I've had positive experiences of waxing, although it's not without its shortcomings too. FWIW, broad strokes as concisely as possibly for anyone interested:
Process
- Mixture is 2/3rds paraffin wax, 1/3rd liquid paraffin by mass, with a bit of moly disulphide powder chucked in.
- Chain removed and cleaned by shaking vigourosly in successive coffee jars of clean paraffin (can be re-used once particulates have sedimented out).
- Chain immersed in wax in pan on hob and agitated for 10-15 mins. Important that mixture doesn't go above 75ish degrees C to reduce risk of fire. Safer to use rice cooker / water bath. Ensure everything is well ventilated.
- After sufficient time, heat source removed and wax left to cool, chain removed when wax close to solidification (maybe around 50 degrees C).
- Chain hung to cool and excess wax on outside removed with kitchen towel (these make good firelighters
).
Experiences
- Chain remains ridiculously clean and doesn't attract any dry contamination as oil does.
- Before re-waxing minimal cleaning is required if only used in dry conditions - just a brush-over to remove any loose dust then straight into the molten wax again - a lot less involved and messy than trying to clean a dirty, gritty, oily drivetrain with degreasers, rags and brushes.
- Chain is slightly more noisy it terms of "clatter" as parts mesh (presumably because it's less damped), but doesn't feel dry or squeak (until re-application is required).
- In dry conditions I'm getting about 300-350 miles on a waxed chain before it starts to squeak.
- For the first few miles wax does flake off the chain and end up deposited on the frame, but this is pretty easy to brush / wipe off.
- Wax doesn't provide as much corrosion protection to the chain as oil, either on exterior or interior surfaces; meaning the chain degrades and starts to squeak sooner in wet conditions.
Conclusions
While from the above its benefits appear limited to its cleanliness (a big one IMO), I expect to see improved chain life since unlike wet lubes it doesn't collect potentially abrasive, particulate contamination; nor should there be any exchange of lube between the loaded surfaces inside the chain and external surfaces. As a result there's no opportunity for contamination to migrate inside the chain and accelerate wear. I've not done enough miles to confirm chain life currently..
Another common claim regarding waxed chains is reduced frictional losses, however I don't have the sensitivity or equipment to qualify / measure this, so can't comment either way.
IMO waxing is great on a fine-weather bike that has an easily removable chain (I use Wippermann quick links). Due to its apparently inferior corrosion protection it appears unsuitable for all-weather / wet riding, while those doing a lot of miles might find it easier to "top up" their chain with wet lube periodically between deeper cleaning / re-lubrication.
It may be that the properties of my wax can be improved by further playing with the mixture ratios;
@Kryton521 seems to have had better experiences re. corrosion protection than I have; perhaps because he uses a larger proportion of paraffin oil so the mixture is thinner and less brittle, so less prone to flaking off.
