CHA graphite chain lube... Too good to be true?

Tech Tech - What to Buy
1

A new chain lube concept is up on Kickstarter: a graphite lube that is applied from a solid bar. I’m curious to hear EC member opinions, and hear any intel about the product.

CHA lube (thecha.cc) is the company’s webpage. It’s a good sales job… clean, effective, ready, cheap, and the applicator is 3D printed so it must also be sexy :sweat_smile:.

On one hand, I gather that graphite chain lubes are not uncommon in motorcycling and industrial applications, and work well in dry conditions. On the other hand, the products in the motorbike space are aerosols that help the graphite penetrate the chain.
Is a simple solid applicator too good to be true?

My questions include:

Could graphite in a bar really get into the inner parts of the chain without help?

How well could this lube in the wet?

What about protection from rust?

What chain prep is needed?

How do you clean a graphite lubed chain?

2

If a lube is simply rubbed on the outside of the chain, and has no way to penetrate, it’s useless.

A solid lubricant is the best type of lubricant for chains, but it needs to be liquid when applied in order to penetrate the chain.

Chain lube is needed inside the chain, not outside. Any lube outside the chain will depending on the type of lube, either a) rub/fall off or b) provide a lovely sticky layer for grit to attach itself resulting in the chain grinding away your cassette, chainrings etc.

I’ll be completely fine to be proved wrong, but looks to me like a product made by someone/people that don’t understand the mechanics of a bike chain.