How to 'LAYER UP' Super Secret Drip Wax Lube

In this video, Josh explains the efficiency of Super Secret Chain Coating drip wax and how "Layering Up" can get your chain within 3% of the most efficient chain treatment, aka an immersive hot wax-treated chain. So, if you are not in the 'wax curious' crowd, but you still want the benefits of a cleaner, quieter, and less friction (faster) chain. Here's how you can achieve 97% of that efficiency without immersive hot waxing your chain by Layering Up with your chain STILL ON your bike!

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Founded in Milan in 1917 and now based in Indianapolis, SILCA is renowned for its passion for cycling. Led by cycling industry leader, Josh Poertner, the brand has expanded from the iconic SuperPista pump to a full range of high-end cycling tools and gear, collaborating with UCI World Tour teams to enhance cycling performance. SILCA combines tradition with innovation, inspiring cyclists to enjoy both riding and maintenance.

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[eyvindr]

Thanks! I couldn't find this basic information before. Maybe time to put it on the label?

[glennmorgan]

Thank you for your tips once again Josh!!!! I found another use for the ss drip, I have been applying it to the zippers on my trunk bag and paniers it makes them feel like new again...Cheers

[kellywoolverton]

Great video. I was not aware that I could go straight from water to wax. I was letting chain dry fully then wax. A nice time saver!

[davidide]

These latest videos have been really helpful.
Does it matter if the 1 drop per link is on the top or bottom of the chain?
Also, I have a heat gun near my waxing area, so I apply some heat as I spin the chain to help it penetrate, is this a good idea ?
Thanks, Dave

[bikecommuter]

After a few months of trying to get the striper and coating set I finally got it today, Chain stripping process done per the process in the for on bike stripping video and I just applied the first layer of the Chain Coating.
I'm amazed at how clean my slightly used chain is I can run a finger on the chain and no dirty residue on it.
The Chain Striper is an awesome product by itself.
I can't wait to see how my bike runs with its newly "coated" chain.
Im planning on getting a new bicycle in a couple of months I will strip and coat its chain once I get it.

[hardmtnbiker]

I hot waxed my chains with Silca’s wax and maintain with Silca’s Super Secret chain coating in between my century or multiple long rides. I have been having great results with Silca wax and coating! Thanks Josh! Your insights are appreciated and professional products are amazing!

[Slayjegard]

Thanks Josh and Silca team, very helpful! One question though, how do your excellent chain wipes play into this? I typically wipe the chain down with your wipes after each long ride, does that mean the chain will then warrant another layer? PS, not looking to save wax, merely to be as fast as possible! 😎

[BBQSKI]

What about a waxed chain on a mountain bike? Do you reapply drip and reset at smaller intervals? I find my MTB chain after a few rides (especially with creek crossings) starts making noise much earlier than my road

[MLN-]

The only issue I have encountered - I used Silca Synergetic for the life of my SRAM force chain on a red groupset - I got about 10, 000 *miles* done and still replaced it earlier than strictly necessary according to my chain checker. Absolutely brilliant longevity thanks to the Synergetic lube.

However, once I put a new chain on (a few days before the Mallorca 312) I encountered a pretty loud and annoying creak from the inner ring - after quite a bit of troubleshooting me and the mechanic were able to come to the conclusion that it was due to the wear of the inner ring being so out of sync with the new chain. Around 2k riding later and the creak is less pronounced but still there.

Just something to be aware of!

[ElevationEveryWeekend]

Nice info, recently went to Super Secret on two new bikes and converted a third, so far so good here in Colorado conditions.

[overcookit]

After shifting to the biggest sprocket and the big chainring (to open the small gaps in the chain the widest possible, due to an obviously optimal chain line, the chain does not drop to the second sprocket), I hold a kitchen tissue under the upper running chain and really pour the liquid wax over the chain, so with the tissue, I create kind of a "wax bath" by squeezing the tissue a little bit and twisting the chain a little bit. This uses about four kitchen tissues a larger ammount of liquid wax, but I have a nice stiff chain after the waxing when it is dry. When it is still wet, I turn the pedals backwards so the wax is really good distributed, and wait at least 12 hours before using the bike. When the chain was new, I also made three times a waxing. I still use the cassette, and as it is an 11speed cassette specially prepared for the use on a 8-10speed freehub (the freewheel of a FH-6402 on both a Specialized trispoke and a HED 3D-disc wheel), I am really glad that I switched to chain wax - the cassette (CS-6800 11-23 has got at least 18.000 km) is still good, even no chain vibration, which occurs when the cassette is about to be worn out. I always renew the waxing as soon as the chain only feels a little bit waxed. I already have purchased the hot melt wax, but I still search a "wax cooker", I wonder whether the ones used for skin peeling are usable for chains?

[kennywhittle]

Thank you Josh (and Ollie from GCN) for getting me into waxing. Hot wax and layering up as you suggest here. I am faster but for me who has a severe hatred of noise, it is so quiet and it makes my rides that much more enjoyable. I almost find extra peace in the world just listening to the absence of sound.

[wsbygt]

Josh already touched this subject before and yes: I´m layering Up!

[stephencharles]

I would actually like to see the boiling water part done on video. Can you put the chain in an old kettle and boil away? If in a tray, how many boils needed as cools quickly?

Also...before my recent switch to waxing (all really good so far) I used to lube on bottom of the chain to get into the main roller areas in contact with the rings. But drip lube would then drop through onto the floor. So should I be dripping on the top over the cassette allowing it to drop through onto the rings to give extra smoothness? Not sure?

[mkenyon]

I wonder if warming the chain with a hair dryer or heat gun after the ride would help the wax wick into the gaps. It would soften and may increase the surface tension of the wax. Oh I see cleaning with hot water too.

[dionthomas]

Going to try this on my xx1 and Red rainbow chains….

[Rekmeyata]

Instead of putting one drop on each roller, what I've been doing is put the Silca Super Secret Drip Wax Lube into an older Park Tool Chain Cleaning Machine. I removed the sponge wipe thing since I felt it wasn't needed, then I fill the Park Tool to the fill line, and then simply fasten it to the chain and pedal backwards a couple of times, and the whole chain is covered; then I wait 24 hours and put on a second coat, though I'm not sure it that second coat is necessary since the chain cleaning machine is getting the wax into everything. Once I'm done I leave the wax in the machine, and wait to use it again, I don't want to pour it back into the Silca bottle because it could contaminate the wax, BUT I do save it for use later!

Any Chain cleaning machine will work, I just happened to have an old Park Tool one sitting around. I have a FinishLine Chain cleaning machine I use to clean the chains.

I forgot to mention that I cleaned the old cleaning machine so that there was no more crud left over from using it to clean chains with. One could just buy a new one and use it instead, I just happen to have the old one and it cleaned up well.

[arden]

As far as articulating the chain during a drip wax application (eg. by cross chaining and back-pedaling etc.), do you have any advice for single-speeders or track riders? Is the move a finger massage, a little tickle and twist while the lube is still wet?

[MichaelMachado]

I’ll just keep hot melt waxing. This actually seems like more work and time than the full hot melt especially when you batch 8+ chains at a time.

[XerpLife]

I run 7 and 9 speed chains so don't mind removing them often to hot wax and they are cheap enough to have a few waxed chains in rotation.