Recently a new method for chain lubrication has gained popularity; hot waxing. In contrast to drip waxing, the lubricant is not applied on the chain from a bottle, but instead molten in a heater and then the chain is submerged in this molten wax. This might seem like a complicated method for lubricating your chain, but it has a number of advantages that make it more and more popular.
In this article we will tell you all about what a hot wax is, what the advantages are, why you should choose Wander Wax or Hyper and how to apply these waxes.
Table of content
What is hot wax?
A hot wax is a type of lubricant that is solid at room temperature, but can be melted in a heater or au bain marie. Instead of dripping liquid wax onto the chain such as with Slick Wax or Speed Potion Wax, you melt the solid wax and immerse the chain in it.
This has several advantages compared to using a classic drip wax. These are outlined below.
Pro's and con's of using hot wax
Using hot wax has advantages and drawbacks, we have outlined most of them in the table below:
Pro's of using hot wax:
- It penetrates deep into the chain and provides very durable an fast lubrication
- It attracts very little contaminants and keeps your drivetrain clean
- It is very weather resistant and can be used on all terrains
Con's of using hot wax:
- The application of hot wax requires special materials such as: wax heater, fully degreased chain, method of hanging the chain
- Hot waxing a chain takes longer than applying regular drip wax
In summary, hot wax offers a more efficient and long-lasting solution for chain lubrication , making it especially useful for long rides, races, or harsh conditions. But takes some effort and time to apply.
The Dynamic hot waxes: Hyper & Wander Wax
Dynamic offers not one, but two types of hot wax; Hyper and Wander Wax. This means that you can choose which formula applies best to your riding style and goals.
In short; Hyper is geared towards performance and speed. Wander Wax is aimed more at endurance for long rides and enjoyable road and bikepacking trips.
The properties of both waxes can be found in the overview below:
✔️ The fastest hot wax
✔️ Provides ultimate friction reduction to minimize drivetrain losses
✔️ Keeps your drivetrain clean and silent
✔️ Cutting edge, biodegradable formula
✔️ Co-developed with UCI World Tour teams
✔️ The ultimate endurance hot wax
✔️ Extremely long-lasting, suitable for all weather conditions and terrains
✔️ Keeps your drivetrain clean and silent
✔️ Cutting edge, biodegradable formula
✔️ Co-developed with UCI World Tour teams
So, in summary:
Hyper is a high performance, biodegradable hot wax with the goal to offer maximum speed at minimum watt’s. It is co-developed with UCI World Tour teams to optimize the formula for real world conditions. Hyper is the only choice for anyone who puts performance first.
Wander Wax is the first biodegradable endurance hot wax. It offers long-lasting wear protection in all conditions, suitable for road and off-road use. Wander Wax keeps your drivetrain running smooth, silent and clean for your entire adventure.
Both use an innovative biodegradable formula, greatly reducing environmental impact compared to traditional hot waxes.
Lab testing
An important part of the development process for Hyper and Wander Wax, is friction testing in lab conditions. This provides a benchmark that can be used in further development and to give an indication of performance compared to other products in the market. Below are two graphs made from the results of friction testing done in our lab, comparing Hyper and Wander Wax to a number of other hot waxes on the market.
How to apply hot wax step-by-step
Step 1:
Clean the drivetrain
Fully degrease the drivetrain and chain, making sure they are completely free of any contaminants such as oil and grease.
To achieve this, use a water-soluble degreaser such as Drivetrain Detox in which the chain can be submerged. The best method is with an ultrasonic cleaner, but we found that putting the chain in a bidon with Drivetrain Detox also sufficiently degreases the chain.
Rinse the chain with water and wipe it dry with a Microfiber cloth. Let it dry completely or give the chain a bath in some Isopropyl alchohol to remove any remaining water and degreaser.
Step 2:
Melting process
Melt Hyper or Wander Wax in a dedicated waxheater, slowcooker or ultrasonic cleaner at 73 degrees Celsius. Wait until all the wax has become liquid.
Step 3:
Dip and drip
Fully submerge the chain in the now liquid wax for at least 15 minutes, make sure no more air bubbles appear. Then slowly remove the chain from the wax, and let it cool until the chain is cold to the touch.
Step 4:
Aftercare
Once the chain has completely cooled, break each chain link so that it can move freely. Use a clean, dry microfibre cloth to remove excess wax from the outside of the chain. Remount the chain on the bike, and you are ready to ride.
During the first ride, excess wax will shed and can leave flakes on the chainstay and drivetrain. These flakes will fall off while riding or can be removed with a clean dry microfibre cloth.
How to maintain a waxed chain?
A waxed chain does not need to be degreased, but might attract small amounts of dust and light dirt. For cleaning between wax applications, run the chain through a clean dry cloth. Use a dry brush to remove wax residue from other drivetrain parts.
If you wish to deep clean your bike and drivetrain, remove the chain to protect the wax layer from cleaners and degreasers.
The wax should be reapplied when the chain sounds ‘dry’. For reapplication, repeat the steps in the waxing instructions but skip the degreasing. The waxed chain can be wiped clean and directly inserted into the liquid wax.
After 10-15 reapplications, the wax in the heater should be replaced to prevent contaminants from impacting drivetrain efficiency and wear.
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