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If you’re talking about Silca’s strip chip, I’ve heard it is critical to achieve 125C. Waxkiss makes an inexpensive pot that will hit this temp.

The KMC digital gauge is definitely the standard and what I use when servicing customers chains. But still trying to find a more cost effective solution.

@@newttella1043 I was shooting for weird! Sorry to waste your time. It was an item I was looking to carry, but I think it could be confusing to some. And I wanted to make sure I had the right part number if someone wanted to get the actual item I showed and not the other version.

That’s a great point. Also one of the reasons why I don’t care for the style with the swing arm & pins.

Thanks for the tip on the SuperBs. I'll put it on my list of tools to try and maybe carry in stock.

@@vitalbikechains Just seen Shimano TL-CN10 QUICK-LINK tool WP-Y13022000 is a similar design but with a wire latch to hold handles together when not in use.

I agree with questioning the benefits on some treatments when it comes to waxed chains. KMC and SRAM brands included. Stickers, that was version 1.1 and the improved 2.0 sticker now comes on the chains.

I’m right with you on this. I’ve tested out some of Oz’s ideas, and they don’t always pan out for me. I am designing a second chain machine that will run chains with a slight load, then I could have something with more control than my riding.

Thanks for visiting my channel! Regarding the pot questions, the amount of wax varies due to each chain pulling out 8-10 grams of wax. So the day might start at 300 grams, then end up being 250 grams at the end of the day. I've never weighed it, but I think these numbers are in the ball park. I do not know how the power is controlled in this unit. As for starting up the pot with the chain on top, this would work for the first chain of the day, but not really practical for each chain waxed in a day. I would actually like a stir pot / wax pot combo but I think I'd have to make that. Possibly a hot plate/stir plate exist, but I just swish a few times. The pot says it goes to 257F, but I haven't tried that much heat. Keep in mind, adding a chip and then a chain will temporarily drop that temp. If you're thinking about getting this pot, let me know and I'll try it out to see if the actual wax gets that hot. I think this pot was $35 US.

@@vitalbikechains I think your pot model is FHC-E2052 which is rated at 100w , 500ml capacity , 30-125℃, but that pot seems to have variable power usage so it's difficult to compare your wax warm up times to any other pot. A 15 minute temperature recovery time is probably reasonable for most people because they will likely have a bigger pot ? ( will shorten the time from a larger hot bowl mass ) . 8-10g of wax per chain seems a lot. I would expect about half of that , unless your chains have hollow pins and you are pulling them out of the wax at almost the skinning over temperature ? . I tried to send you a ZFC link but youtube is deleting comments with links from me today ( a massive issue you may be aware of ? ). I was just curious from a versatility perspective if your pot would get to the stripchip temperature. I am thinking of going to the 2 pot system so I might consider one for that. Thanks for offering 🙂 Hot plates with stirrers tend to be expensive compared to small slow cookers ( not Silca's ! ) . Any temperature sensors in the pot would likely read more realistic values, depending on where they actually are.

@@vitalbikechains Regarding your 8-10g wax per chain and temperature please see czcams.com/video/ZEfi2HOfqpM/video.html . I questioned Silca's advice as it creates a barrier for people and is unnecessary .

The 8-10 grams is not what actually gets on the chain. It’s probably half that. If I do a 138 link chain, it will pull 10 grams but a lot of that is waste due to a clip that holds a master link or ID tag as well as some drips that don’t make it back into the pot. Then after shedding you knock off a whole bunch more. I do have a video planned for actual wax weight on a chain.

Adam does a great job getting to the point on the temp thing. From my perspective, I have to do everything I can to have at least as good a product as ZFC and Silca. Maybe I waste some virgin wax in the process, and it does take longer to get the wax to my optimal temp, but it’s worth it to me. And I also use the shed wax for pot#1 on re-service chains, so it’s not really wasted.

Absolutely. I looked at doing a DYI wax years ago, but after you buy all the stuff, it made sense to leave the wax blending to experts like Silca, molten etc. Cost per chain with a bag of Silca is like 40 to 90 cents, depending on a lot of factors.

