ASK DON & CHAD

They may not be MIT grads, but some people call them rocket scientists.

Email your technical questions to Don and Chad. They don't always agree but they are always entertaining.
If you have a great question it may even appear as our question of the week.

This week's question.

Dear Don & Chad,
A friend of mine recently told me I should boil my chain in Parafin wax. Although I know that parafin is excellent for making old wooden drawers slide easily, how is it on chains?
Chad: I think this is an excellent idea!! However, I happen to use pure carnuba wax. Just dry it off, put it back on the bike, and buff it to a high-gloss shine.!

Don: As you may know, boiling is not a cure for everything. Just ask those people who were boiled in oil.

The most stress on a bike is on the pins in the chain, unless Chad's riding, he's more stressed out than any chain, Although parafin will protect your chain from moisture and will provide some level of lubrication, parafin is not an EP (extreme pressure) lubricant. The wax will be squeezed away from the pin surface where it is needed most and your chain will wear out faster.
The best thing to do is to is to keep the chain clean and lightly oiled. Anything from 3-in-1 oil to the more high-tech teflon based lubricants. Wipe off the excess lubricant as it will attract dust and dirt. Do not use solvent based lubricants such as WD-40.

Chad: Seriously, Don is right (at least this time!). Parafin is definately the wrong call. Every so often we have a period where we are replacing a lot of chains on customers bicycles. When we see the remains of parafin on them we figure that the "parafin is good for your chain" theory has resurfaced.

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