I seem to recall a question about reusing chain cleaner, but can't find the thread. 2 suggestions are to use a paint filter available from a auto parts store that sell paint supplies. Also put a magnet in the container that you are dumping the used cleaner into. The magnet will pick up any ferrous bits in the cleaner.
Reusing chain cleaner
revrnd
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I seem to recall a question about reusing chain cleaner, but can't find the thread. 2 suggestions are to use a paint filter available from a auto parts store that sell paint supplies. Also put a magnet in the container that you are dumping the used cleaner into. The magnet will pick up any ferrous bits in the cleaner.
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Also..
A good cleaner is paint thinner. You can reuse it indefinitely and let your chain soak all you want w/o corrosion issues (its ph neutral, long soaks in simple green will weaken a chain). Since you reuse it, its not messing w/ the environment too much either.
I'll try the tips you mentioned... Right now I just use two large gatoraid bottles (wide mouth for easy chain removal). I just pour it from one container to the next when I degrease a chain, then pour it back into the first between uses. This way the crap settles out in the first container.. and you're pouring off the clean stuff into the second container each time you use it.
A good cleaner is paint thinner. You can reuse it indefinitely and let your chain soak all you want w/o corrosion issues (its ph neutral, long soaks in simple green will weaken a chain). Since you reuse it, its not messing w/ the environment too much either.
I'll try the tips you mentioned... Right now I just use two large gatoraid bottles (wide mouth for easy chain removal). I just pour it from one container to the next when I degrease a chain, then pour it back into the first between uses. This way the crap settles out in the first container.. and you're pouring off the clean stuff into the second container each time you use it.
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If the chain is cleaned by the thinner you can let it dry, then put it on the bike and lube.
If its still grainy (but degreased), you can wash it with hot water and dish soap. So after you soak it in the thinner, pour the thinner into a second container to be reused next time. Squirt some soap in, add hot water, cap and shake. Then just rinse with water until the soap is removed.
If its still grainy (but degreased), you can wash it with hot water and dish soap. So after you soak it in the thinner, pour the thinner into a second container to be reused next time. Squirt some soap in, add hot water, cap and shake. Then just rinse with water until the soap is removed.
paint thinner? Are you sure? I know paint thinner eats up plastic o-rings if you happen to have that as your chain but paint thinner?
Try Kerosene, it should be at your local hardware store (lowe's, home depot, Ace). Get the gallon one and you won't be disappointed.
As for what tub to wash the chain in. You could use any drinking bottles that will fit your chain in the bottle. Car oil pans, glass jar or anything you could get hold of.
Drop the chain in, leave it over night and the next day, the magic of cleaning itself is better than scrubbing or using a shop towel. Basically, it cleans itself.
Try Kerosene, it should be at your local hardware store (lowe's, home depot, Ace). Get the gallon one and you won't be disappointed.
As for what tub to wash the chain in. You could use any drinking bottles that will fit your chain in the bottle. Car oil pans, glass jar or anything you could get hold of.
Drop the chain in, leave it over night and the next day, the magic of cleaning itself is better than scrubbing or using a shop towel. Basically, it cleans itself.
There's thinner and then there's thinner. The thinner I use as a solvent is the oil house paint low odor paint thinner. It's very close to Varsol solvent and a couple of steps up the food chain from basic kerosene which smells because it's not that highly refined and has the lower level sulphurous distillates as part of it's makeup.MG6 said:
The thinners that do in the O rings and melt plastic are the highly volitile ones like lacquer thinner, toluene, acetone and MEK and similar. These won't affect the metal of the chains but they will bother the paint and your skin.
In fact it's wise to wear Nitrile gloves (the green or blue ones) when using any solvent.
If the solvent/thinner is clean there's no need to wash it away. Just blot the worst of it off with a paper towel and apply the lube of choice. The residual solvent/thinner will thin the lube until the solvent evaporates but it does no harm to the lube.
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