Re: Chain Waxing, hot, Why it Works?

On 3 Mar 2006 06:28:50 -0800, "41" <KingGeorgeXLI@xxxxxxxx> wrote:
Pat Lamb wrote:
Now, the pressure at the interfaces combined with the bending motion at
the cog will create heat if the interface isn't lubed. Even if we
assume solid wax provides no lubrication, I'd argue liquid wax is a
lubricant. The heat and pressure will melt the paraffin, then, which
will rapidly lubricate the joint.

The melting point of paraffin is somewhere around 140-190F. Consider
that hot water direct from the tank in the US is at 120-140F, and about
10F lower for faucets a ways away. I guess we must be Supermen: pedal a
little harder, and we will generate enough heat to boil the water on
our chains. I shall use this method next time to dry my chains
thoroughly after riding in wet weather. Heck, during.

Are your red herrings always salted?

If there is enough heat to melt the wax at these interfaces

There isn't. The paper referenced earlier in this thread shows losses
on the order of 5W for the whole chain. For a 110 link chain, that is
less than 0.05W per link. Good luck melting your wax while riding.

You're forgetting how small the affected volume is, and how short the
time is it takes to bend the link. The relevant time while the link
is bending or unbending is a fraction of a second -- call it 0.1 s,
and that's probably too large. This doesn't give the heat that is
generated much time to dissipate, so the metal is heated to a very
small depth -- call it 0.1 mm. Figure the affected volume per link is
on the order of 0.02 cm^3. Given the specific heat of iron is 0.106
cal/g/K, and the specific gravity is 7.8 g/cm^3, a back of the
envelope calculation shows a 70 K temperature rise, or 126 F.

my current mix --
it's something like 3/4 pound of paraffin and an ounce or two of 10W-30
motor o il.

Paraffin with oil in highly varying (200%x?) proportions seems like
some kind of ersatz grease and I haven't dealt with it and have no
comment on how well it works. Certainly if the chain is cleaned and the
treatment reapplied as frequently as posters here describe, nearly
anything (honey?) will "work"- as far as letting the chain last and
keeping it quiet goes.

I don't think any proponents of waxing the chain on this group have
advocated pure paraffin. I'm glad to see you admit that you're
arguing against a straw man, and have not comment on how well a
paraffin/oil mixture works.

Pat

Email address works as is.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Chain Waxing, hot, Why it Works?
    ... the cog will create heat if the interface isn't lubed. ... assume solid wax provides no lubrication, I'd argue liquid wax is a ... on the order of 5W for the whole chain. ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: Chain Waxing, hot, Why it Works?
    ... which claimed that lubrication had no effect on chain efficiency. ... it was not pure paraffin. ... White LIghtning is not the exact same composition others are ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: wheel building nipple locktite
    ... heat treatment of steel. ... Preferably you should do this when the oven needs self-cleaning. ... never done a chain this way, ... (Ovens, even self-cleaning ones, do not get anywhere near 1300 F.) ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)
  • Re: Some issues with the Shandon HistoCentre 2. Advice wanted
    ... machine were the paraffin leaves isn't, except for the heat produced ... paraffin container and the dispensing tube. ... If a heater on the paraffin reservoir or a heater that ... heats both the paraffin reservoir and the dispensing tube died, ...
    (sci.techniques.microscopy)
  • Re: Chain Waxing, hot, Why it Works?
    ... on the order of 5W for the whole chain. ... Given the specific heat of iron is 0.106 ... watts over 0.1 seconds means that you have 0.005 joules available. ... Most of that energy is lost while the chain ...
    (rec.bicycles.tech)