Hot wax: Save watts on every ride and hundreds on your drivetrain!

Share this post

Hot wax is totally normal in the pro peloton — and more and more everyday riders are using too. For pro cyclists, the efficiency gain compared to oil can be up to 10 watts. But even as a hobby rider you will notice the benefits: your chain stays much cleaner, so you spend less time degreasing and waxing. By dipping your chain in molten wax, the lubricant gets deep into every nook and cranny, giving you a quieter ride and longer-lasting parts. In this blog, we will explain how and why to hot wax your bike chain.

What is hot wax?

Hot wax is a way of lubricating your chain with a solid wax that is melted into liquid form and then fully coats your chain. Once it cools, that wax forms a protective layer that keeps moisture and dirt away while you ride — ideal if you’re out in wet, dusty, or muddy conditions.

Click here to view all hot wax products

How does hot wax work?

The wax adheres closely to the small moving parts of the chain - like the rollers and pins - and when it cools it hardens into a tough, protective coating that keeps dirt and water out. Unlike oil - which can attract grit and grime - wax helps contamination slide off your chain rather than stick to it.

That said, you will need to re-wax your chain regularly, depending on the conditions in which you cycle and how often you cycle. If you often cycle in rain or mud, the wax layer will wear off a little faster than with dry conditions. Are you planning a long trip? Then it is a good idea to wax your chain again just before you set off for an extra smooth ride.

Why choose hot wax? (Pros versus Cons)

Advantages of hot wax versus traditional chain oil or liquid wax:

Most efficient lubrication: Because the chain is dipped into liquid wax, it reaches deep inside every moving part better than oil or cold wax can.
Stays cleaner, longer: Wax hardens dry, so dirt and sand don't stick and your chain doesn't turn into a gritty black paste.
Saves money: A cleaner chain means less wear on your drivetrain, so you buy new chains, cassettes and chainrings far less often.

Minor drawbacks to know:

The first time takes more effort: Your chain must be perfectly degreased for the wax to stick. After thoroughly degreasing the chain and applying the hot wax, it will last for a good number of rides.
Heating up the wax takes time: You need an old pot or dedicated wax heater.
Applying hot wax takes longer than just drops of oil: Dipping the chain into the hot wax and leaving it to dry takes longer than quickly applying a few drops of oil or regular liquid chain wax.

How to hot wax your chain - step by step

Choose your hot wax

Rather than simply putting a random hot wax product in your shopping basket, briefly compare the different types to find out which one is perfect for you. Dynamic, for example, offers Hyper Wax and Wander Wax: while Hyper Wax is aimed at maximum performance for road cyclists, Wander Wax is more suitable for adventurous riders who spend a lot of time on gravel and rougher trails.

Step 1: Choose the most suitable hot wax.

For road cyclists looking for a reliable and long-lasting hot wax, we offer various options:

There are also special types of hot wax for cyclists keen to save every watt:

Remove the chain

Use a chain tool or missing-link pliers (depending on your type of bike chain) to take the chain off your bike.

Browse all missing link pliers

Browse all chain breaker tools

Step 2: Use a chain breaker tool or missing link pliers to easily remove your chain.

Tip: Use a chain wear checker before you start. It would be a shame to waste time and wax on a chain that has had its day. Is it worn out? Then grab a new chain straight away for the best results.

View all chain checkers

Degrease thoroughly

Use a degreaser to thoroughly clean your chain, removing all traces of the old lubricant. Make sure all old oil and dirt are gone - hot wax will only adhere well to a pristine chain! There are two ways to do this:

A. Use an ultrasonic cleaning device: Ultrasonic cleaning gives your chain a deep clean down to the smallest details. The powerful vibrations generate millions of microscopic bubbles that implode along and between the links, easily loosening and removing stubborn dirt, wax residue and oil from every crevice.

Step 3A: Use an ultrasonic device for best cleaning results before applying hot wax.

B. Use a powerful degreaser (or stripper): Such a degreaser dissolves grease and dirt between the links so you can easily rinse everything off and re-lubricate. A stripper-degreaser is even more powerful and also removes stubborn wax layers and deeply ingrained dirt, completely resetting your chain, as it were.

View all degreasers

Step 3B: If you do not use an ultrasonic cleaning device, a powerful degreaser or chain stripper is a good alternative.

Dry the chain

After cleaning, dry the chain with a cloth, e.g. a microfibre cloth. For best results, use a powerful blower to dry hard-to-reach areas, such as chain links.

Step 4: Use a microfibre cloth to dry the chain.

Step 4: Use a powerful blower to remove liquid from hard-to-reach parts.

Heat the wax

Heat the wax in a large pot or pan until it is completely liquid but does not yet boil. Or heat the wax in a convenient hot wax station.

Step 5: For easy wax heating, special devices are available.

