I'm currently using two-pot waxers for body waxing, and they seem to work great. They cost around $30 US. I also use a spoke for dipping and drying. But the Silca pot appears to be a great way to start waxing your chains if you haven't gone through the possess.
Heard from a few people who use those style waxers, sounds like they’re also a good option. How have you found it in regards to time to heat the wax/outside temperature? Any temp control on them?
@@onelastlap9302 I haven't timed it, but it seems to be short, and I don't have a fancy temperature reader. However, it does have a digital reader for the wax, which is helpful. Plus, you can re-waxe using the dip method with the two-pot system. I'm going to do a more in-depth review once I have used it a few times.
probably a small difference overall, but the new wax in the form of small pellets would easily melt quicker than the whole chunk of reused wax - higher surface area exposed to heat. Either way, i would expect a lot more bang for the buck in the middle ground. That is, getting a slightly more expensive crockpot without reaching such a bike specific implementation.
Agree, it probably makes a difference. I actually did put a few chunks into the Silca pot as well (look closely before I dump in the pellets) to try and keep the comparison closer. I’ve heard a few using mid range pots with good results, I guess you can compare the time to melt/heat for your own pot and see how it stacks up!
I’ve got an instapot and the SILCA setup. The silca heats up the wax just as fast without over shooting the temp. The instapot I have to watch like a hawk with a candy thermometer to prevent burning the wax, and it also hard to cool it down with overcooling it prior to I removing the chain. The silca is small (my biggest complaint) and doesn’t hold a full bag of wax…but it’s the ultimate in set and forget.
Thanks for posting. I had no idea you can get a crockpot for $7! My $35 waxkiss is white not gray, and doesn’t say Silca. Other than that they visually look the same.
I got the cheap one from thrift store, so lots of cheap croc pots there (type will vary haha). Maybe in the future I’ll do another video to compare mid range options, but feel free to let me know how your current one compares!
Thanks! I don’t think I did actually. Rough guess is that it would keep already melted wax in the 60-80 range, but next time I plug it in, I’ll get a more exact answer for you 👍
you do not need to remove the chain from bike if chain is not hidden or out of hand, just use inductive heater to warm up chain and then touch it with wax and wipe with old towel
At the end of the day more expensive tends to be more convenient. You just need prioritize price and or convenience. If you want a budget option it will be less convenient and vice versa
You can easily find virtually identical wax pots that don’t have SILCA printed on them that cost about $30. You don’t get the chain hanging fixture, but that is certainly not worth an extra $70-80.
first, you don't need a pot at all, (you heat the chain on the bike with an induction heater) second, you can make almost free wax yourself without additives, and if you want additives, they have a price, but still cheaper than silca
How did you not think of a way to hang your dripping chain OVER the crock pot? Also, a crock pot is a poor choice for waxing. Look for an instant pot instead. It has multiple settings, and the thrift stores seem to be full of them. Mine was also less than 10 dollars.
I haven’t seen instant pots at my local thrift store, but will check it out! Ya, a wood piece or some hanger couple probably be fashioned for the regular croc pot as well 👍
@@onelastlap9302 I'm just calculating something, what is the total financial effect of using expensive wax compared to free wax: it turns out that one waxing costs $0.7, my chain costs $14, to assume that the chain will last the same number of kilometers (6000km), but the interval of waxing the chain with each 100km increase to 200km, the price of the used wax for that mileage will be 2.7 the price of the chain, and if the chain survives 6x longer than on oil, it turns out that due to the price of the wax, the effect is as if the chain lasted 2.2 times longer (6/2.7=2.2)
Wax (especially hot wax like shown here) has a couple advantages, first is that it runs super clean. The wax doesn’t attract dirt, so the chain doesn’t get black and oily over time. Second, the wax is also very efficient, so there is less power lost from friction as a result. Both of these combine for a longer lasting and faster drivetrain 👍. See my other videos (linked in description) for a few more details surrounding the hot waxing process
My guess is if you enjoy faffing around with your bike as much (or more) than riding it? I've never talked with anyone that was ambivalent about wax, they seem to be in a cult regarding chain waxing...going way, way back to when some of these folks burned-down their shop or kitchen cooking chains on a stove before there were things like crock-pots. Back then it was just paraffin sealing wax dosed-up with graphite or moly, now it's a big biz with specialty everything for the wax cultist. Chains are cheap (KMC's anyway) so I just oil mine and toss 'em when they measure halfway worn-out. More time riding, less time faffing around and less stuff-to-buy. Cogsets/chainrings last almost forever....just like the wax cultist's claim!
