Chain, lengths for divisions of...

[jgh]

20040701

Hello, from long gone Jim in VA,

If Mark Chalkley is on here or if anyone recalls how to find it, I am trying to find where Mark laid out his suggested set of chain lengths for general use with our beloved tractors (and my beloved Bobcats 430 and A300, along with some tractors).

I have 150 feet of G7? rated 0.375 inch chain I have never split up. How should I do it...Mark, or anyone, can you guide me? It's not going to be fun as I know this stuff is hard to cut, so I don't want to make mistakes!

Thanks and I promise to be on here more often to help some of you if I can,

Jim

Soon to be new owner of 250 acres on the Rivanna River with hay, timber and some bottom land! And soon to sell our restaurant of 18+ years, Yaaaaah!
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Richard]

Hello Jim... I remember that/those threads...

My guess is, you need THIS ONE as the one you reference.

Perhaps This one? might also be of benefit and lastly This one brings up the rear of what I found.

Hope it helps

Richard

 

[Lazy]

Hi
I think I would use a cutting torch and make 10, 15' chains. I have 6 15' foot chains and 4 25' foot 3/8 43 chains and I like and I use the shorter chains more often. I am thinking about cutting the 25 foot chains in half. its all I can do to pick them up and carry any distance.

Charlie

 

[dixiedrifter]

I used to work for the chain manufacturer Columbus McKinnon and my first job there was cutting chain to length.

I generally had to cut the big stuff, from 3/8" all the way up to 5/8" log de-barking flail chain.

One thing I do know is chain.

Chain generally comes in several diffrent grades.

Grade 30 is the weakest chain and the metal is quite soft.

Next up is grade 43 AKA "high test". This stuff was made from a diffrent type of steel than the grade 30. It has a much higher tensil strength and can "stretch" some under load since the metal is relatively soft.

The one after that is grade 70 AKA transport chain. G70 chain is heat treated and very hard stuff to cut. It is very difficult if at all possible at all to cut 3/8" diameter with a pair of 36" bolt cutters due to the hardness. G70 is much stronger than G43 and is generally used for binding loads. It does not handle shock very well as it does not stretch and will want to have a tendency to snap. But very good for pulling if you don't jerk it.

The last consumer grade is 100. G100 is HARD and used primarily for overhead lifting only. G100 is black phosphate coated. It has the highest load rating, but is brittle and sensitive to shock damage, not something generally encountered when overhead lifting. If I had to lock something up, I would use G100 as it is impossible to cut with bolt cutters.

To cut chain at the factory, we used special hydraulic cutters. At home I found the easiest way to cut chain is to use a vise and an air cut off tool.

When assembling your chains try to keep everything the same as far as the links on the end. Your chain will be much stronger if you assemble your hooks on the same link such as u-O-O-O-u vs. u-O-O-O=.

 

[dixiedrifter]

I would advise against using a torch on chain.

The heat from the torch could adversly affect the microcrystalline structure of the metal, making it harder or softer.

The end result could be a strong chain, with weak end links.

 

[Lazy]

Hi
you throw away the link you cut' other links never see the heat

charlie

 

[dixiedrifter]

I had to cut the 5/8" flail chain with a torch. Those end links do get warm.

It doesn't take much heat to mess up steel's temper.

I'd rather be **** retentive than sorry.

 

[Lazy]

Hi
To each his own I have cut many links and never had a chain fail yet you can hold the adjacent link with your bare hands while cutting out the unwanted link

charlie

 

[BigEddy]

Personally - I took my 4 20' chains and cut 3 into 8 / 12 , 10 / 10 and 6 / 14' lengths. I find the shorter chains right for chaining down things on the trailer, and for most jobs. Where I need a longer one, I hook a few together. I still have one at 20'

I cut mine using the chop saw. Worked fine on G70 3/8"

Big Eddy