Thinking of immersive waxing but unsure if it is for you? The below video’s should help decide. There are A LOT of incorrect myths as well as misconceptions with regards to immersive waxing. One thing we can assure you straight up with you needing to take the time to watch a quick vid – it is generally a time SAVER and much easier to maintain drivetrain vs most drip lubricants, as opposed to being a time consuming task it is often portrayed to be. There is a reason why immersive waxing has moved from being niche to very mainstream – to the great benefit of the cyclists bike and wallet! If unsure – watch the first video below. Any deeper questions not covered in the 2 vids below can be found on other Zero Friction cycling you tube videos (ie waxing and wet, waxing and cold), as well as online resources found in the instructions tab.
Have fun!
Immersive waxing – concise version
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwXdeOBXlBQ&t=1s
Waxed life like a boss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVzhm-yTojk&t=799s
Welcome to the latest edition to the immersive wax option line up – Black Diamond Wax and Mod Block from Rex.
Mod Block
This is the block of concentrated friction modifiers for the Rex Black Diamond wax.
This is not to be used on its own, but with the BASE BLOCKS included with the Rex Black Diamond Wax.
Rex Black Diamond Wax comes with one Modifier Block and 11 Base blocks. This enables users to make a wax blend with a high concentration of friction modifiers by using less Base Blocks as part of the mix (ie one may use 7 base blocks instead of all 11, or they may use 4 Base blocks etc).
For those running a higher concentration mix – this Modifier Block is to enable you to make further blends with your remaining base blocks.
Black Diamond Wax
Continuing the trend with the Black Diamond Drip lubricant, Rex have created an immersive wax with great treatment longevity which may suit what some immersive waxers needs / preferences.
It is worth noting that the wax treatment may still begin to feel and sound dry after a few hundred kms (Dry road, expect sooner for offroad / wet etc) – however the friction modifiers used on Black Diamond wax do provide exceptional wear protection after the base wax is wearing thin.
Extensive testing has shown that even when chain is sounding and feeling very dry, the wear protecting continued on. Especially in dry conditions, just interval check after interval check the wear remained 0.0.
ZFC still recommends to re wax at regular intervals for greatest performance re parts longevity as well as silky smooth feel – however if you tend to get caught running long or more training days before able to re wax – this could be a great option to try.
What is Rex 4+1 or 11+1???
Rex have brought to market an innovative option re tailoring your wax blend. Included in the Rex Black Diamond Wax box are 11 base wax blocks, and ONE special friction modifier block. Whilst many many options are possible, extensively tested have been using 11 base blocks with the friction modifier block (training blend) or 4 base blocks to One friction Modifier block for a concentrated blend. (not known yet but possibly in future base or modifier blocks may be able to be purchased separately – ie if you always run race blend you will have a surplus of base blocks over time and be looking to purchase just an extra modifier block or 2). Refer to product images to find graph on some performance of the two, as well as you can check its performance vs other lubricants on the lubricant test page league table.
Likely questions you may have (FAQ sounded too boring);
Q) Is it faster than Mspeedwax or Silca Hot Melt?
A) We do not know – ZFC does not have the facilities to outright efficiency test, testing is wear correlation based (high wear = high friction, low / no wear = likely to be very low friction). For outright efficiency data currently the only test lab ZFC trusts is Ceramic Speed Denmark Research lab, and this product has not been tested by them at this time. For further information on why accurate outright efficiency testing very hard to attain – watch Zero Friction Cycling episode 11 on you tube – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aROF7EFSgXc&t=2s
Q) Can I use this with Rex Black Diamond Drip lubricant?
A) No – that is a wet lubricant, and so will negatively affect the wax bonding on next re wax
Q) Can I use this with other wax lubricants?
A) Yes, like mspeedwax and Silca Hot Melt you can use in conjunction with Ceramic Speed UFO drip, Silca SS drip, or Tru Tension Tungsten All weather. Of these three however, likely the best compatible overall for Rex BD wax would be Ceramic Speed UFO drip due to likely (but its secret so I cannot say 100%, but likely..) the most similar friction modifier type used.
Q) How do I get started waxing with Rex Black Diamond Wax?
A) You can prep a chain yourself following the chain prep guide/s (instructions tab), or your can purchase a chain that will be ultrasonically cleaned and waxed by Zero Friction Cycling so you can skip straight to the fun part of just re waxing and enjoying extremely low wear / friction on your drivetrain.
If you are looking at a new chain from Zero Friction Cycling, in the service drop down box you will see options for the chains to be pre prepped with Mspeedwax, Silca Hot Melt, or Rex Black Diamond.
For information in general on immersive waxing if you are unsure – watch Zero Friction Cycling video – concise version – which demonstrates just how easy AND NOT time consuming immersive waxing is. And if you are unsure about keeping up with immersive waxing every time, then the hybrid approach is extremely popular these days to immersive wax in conjunction with an immersive wax compatible lubricant.
In this method you start waxed, re lube next 3 to 5 times with either Ceramic Speed UFO Drip, Silca Super Secret drip, or Tru-Tension Tungsten all weather, and then re wax to reset any contamination that may have started to build. There really is no easier way to keep a chain as low friction and wear as this approach. Other options not involving immersive waxing would require frequent solvent flush cleans to keep chain as low wear as with immersive waxing, and solvent flush cleans are NOT more time effective, and they are more costly over time, disposal etc.
Immersive waxing – the concise version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TwXdeOBXlBQ&t=2s
Q) what about re using Master links?
Refer to Master link guide in instructions tab – page 8.
Q) what about…….(insert whatever you can think of regarding immersive waxing here)
A) Whilst immersive waxing really is very simple (pop chain off, thread onto swisher, pop on top of wax in SLOW COOKER – Time to do this should be 1 minute. Come back whenever later when wax has melted – swish & hang to set – Time = 30 seconds. Before next ride, break wax link bond, re install chain – time – 2 minutes. Total labour time for a re wax to reset contamination and re coat your chain in lovely super slippery wax for maximum chain and drivetrain wear longevity = 3.5 minutes.
However – by its nature – immersive waxing generates a frankly astounding amount of questions on top of the above.
The big majority of these questions are covered in the online resources in the instructions tab, and or covered in Zero Friction Cycling You Tube videos. If you have a questions regarding immersive waxing, pretty please refer to those resources in the first instance.
If you are stuck – we are always going to do our very best to help you. However ZFC is well known re immersive waxing around the world, and the number of enquiries re immersive waxing is very high and takes significant time resources to answer which detracts from other super work being done like more testing, updating test data, detail reviews on tests completed as well as getting to completing other information resources such as lubricant choice matrix and much more. Currently we spend over an hour each day responding to enquiries JUST about immersive waxing that are well covered in the online resources, and growing – if you can help us by checking online resources first, that would be amazing – and then if stuck – we are for sure here to help you save a lot of money on your drive train wear, that is what we work very hard towards – that is the purpose we strive for at ZFC.