Dip the chain

Use pliers or a similar tool to dip your bike chain into the liquid hot wax. Make sure the entire chain is submerged in the liquid wax, then move gently back and forth with the pliers so that the hot wax reaches every part of the chain. Keep the chain in the wax for about 10 minutes - the duration depends on the type of hot wax you are using.

Step 6: Use pliers or a chain holder to submerge the chain in the liquid hot wax.

Remove the chain from the hot wax

Use the pliers to remove the chain from the wax and hold above the wax for a few seconds to let any excess wax drip back into the pot. Hang the chain to harden for a few minutes, then briefly break all the links because they are stuck together from the wax. Using a microfibre cloth, remove the excess wax above the pot so that it falls back into it.

Step 7: Leave the chain above the pot to shed excess wax and let the wax harden.

Re-install the chain

Put the chain back in place, for which we recommend using a missing link (or quick link). If you need to buy one, make sure to get the right one for the number of gears on your bike. With the chain properly in place, go for a short ride - you will immediately notice that your drivetrain runs much more smoothly!

View all missing links

Step 8: Use a chain tool or missing-link pliers to reinstall the chain.

Tip: Re-use the wax!

Allow the remaining wax in the pan or wax station to harden, and save it for next time. You can re-use the same wax several times.

Hot wax is re-usable: Leave to harden in the pot or station, then re-heat when you are ready for the next hot wax treatment.

Are you using Silca hot wax?
Use a wax additive (often a wax chip) with your Silca hot wax; it will make the wax last longer and help reduce chain friction, which hot wax alone does not.

How often should you hot wax your chain

How often you need to wax your chain depends on how many kilometres you ride and the conditions in which you ride. A layer of hot wax can last up to 1,000 kilometres if you ride in completely dry conditions. When riding in wet conditions, for example through mud and rain, you will need to re-wax your chain after a few hundred kilometres.

How to service your hot waxed chain

A waxed chain does not need to be degreased, although some dust and fine dirt may occasionally stick to it. For quick cleaning in between, simply hold a clean, dry microfibre cloth and pull the chain through it. Or use a drivetrain brush to remove dirt from the drivetrain.

If your chain makes a dry, abrasive noise, it is time to reapply the wax, following the steps described above! After about 10 waxings, you will need to use a new wax to prevent the contaminated wax from affecting your chain's performance.

How does hot wax differ from regular chain wax and chain oil?

In bike chain maintenance, hot wax, chain oil and regular chain wax are popular choices; please note that they differ significantly in their effects and pros/cons.

Compared to hot wax, chain oil is a traditional choice. It attracts dirt and dust more, and so the chain gets dirty again much sooner and requires more maintenance. Chain oil is easy to use but may be less effective than hot wax in the long term.

Regular chain wax, then, comes between chain oil and hot wax; it is easy to apply but may be less effective at repelling dirt and moisture compared to hot wax. Regular chain wax is liquid and offers a cleaner option than oil but the powerful adhesion and protection of hot wax make it the better choice for cyclists looking for optimal performance and less maintenance.

Hot wax is the most effective lubrication method; although chain oil and liquid wax are perfectly adequate, they allow for considerably more wear than hot wax.

Watch a video on how to hot wax your chain

Hot waxing offers an efficient and durable way to lubricate your chain, ideal for long rides, races and rough conditions. Although it takes some time and effort to apply, it pays off in the end! Click here (Dutch only) to watch a video on how to hot wax your bike chain. In the video, CyclOn Premium Graphene Hot Wax is used. Please note: Before applying the hot wax of your choice, always check how you should use it!

View all hot wax products

The best tips for using hot wax

Re-use hot wax: Allow the leftover hot wax to harden, then reheat and reuse the next time!
Use a spoke to hang the chain: Rather than using (the included) wires to submerge the chain into the pot of hot wax, bend an old spoke into a rectangular U-shape. If you hang the chain over it in 8 equal strands, it will fit perfectly and securely in and over the pot.
Do not fill the pot to the brim with hot wax: Fill the pot for about one third, which is enough to completely submerge the chain and lets the wax heat up faster and cool down faster afterwards.
Hot wax multiple chains at once: Apply hot wax to 4 to 7 chains at a time, so you only have to heat up the pot once every few months and always have a fresh chain ready for use.
Beware of splashes: Work carefully! If you shake the chain to get rid of excess wax, the wax can fly in all directions. To prevent this, gently wipe the chain after breaking the links and letting the hot wax harden. You can also lay down some old newspapers and work in the shed to prevent odours and grease stains in your house.
Buy a complete hot wax set: Make it easy on yourself - a complete hot wax set ensures optimal chain lubrication!

Buy a pre-waxed chain: If you don't feel like going through the time-consuming process of thoroughly degreasing the chain, buy a pre-waxed one! These chains are pre-treated with wax and can be installed and used straight out of the packaging, so you can ride several hundred kilometres before needing to degrease and (hot) wax it.