Silca
Chain Wax System
Wax your chain from home easily by following the Silca DIY chain waxing process.
This is your comprehensive guide to the waxing process including Silca video demonstrations.
What You Need
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Secret Chain Blend Hot Wax
Buy NowThis is the wax that will coat your chain.
The 500g bag is enough to wax 6 chains.
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StripChip
Buy NowUse this when waxing a brand-new factory chain out of the package. It converts the factory grease to wax substance.
One chip is used per new chain making the whole bar good for 6 new chains.
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Chain Stripper
Buy NowUse this to strip all grease off a new or used chain prior to waxing.
Chemically 1 ounce cleans one chain making the 16 ounce bottle good for 16 chains.
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Chain Waxing System
Buy NowA compact at-home chain waxing system. Includes a wax warmer, drip stand, and cable coupler.
Value Package
Get all 4 necessary components in a value bundle
Silca
DIY Chain Waxing System + Strip Chip Clean & Wax
The Waxing Process:
StripChip or Chain Stripper?
Your first step is to determine which chain prep method you are going to use.
StripChip should only be used on brand-new factory chains out of the package.
Chain Stripper should be used on already used chains but can also be used on brand-new factory chains.
Waxing With StripChip
1. Add your Secret Chain Blend Hot Wax to the bowl of your Chain Waxing System.
2. Turn on your Chain Waxing System and set the heat to 125 degrees Celsius.
3. Once it's to temperature and all the wax is melted, add one chip of the StripChip bar to the wax.
4. Take your factory chain out of the package and loop it through the Chain Waxing System's cable coupler.
5. Put the chain into the bowl. Make sure it's fully submerged by wiggling it around using the cable coupler.
6. Allow the chain to sit in the wax for 10 minutes while agitating occasionally.
7. After 10 minutes, reduce the heat to 75 degrees Celsius.
8. Once the temperature has dropped to 75, pull the chain out of the bowl and hang it on the drip stand using the cable coupler.
9. Turn the Chain Waxing System off and allow the chain to cool for 5-10 minutes.
10. You're done! Go ahead and install your fully waxed chain.
Waxing With Chain Stripper
1. Fill a jar with a lid (mason jars work well) with enough Chain Stripper to fully submerge the chain.
2. Put the chain in the jar, close the lid and shake well.
3. Allow the chain to soak for 10 minutes, agitating occasionally.
4. After 10 minutes, remove the chain from the jar and rinse thouroughly with water.
- If your chain does not appear perfectly clean at this point, scrub it with a soft brush (toothbrush works well) and repeat the soaking processes.
- The used Chain Stripper can be filtered through a disposable coffee filter back into the Chain Stripper bottle to be reused. Chemically, only 1 ounce is required to clean a chain so you can reused the excess as long as it is put through a filter.
5. Add your Secret Chain Blend Hot Wax to the bowl of you Chain Waxing System.
6. Turn on your Chain Waxing System and set the heat to 75 degrees Celsius.
7. Loop your chain through the Chain Waxing System's cable coupler.
8. Once the wax is to temperature and fully melted, put the chain into the bowl. Make sure it's fully submerged by wiggling it around using the cable coupler.
9. Allow the chain to sit in the wax for 5-8 minutes while agitating occasionally.
10. Pull the chain out of the bowl and hang it on the drip stand using the cable coupler.
11. Turn the Chain Waxing System off and allow the chain to cool for 5-10 minutes.
12. You're done! Go ahead and install your fully waxed chain.
Waxing With StripChip and Chain Stripper Video Demo
F.A.Q
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Do I need to wax the Quick-Link?
There are differing options on this, the short answer is no, since the quick-link will be contacting waxed surfaces, it does not need to be waxed.
There are some people who do wax their quick-links and that's perfectly fine also. Keep in mind that a waxed quick-link can be more difficult to install so be careful.
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Do I need the Silca Chain Wax System device or can I use my own pot at home?
No, you don't need the device. The Secret Chain Blend Hot Wax comes in a sousvide bag so you can heat a pot of water and insert the bag into the hot water. The wax inside will melt and you can put your chain straight into the bag.
You will need to monitor the water temperature with a thermometer and devise a way to remove the chain from the hot wax, but it can certainly be done without the Chain Wax System device.
Care and Maintenance:
Removing Road Dust and Surface Dirt
1. Spray some BIO Degreaser onto a lint free rag or microfiber cloth and wipe down your chain while it's still on your bike.
2. Apply one drop of Super Secret Chain Lube to each link of your chain. Make sure you shake the bottle very well before applying.
3. You're done!
Re-waxing a Very Dirty Chain
If your chain has more than just some surface dirt and road dust on it, you will need to determine if you want to degrease it and apply the Super Secret Chain Lube or if it's so bad that it should just be fully re-waxed.
If you're choosing to degrease, we recommend spraying the drivetrain with Silca Ultimate Brake and Drivetrain Cleaner or soaking the chain in Silca Chain Stripper then applying the Super Secret Chain Lube. Both these cleaner products will not harm or eat into the wax, only the layer of dirt.
If the chain is so dirty that you're choosing the fully re-wax, simply soak your chain is very hot (almost boiling) water. The water will melt and remove all the wax and dirt from the chain. Dry your chain as best you can in a cloth or paper towel, then just follow the chain waxing process. There is no need to use the StripChip or Chain Stripper the second time around. The wax created a protective coating on your chain keeping it perfectly clean.
Care and Maintenance Video Demo