Black Diamond Hot Wax

Frequently asked questions

How long does one waxing last?

According to Zero Friction Cycling tests, the wear protection provided by a single waxing can last up to 1500 km. At this point, the chain may become noisy, but the lubrication still functions. When considering durability, it’s important to distinguish between the duration of wear protection and the pleasant noise level. In real-life scenarios, the chain often starts sounding loud after 500 km (though everyone has their own assessment of what is considered loud and what is not). With a shorter waxing interval, the chain tends to be quieter. Thanks to the record-breaking lubrication capability, you can confidently extend the waxing interval—your chain is effectively protected against wear.

Can wax be reused?

Wax can be reheated as long as there’s enough of it. Store the cooled wax in the same container in which you melted it. To maintain its lubrication properties, it’s crucial to keep the amount of sand and dust accumulating in the wax as minimal as possible.

How shoud the chains be cleaned before re-waxing?

At a minimum, wiping with a cloth is sufficient. Chains waxed with heat accumulate very little dirt. However, to keep the wax as clean as possible, it’s advisable to rinse the chains with hot water or boil them in water. Hot water melts the wax, allowing the dirt attached to the wax to come off. There’s no need for solvent cleaning.  NOTE! Never put wet chains into wax hotter than 100°C, and avoid heating wax above 100°C; it’s unnecessary!

What should be used as supplementary lubrication between waxings?

Instead of applying a top-up lubricant between waxings, we recommend to wax three chains at once, and then cycle through them. You can quickly switch to the next freshly waxed chain on your bike. Using multiple chains also distributes wear across them, and waxing three chains at once, for example, extends the interval when you have to heat up the wax pot again. Any water-based emulsion drip wax should be compatible as a top-up lubricant. We don’t recommend using anything oily, because it will attach dirt and affect the adhesion of next waxing, unless cleaned thoroughly.

However, For long rides and epic races, you can use Black Diamond chain lube for supplementary lubrication, since it has no drying time and comes in a pocket-sized bottle. In this case, thorough cleaning before a new heat waxing is necessary because the oiliness of the chain oil hinders the adhesion of the next waxing to the chain.

Does Rex Black Diamond contain PFAS?

No. Rex Black Diamond Hot Wax is completely free of forever chemicals like PFAS.

Solving common issues

Lubrication does not last long enough

• There is oil or factory grease left on the chain, which prevents the wax from adhering. Clean and heat lubricate again.
• Chain oil or factory grease has ended up in the wax, which weakens the properties of the wax. Replace the wax with a new one.
• The coating of the chain prevents the wax from adhering properly. (May apply to certain KMC chains)
• The chain is worn. A very loose and worn chain is louder faster.
• After breaking in, a waxed chain is generally louder than a wet oiled one. A louder sound level is part of it, even though the lubrication is effective. The anti-wear protection of Black Diamond stays effective, although the chain is noisy.

Chains rust easily

• Sensitivity to surface rust is a feature of all hot waxes. Always wipe the chains dry with a cloth after wet riding or washing.

The gears don’t work properly

• After waxing, go through all the gears of the bike from the extreme edge to the edge, so that the chain flexes laterally. After that, the gears work as they should.

Chain lube comparison chart