@@vitalbikechains It is actually about $5 per chain in Australia .

I have seen people have luck with boiling hot water rinses. I feel like I’m just driving grit from the outside to the inside of the chain when I’ve tried this. Maybe I just need a different technique. I do an alcohol cleaning as regular maintenance with the chain on the bike. But not a bath. If I’m cleaning it that much, it’s just going be a full strip down. Remember, pot 1 is sacrificial wax.

@@vitalbikechains You rinse the chain in degreaser two or three times initially until the degreaser is clear first . The isopropyl is the final rinse .

Correct. But that’s for new chains. And sram chains can be more like 4 degreasing baths. If you only do a few chains a year, the stripper products by Silca and CeramicSpeed make that one step. If you do hundreds of chains a year, those strippers don’t make financial sense.

I’ve been using a Connex 808 for years. Recently started selling the 11SX and had forgotten how brilliant the finish is.

@draugmithrin Might be an idea for you to put a comment on Bills video czcams.com/video/0oVsgPf_cvM/video.html about your superB TB-3323 Trident 2 in 1 chain link pliers ? I had a look at them and they don't look expensive.

@@dawn_rider Thanks, have done.

Great question. For a degreaser I use Mineral Spirits. 3 baths, first in just a jar, then two cycles in ultrasonic. I prep a lot of chains, so this makes sense for me. And I can recycle the mineral spirits. But you can buy specific degreasers from Silca or Ceramic speed.

@@vitalbikechains I bought small bottle of muc off dry. Chain has 500miles. Was hoping to just add product without degreasing

@@pauly51 It's not recommended. I think it actually says that on the back of the bottle. But, if you do add on top of the grease, just wipe off as much as the excess lube as possible. And let it dry overnight if possible. After you ride, wipe the chain off real good. I image you'll have a mucoff/grease mixture. keep me posted.

I was joking around, I didn’t know what it was. So I googled it- it’s Physical Vapor Deposition. Which really doesn’t mean anything to me, but apparently it’s some type of coating for metal surfaces to add a layer of protection.

@@vitalbikechains ohh i didnt realise that

For 200$ it looks surprisingly decent, you can't build a high end wheel with that money...

I have one of those cutting bits that’s about the right diameter.

I would say Yes. Shimano, SRAM, KMC and others make a different master link for the different speed chains. SRAM even has two different master links for 12 speed depending if you have an eagle or flattop.

I think that’s a valid point. Pretty sure this was a S-works Diverge STR which does have some suspension in the headset. I saw him even wreck once…I was sure he would have folded a wheel or something. But nope, the bike was fine.

i'd be worried about derailleur getting mangled or the brake lever snapping. some of those shifter levers cost more than a used dirt jump bike. you need a "tossable" bike for this

Throwing some mini whips too.

Halflinks stretch crazy fast - removed 4 half links within 3 months - thats 2" of stretch!!! Totally wrecked my cogs and chainrings - tried a few brands - ALL did the same.

@@mattvanderwalt6220 Dang, so nothing but downsides. lol. They look cool at least.

@@BigBeezyBtown Yeah they sure do. I thought they'd be awesome for my SS builds... But for me the insane stretching is a definite fail

Most bmx specific chains come with just one half link now. Best of both worlds.

@@unkepthurdle3233 Or literally inserting the weak link... ;-P I get the reason - but not going down that rabbit hole again. I've used esp. reg KMC Z chains and yet to notice any stretch. I'd rather fiddle with cog teeth for chain length than use a HL chain.

I have to walk a few spots, but it’s worth it. The drops and the lunar flow section are super.

Knevil was my hero! Funny thing is I rode that bike until I moved, the came back to those old trails 5 years later and THEN got hooked on BMX

never rode bmx. just got a fixer fat bike. i run a bullit cargo bike now so my dog axel is always with me. gonna put a sidecar on the fatbike.@@vitalbikechains

Yep, your story is what keep hearing. A lube I’m anxious to try is Mariposa Flower Power. Tested well at zero friction cycling. Cost is decent.