Well yeah.. the crock pot has a heavy ceramic liner and is designed to heat extremely slowly. If you want to do a comparison buy a $15 skin waxing pot.. same utility as silcas over priced system
The Silca one is kind of an overpriced joke and you can only wax one at a time... Better buy a quality instant pot with temperature control for cheaper.
The older croc pot is what I’ve been using, and I’ve recently started using the Silca pot. I was curious myself what the performance/use difference was between the two
I'm currently using two-pot waxers for body waxing, and they seem to work great. They cost around $30 US. I also use a spoke for dipping and drying. But the Silca pot appears to be a great way to start waxing your chains if you haven't gone through the possess.
Heard from a few people who use those style waxers, sounds like they’re also a good option. How have you found it in regards to time to heat the wax/outside temperature? Any temp control on them?
@@onelastlap9302 I haven't timed it, but it seems to be short, and I don't have a fancy temperature reader. However, it does have a digital reader for the wax, which is helpful. Plus, you can re-waxe using the dip method with the two-pot system. I'm going to do a more in-depth review once I have used it a few times.
probably a small difference overall, but the new wax in the form of small pellets would easily melt quicker than the whole chunk of reused wax - higher surface area exposed to heat. Either way, i would expect a lot more bang for the buck in the middle ground. That is, getting a slightly more expensive crockpot without reaching such a bike specific implementation.
Main issue with the crock is the thick ceramic pot that needs to heat up first, the silca pot looks like a thin stainless dish.
Agree, it probably makes a difference. I actually did put a few chunks into the Silca pot as well (look closely before I dump in the pellets) to try and keep the comparison closer. I’ve heard a few using mid range pots with good results, I guess you can compare the time to melt/heat for your own pot and see how it stacks up!
A instant pot should heat up faster than a crock pot - thin steel put vs thick ceramic, and more powerful heating element.
I’ve got an instapot and the SILCA setup. The silca heats up the wax just as fast without over shooting the temp. The instapot I have to watch like a hawk with a candy thermometer to prevent burning the wax, and it also hard to cool it down with overcooling it prior to I removing the chain.
The silca is small (my biggest complaint) and doesn’t hold a full bag of wax…but it’s the ultimate in set and forget.
good review - to the point with no waffling - nice job sir .
Thanks! 😊 🙏
Thanks for posting. I had no idea you can get a crockpot for $7! My $35 waxkiss is white not gray, and doesn’t say Silca. Other than that they visually look the same.
I got the cheap one from thrift store, so lots of cheap croc pots there (type will vary haha). Maybe in the future I’ll do another video to compare mid range options, but feel free to let me know how your current one compares!
I decided to buy the silca pot and wax, just waiting for it to arrive, they had a decent sale on recently.
Nice, it’s a great system, enjoy the chain waxing! 😊
great video
the hanger will be useful but since i am doing this in my kitchen with my thift store crockpot i think i am okay. happy riding!
Thanks! I’ve been instructed no bike work in kitchen haha, garage only 😂.
@@onelastlap9302 a pro living in the a small apartment
good video. did you take a temp reading at all when you reduced the cheaper crock pot to the medium temp level?
Thanks! I don’t think I did actually. Rough guess is that it would keep already melted wax in the 60-80 range, but next time I plug it in, I’ll get a more exact answer for you 👍
I have a recumbent bike and trike. The chains are about 3x the length of a regular bike chain. Probably wouldn't fit in the silca pot.
