Originally Posted by
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I did it on a stovetop once in my old apartment and turned it up a little too high...opened the lid and WOOOMFFFIRE...put the lid back on and put the pot outside...
I used to wax chains in college. In 1994, in my freshman dorm ones of the rooms down the hall had a little kitchenette so I borrowed their stove.
A double boiler was not in the budget so I just cooked that shit (pure parrafin) on the electric burner with no lid, and then walked out of the room. This happened well after dinner, so it was dark.
Yep--huge flames ensued, except I didn't just put the lid on. Rather, I sort of threw the flaming pot of wax onto the floor and then went after the whole thing with a fire extinguisher.
The dorm was evacuated of course, and we all spent about 30 mins outside while they figured out that the fire was out. I had to scrub the soot from the ceiling and walls and wax and fire extinguisher powder from the floor for a couple of days. I still can't believe there were no other repercussions, though.
I now use a rotating cast of disappointing dry lubes and have resigned myself to carrying a tiny bottle and relubing on any ride longer than 25 miles (most of my rides). The latest one to totally fail to live up to its claims is Rock-N-Roll Extreme. Drivetrains do seem to last forever though--2000mi on my current XT chain and it's still below 5% wear.
ride bikes, climb, ski, travel, cook, work to fund former, repeat.
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