Rain-resistant dry lubricant

[StringJunky]

I'm looking for a lubricant for my bike chain that will dry out but can resist rain for longer than the ones usually available for bikes. Wet bike chain lubes that do resist rain attract dust in dry weather and soon get clogged up and dirty to handle. Normal chain oils are just a nightmare for attracting dirt in any conditions; specialist bike chain wet lubes aren't quite as wet as normal oils.

 

I'm just wondering if anyone knows of a lube, maybe used in some other discipline, that may meet my requirements.

 

For clarity: A 'wet' lube is for wet weather because it resists rain. It is slightly sticky, but not wet itself. A 'dry' lube is for dry weather and is not sticky to the touch and hence keeps clean in dry weather; comes off with rain though.

Edited August 27, 2016 by StringJunky

[studiot]

Silicone spray is good and easy, but will need renewing every couple of weeks or so on a bike chain.

[StringJunky]

Silicone spray is good and easy, but will need renewing every couple of weeks or so on a bike chain.

I did think of that one but wasn't sure. Would this one from WD40 be worth a go?

 

http://wd40specialist.com/products/silicone-lubricant/

I've just bought this one to test: 3-in-1 Silicone Lubricant . Just got to get my chain spotless before I put it on.

 

Will report back

[studiot]

Never heard of a WD40 version but sounds expensive, especially as they will not tell you the price.

 

Knitmaster provided a can with my wife's knitting machine decades ago that we still use everywhere for a dry, non greasy lubricant.

 

Curtain tracks, the window mechanisms, doors locks, things on the car.......

 

It's like magic.

 

We recently bought some unamed brand quite cheaply on _bay.

 

Seems good.

Edited August 27, 2016 by studiot

[StringJunky]

Never heard of a WD40 version but sounds expensive, especially as they will not tell you the price.

 

Knitmaster provided a can with my wife's knitting machine decades ago that we still use everywhere for a dry, non greasy lubricant.

 

Curtain tracks, the window mechanisms, doors locks, things on the car.......

 

It's like magic.

 

We recently bought some unamed brand quite cheaply on _bay.

 

Seems good.

The one I got is by the 3-In-One company. It was in Halfords at £5.99

 

http://www.halfords.com/motoring/engine-oils-fluids/lubricating-penetrating-oil/3-in-one-professional-silicone-spray-lubricant-400ml

 

I've cleaned the chain up and put it on. I'll see how it holds up. I check my bike every week or so; if it lasts a week exposed to one or two bouts of rain that'll be good enough for me.

 

Is silicone, silicone, wherever you get it from; assuming there's no other functional additives?

Edited August 27, 2016 by StringJunky

[studiot]

There are many silicones, it is a class of compounds.

 

It can be made as thick as grease or as an oil or thin enough to spray.

 

As a sealant it can contain inert filler (there was a question here a few days aback about someone who wanted to do a thermogravimetric analysis) and be made sticky.

 

The lubricants are usually non sticky.

 

http://www.dowcorning.com/content/discover/discoverchem/si-lubricants.aspx

[StringJunky]

There are many silicones, it is a class of compounds.

 

It can be made as thick as grease or as an oil or thin enough to spray.

 

As a sealant it can contain inert filler (there was a question here a few days aback about someone who wanted to do a thermogravimetric analysis) and be made sticky.

 

The lubricants are usually non sticky.

 

http://www.dowcorning.com/content/discover/discoverchem/si-lubricants.aspx

That was interesting. Thanks. It seems that it should do the job but might have to find one with a higher viscosity if this is too thin.

[imatfaal]

On the whole the dry lubricants will wash off in the rain and the wet lubricants will persist in the wet weather but get very dirty and claggy. You can get a dry waterproof solution - but it is pant-wettingly expensive and will last for about 250km; professionals only occasionally use it when conditions are very uncertain and the rider feels she needs every possible advantage. It is a sort of wax treatment with a compound including very fine ceramic lubricants - you might see half a dozen total uses through the 3 weeks and 198 riders of the tour de france. It is also amazingly slick - in a pursuit of vanishingly small returns I think it is one of the silliest and only worth (?) looking at once every time saving kink has already been implemented.

 

On the whole I use muc-off dry lubricant (never pay full price - it will be reduced to less than half price somewhere) through the spring and summer - but as soon as there are significant puddles on my commute I will switch to some form of wet weather till the spring.

 

Remember the bit you are trying to lubricate is the assembly around the rivet of each link - get the lube there in the first place and wipe off anything else.

 

Also well worth spending a couple of quid on a chain wear gauge. A chain that has gained 1% of length (it is mainly in wear and tear of the cylindrical assembly - not through stretching) will start to damage your expensive chain ring, rear dérailleur, and cassette - and the rate of wear on both the chain and the expensive stuff will get worse if you do not replace the chain. I keep the wear gauge with the lube and check every time - when it gets to 0.75% I start thinking about buying a new chain so that the first time I lube and it has reached 1% I already have a chain ready to replace with

[StringJunky]

Thanks imatfaal, that's very useful info and I will take it on board. A chain stretch gauge is sailing its way from China to me. I am buying a new chain this week, so will monitor it with the gauge.

 

My test: I lubed my chain with silicone, let it dry, then halved it. I immersed in water for five minutes, then ran it under the tap for a minute to simulate the mother-of-all downpours. Compared to the unsoaked chain it was clear some had come off on the outside but it was still nice and smooth after being left to dry; no metal-to-metal grinding. I have since read up on silicone and it's not recommended by the manufacturers for loaded metal-to-metal situations as it doesn't have the required load-bearing properties; only a third of normal oils apparently. It's not wasted, I'll use it for lubricating/waterproofing inside the freewheel as the lube has no necessary function in drive mode; only freewheel spinning backwards, which has no load. Also, suspension arms.

 

So, it's back to the Muc-Off Dry.

Edited August 28, 2016 by StringJunky