Oh interesting, it may work if the pot is full and chain is coiled neatly, but a bigger pot may not a bad idea in this case!
you do not need to remove the chain from bike if chain is not hidden or out of hand, just use inductive heater to warm up chain and then touch it with wax and wipe with old towel
At the end of the day more expensive tends to be more convenient. You just need prioritize price and or convenience. If you want a budget option it will be less convenient and vice versa
Most of the time, that’s true! The time saving here for me makes a big difference, and I’m far more willing to rewax my chains
You can easily find virtually identical wax pots that don’t have SILCA printed on them that cost about $30. You don’t get the chain hanging fixture, but that is certainly not worth an extra $70-80.
first, you don't need a pot at all, (you heat the chain on the bike with an induction heater) second, you can make almost free wax yourself without additives, and if you want additives, they have a price, but still cheaper than silca
How did you not think of a way to hang your dripping chain OVER the crock pot? Also, a crock pot is a poor choice for waxing. Look for an instant pot instead. It has multiple settings, and the thrift stores seem to be full of them. Mine was also less than 10 dollars.
I haven’t seen instant pots at my local thrift store, but will check it out! Ya, a wood piece or some hanger couple probably be fashioned for the regular croc pot as well 👍
$112 pot+$42 wax=$154, how many times that 500g of wax can be used, my candle wax is for free, and inductive heater is $7,
A bag of wax lasts around 60 uses, the speed and ease of use of the pot are great features, but cheaper diy options are also good!
@@onelastlap9302 thanks
@@onelastlap9302 I'm just calculating something, what is the total financial effect of using expensive wax compared to free wax: it turns out that one waxing costs $0.7, my chain costs $14, to assume that the chain will last the same number of kilometers (6000km), but the interval of waxing the chain with each 100km increase to 200km, the price of the used wax for that mileage will be 2.7 the price of the chain, and if the chain survives 6x longer than on oil, it turns out that due to the price of the wax, the effect is as if the chain lasted 2.2 times longer (6/2.7=2.2)
Why would you use wax vs lubricant? Thx?
Wax (especially hot wax like shown here) has a couple advantages, first is that it runs super clean. The wax doesn’t attract dirt, so the chain doesn’t get black and oily over time. Second, the wax is also very efficient, so there is less power lost from friction as a result. Both of these combine for a longer lasting and faster drivetrain 👍. See my other videos (linked in description) for a few more details surrounding the hot waxing process
It's the best lubricant and the chain stays clean. A filthy chain can be reset to almost good as new with boiling water and a rewax.
My guess is if you enjoy faffing around with your bike as much (or more) than riding it? I've never talked with anyone that was ambivalent about wax, they seem to be in a cult regarding chain waxing...going way, way back to when some of these folks burned-down their shop or kitchen cooking chains on a stove before there were things like crock-pots. Back then it was just paraffin sealing wax dosed-up with graphite or moly, now it's a big biz with specialty everything for the wax cultist. Chains are cheap (KMC's anyway) so I just oil mine and toss 'em when they measure halfway worn-out. More time riding, less time faffing around and less stuff-to-buy. Cogsets/chainrings last almost forever....just like the wax cultist's claim!
I used a rice cooker $20 from Target
Also can work 👍
@@onelastlap9302gets hot faster than crock pot!
How fast does the Silca Croc pot cook meatballs?
Asking for a friend.
Will test at lunchtime 😅
Thnaks
😊👍
Well yeah.. the crock pot has a heavy ceramic liner and is designed to heat extremely slowly. If you want to do a comparison buy a $15 skin waxing pot.. same utility as silcas over priced system
Thanks for the feedback 👍
Sweet video
Thanks 😊 🙏
The Silca one is kind of an overpriced joke and you can only wax one at a time...
Better buy a quality instant pot with temperature control for cheaper.
Heard good things on instant pot too, is it pretty quick for wax heat up? How many chains can you fit?
the whole commercial waxing thing is an overpriced joke, waxing can be almost free if you do it yourself and use custom equipment
Why you do this 😮
The older croc pot is what I’ve been using, and I’ve recently started using the Silca pot. I was curious myself what the performance/use difference was between the two
because he can