For cleaning the chain, you need a good degreaser, mineral spirits,=20
gasoline (careful outside no sparks), etc. I would not let water get=20
near the chain since there would be chance of internal corrosion, the=20
only exception, might be a very muddy mountain bike chain. For=20
lubricant, we have for years used melted paraffin wax. In a double=20
boiler (a pot of boiling water with another contain for the wax in the=20
water) (No direct flame or electric heater to the wax container - FIRE)=20
melt the wax, it will be water thin, clear), coil up the chain, and=20
submerge in the melted wax for a few minutes, take out and wipe off all=20
excess wax. Done. The result is a clean, lubricant, that attracts a=20
minimum of dirt, and protects the chain. Our bikes are road bikes, and=20
include a handmade in the U.K. Raleigh Carlton, 1967 vintage, whose=20
weight rivals many modern road bikes.

On 9/16/2010 11:39 PM, V G wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> What type of grease is the stuff found on bicycle chains? It's the
> really thick, black stuff.
>
> I recently cleaned my entire bicycle with soap and water, and a lot of
> the grease came off (it was really dirty anyway), so I need to reapply
> lubricant to the chain.
>   =20
--=20
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