiling the liquid in the pot, the water in the pot keeps the temperature at or around 100C. Stick putoline in there and presumably, it keeps getting hotter until it reaches another (hotter) equilibrium. So a plastic bag that doesnt melt at 100C will probably melt into putoline.

Could you not just put the extra jar of magic pixie dust in the putoline?

My fryer lives in a shelf in the garage, that's a big advantage. If you wanted multiple pans of different waxes you could just keep it in the tin and do it on a stove easier.

Sounds like a monumental faff.

It may well be, and am hoping someone has already tried it to save me discovering for myself.

I just use a small pan from a charity shop on a camping stove.

Heat to 170 (use an infra red thermometer) and turn to the lowest, dunk chain, shake shake then get it out with a pair of pliers.

You could have multiple pans with multiple concoctions.

Foil try, wax + heat gun for racers & experimenters...

I just put the whole tin on a stove (one of those briefcase cheap camping stoves, was given to me and didn't have a use for it previously)

Waited till the whole thing was liquid, then dunked the chain in and left it for a bit

I’m just coming round the the idea of regularly topping up the Putoline with another lube, and then maybe once a month applying the Putoline again.

This worked very well for me this summer. I added some wet lube on top of Putoline that was say 70% gone because I was on holiday, and it seemed to re-flow it and it lasted a couple more months.

So I’m really just doing it for the sake of that first ride post-Putoline when the drivetrain feels amazingly fast and smooth.

In winter, when I ride using wet lube through my first big puddle, my drivetrain starts making a grinding sound and feeling that lasts the whole ride. If I use Putoline, it doesn't do that - don't as me how, maybe it beads off the chain or something I haven't videoed it - but it stays quiet and smooth all through the ride and the next ride and the next. This is the reason I use it in the winter - I hate the grinding sound and sensation.

if you apply any wet lube sparingly enough and wipe off excess then there’s never really any build up to speak of

Yes, because it gets stripped off really quickly, so why do you even bother with lube at all in that case?

Went back to the bike today.

Turbo during the week 🙂

Chain is rusty all over (inside of links NOT outside)

So do I call it a failure....try again? Accept its only for summer time? Accept that when it minging it just needs doing again (now that it is set-up it is not that much of a faff really).....

there’s no real way to know if there’s any wax left inside.

There is. Twist the chain and you can feel it, run a finger along the chain - do you get two black lines on your finger

I think I am going to stick some tru tension banana slip stuff on as its a water/wax mix.

That will do if I can be bothered to ride in the morning.....else I will re-putoline and then use this tru tension stuff as a top up when it is very wet out......

@alexnharver - thanks for offering your slow cooker. I have messaged you.

So do I call it a failure…

I wouldn't. You can ignore a bit of rust (I do) or rub it with a wd40 rag after your ride if you want.

Another option is silicone spray afte a wash. I don't think it will dissolv the was. I should test that theory.

What about the wax lube top up idea? Sounds plausible?

Twist the chain. Is it still full of wax? You can tell as you cannot feel metal to metal contact

Not convinced I will be able to 'feel' this....but will try it......

Or run your finger along it. If you get two lines of wax there is still some in the rollers

Not convinced I will be able to ‘feel’ this….but will try it……

Yeh, I'm not sure I can 'feel' it haha. although went for another wet wet ride today and didn't seem to noisy. But who knows how noisy it is if there is no lubrication on the chain whatsover so whether its putoline or just a normal unlubed chain is anyones guess.

A waxy top up must be a reasonable course of action too though!?

But who knows how noisy it is if there is no lubrication on the chain whatsover

In the dry a completely dry chain squeaks like hell and can be heard from some distance.

In the wet, mud strips wet lube off so it gets a bit noisy and clattery, however it's much more likely to produce a grinding noise and feel through the pedals that can be heard when winching up hills. I don't get this with the wax.

You'll know if it loses its lube. Keep riding it until it starts to get noticeably noisier than it was. In my experience, it starts off silent then decays fairly rapidly to a little bit of noise (especially since I am using a NW chainring which is always noisier), then it stays like that for a while and then the noise starts to creep up. Like I said, 6-7 rides in bad conditions, more in general winter conditions.

A waxy top up must be a reasonable course of action too though!?

Oh of course, if you don't mind doing it.

Has anyone used the Absolute Black graphene wax?

This stuff:

I got a box of the stuff a while ago, and re-read the instructions - which say to reapply the wax after *every* wet ride.

That sounds bonkers.