Silca Wax System

[glepore]

Originally Posted by unterhausen

An NTC thermistor and temperature controller costs $30 from amzon and makes any crock pot a precision heater.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...e?ie=UTF8&th=1

I've used this for a couple different applications. Its not exactly plug and play, you have to be somewhat conversant with PID programing, and you need to wire the pid to a plug and then the solid state relay to an an outlet. My last application was to control a wine cellar cooler.
The advantage of PID control is that it learns how fast the system generates and sheds heat, so it stays ahead of the "swing" unlike a thermostat which often varies by 10-15 degrees-5 on low side then 5 on high. But its wax, not critical.
I've not used one with a crock pot, which has a ton of thermal mass and changes temp rather slowly. A small wax melter for cosmetic use likely is a better application, and the whole unit, with built in temp control, costs what the PID does.

[fogrider]

Originally Posted by andrew+

I just bought a $25 wax heater intended for hair removal and the Silca unit. The Silca's wax pot is slightly larger and the heating system does seem faster and more accurate. The chain hanging stand is also super helpful. I kept the Silca.

I'm sure the Silca unit is premium, but for 20 bucks, I'm thinking it should be fine. I need it for the strip chip which needs it heated up to 125C, just heating the wax requires 75C. I've been using the Silca drip wax and it's been good so I'm not planning on full dipping often.

[Josh_W]

About a week before Silca announced their new setup, I bought a $20 wax pot and made a dipper out of a coat hanger.

Those Amazon wax pots are all so small that you can just barely get the chain in there, and it's extra hard to do so when the chain is strung on the stiff hanger. I have to plan ahead and count the number of links on each loop of chain as I thread them onto the hanger, and bend the hanger to get everything to fold and twist enough to submerge in the wax. And I don't know I've done it wrong until I dunk the chain and find I can't get the whole thing in (that's what SHE said). Then when I pull the chain out I struggle to get it hung so that it drips back into the pot instead of all over the sides of it and whatever it is sitting on.

I'm absolutely going to pick up a Silca before I do the chains for next season. Yes, I could Radio sHack a crock pot into compliance, but more likely it would sit on the workbench with the other 50 unfinished projects while my chains go un-lubed.

[jadmt]

$15 crockpot from Target and a sharpie....

[BdaGhisallo]

Originally Posted by Josh_W

Those Amazon wax pots are all so small that you can just barely get the chain in there, and it's extra hard to do so when the chain is strung on the stiff hanger.

Just get a cheap 3 liter slow cooker. The 1.5L ones are tight but you'll have no problem with the 3L. And it'll be a heck of a lot cheaper than the Silca pot.

[kppolich]

I've been running CeramicSpeed UFO Drip for the last 2 years.
1 bottle is $49 and has lasted me almost 8,000 road, off-road, and MTB miles.

90% of the benefits without the extra equipment, no need to remove the chain, or have multiple chains.

[rice rocket]

What changed in paraffin wax in the last 40 years that requires a special crockpot now?


Oh right, nothing. Except the marketing.

[RoosterCogset]

Originally Posted by Josh_W

About a week before Silca announced their new setup, I bought a $20 wax pot and made a dipper out of a coat hanger.

Those Amazon wax pots are all so small that you can just barely get the chain in there, and it's extra hard to do so when the chain is strung on the stiff hanger. I have to plan ahead and count the number of links on each loop of chain as I thread them onto the hanger, and bend the hanger to get everything to fold and twist enough to submerge in the wax. And I don't know I've done it wrong until I dunk the chain and find I can't get the whole thing in (that's what SHE said). Then when I pull the chain out I struggle to get it hung so that it drips back into the pot instead of all over the sides of it and whatever it is sitting on.

I'm absolutely going to pick up a Silca before I do the chains for next season. Yes, I could Radio sHack a crock pot into compliance, but more likely it would sit on the workbench with the other 50 unfinished projects while my chains go un-lubed.

I don't know what you're comparing to. A "small" crockpot is typically a 1.5 quart. That's about 1.4l The Silca thing is 600ml. So a small crockpot is about double the capacity of the Silca pot.

I thought something like this is what people are using in the way of a small crockpot:
https://www.amazon.com/MST-250XS-Ele.../dp/B008GS8R3K

[bshell]

Pot. Stove top. Fin.

[prototoast]

I bought the Silca system when it was on sale. It still probably wasn't the best value out there. and I wish it were bigger. But it is pretty idiot-proof, and that helped me get over the hurdles and uncertainty of waxing. I have been happy with it.

For anyone who is happy with a different method, that's great too.

[catchourbreath]

I've never bothered checking temp on my wax, just wait til it melts fully then dunk off heat. What's the temp it's supposed to be at?

[RoosterCogset]

Originally Posted by catchourbreath

I've never bothered checking temp on my wax, just wait til it melts fully then dunk off heat. What's the temp it's supposed to be at?

Per Silca's instructions, 150-190 degrees fahrenheit

[catchourbreath]

Thanks, I'll have to check next time how close I'm getting.

[benb]

I kind of feel like you guys think you’re in an elite club cause you spend so much time on cobbling stuff together on your chain wax spiritual journey and now if Silca makes this too easy it’s threatening.

I mean it’s $100. Definitely a weird reaction with all the overpriced stuff we all gotta have here.

[benb]

Originally Posted by RoosterCogset

I don't know what you're comparing to. A "small" crockpot is typically a 1.5 quart. That's about 1.4l The Silca thing is 600ml. So a small crockpot is about double the capacity of the Silca pot.

I thought something like this is what people are using in the way of a small crockpot:
https://www.amazon.com/MST-250XS-Ele.../dp/B008GS8R3K

Exactly what I’m talking about. 600+ one star reviews with pictures of it melting its electronics or the crock cracking or other various bad things that might wreck your work area.

Go Amazon! Probably not actually UL approved but Amazon don’t care if the vendor just lies.

Maybe some are buying those candle melters/scented oil heaters? Good memories of my neighbor lighting their apartment on fire with one back in the day.