I've been waxing chains for years, long before wax blends became mainstream, using a basic second-hand slow cooker that worked surprisingly well. After becoming a fan of Silca's Secret Chain Hot Melt Wax, I decided to try their full waxing system.
While the price is hard to justify - especially when a cheap slow cooker does 95% of the job - the one standout feature that makes a difference is the temperature control. The Silca pot maintains a noticeably lower, more consistent temperature, resulting in thicker wax coverage that doesn't drip off as quickly when the chain is hung to dry.
That said, the pot is smaller than expected, and the included plastic lid feels cheap (thankfully, my old glass lid fits perfectly). In the end, this is a luxury item: unnecessary, but nice to have.
If you're particular about your setup and have the budget, the Silca system is worth considering for its control and consistency. Otherwise, a basic slow cooker will serve you just fine.
I had been considering using a wax system for some time, but always hesitated thinking it was 'too complicated.' Was I wrong! Waxing has become a standard on my deep-cleaning days and the Silca system makes it easy. Prepping the wax, treating the chain and finishing is about a 40 minute cycle - just enough time for all the other cleaning and bike maintenance. Best of all, no more greasy/gritty chain - a simple wipe after each ride is all that's needed. Smoother and quieter operation too!
For cycling repairs you canb either torque things or go with your gut - the problem is that going with your gut can end with cracked carbon or something that is too loose. The kit includes a bunch of bits, and a T handle ratchet that can be assembled in many ways. The torque tube is used to tighten things to a specific torque, and there is an alternate tube that is used for loosening. When you loosen you do not want to use the torque tube - if you go past its limits, you will ruin the torque tube. The package is compact so you can carry it, and there are plenty of bits to get the job done
I'm using Reserve Fillmore valves so I wasn't able to inject this stuff but I still used a sealant injector to get it into the tire without making a mess and it did not clog. I've already had a small puncture that sealed but it did take a while, it was close to the sidewall and I probably didn't have enough sealant in the tire to be honest. I didn't look at the recommended amount for the size tires I'm using so I should have added 15-20ml more. Assuming this stuff lasts at least a few months and the fiber foam stays suspended in the sealant rather than gathering along the tire bead making it less effective then I will buy it again. It is expensive but so far so good and it is a vast improvement over the original stuff as far as usability goes.
