Chain Strength

[The Jester Race]

What contributes more to chain strength, the size of the chain or the grade of the chain?

-Jester

 

[Will]

Both.

 

[aogden001]

Both are equally important. If you are using the wrong grade of chain it could break and whip back and cause extensive damage or death. What are you using it for ??

BTW I am certified for the mfg. , repair , & inspection of overhead lifting slings.

 

[thegoat4]

It's a little complex. You need to balance both aspects, but start with grade.

80+ is usually for lifting and is priced accordingly. All I use is grade 100 5/16 and it's about $9/foot most places. But it's good for 5,700lbs tension with a 4x safety margin and a two-legged adjustable six foot sling is still light enough to hang up with one hand.

40-70 is for dragging, pulling, and load binding. 40 is usually used for towing and dragging. 70 is usually used as tie-down chain.

30 and less is for misc. crap. Don't tow, don't lift. Pretend it's junk because it usually is.

After you choose the grade you want to deal with, choose the size to match the rest of your equipment. If the weight of the chain itself is a concern, go with a higher grade and smaller size--that's why tie-down chain is grade 70. If it's going to be exposed to a lot of wear and tear, like dragging logs, go with a lower grade and larger size--hence the grade 40 for dragging and towing.

I only use grade 30 and lower for tying stuff together just so it doesn't get separated. Or for handles.

 

[The Jester Race]

Not using it for anything but saw 5/16" grade 70 chain next to 3/8" grade 43 today in a store so I was just curious. I asked the old man and got the typical "figure it out yourself" response.

-Jester

 

[rboyer]

Not using it for anything but saw 5/16" grade 70 chain next to 3/8" grade 43 today in a store so I was just curious. I asked the old man and got the typical "figure it out yourself" response.

-Jester

Buy some 3/8" grade 70 and tell him you figured it out!

 

[The Jester Race]

Buy some 3/8" grade 70 and tell him you figured it out!

Why Ive got nothing I need chain for, plus I don't think they had 3/8" grade 70.

Lets say we were using the chain for vehicle recovery of a RBV(something we all have in common). I wont, because I have straps and a winch which I haven't had to use yet(because it isn't mounted). Anyways would you be better off with the larger size chain....or I guess you could just buy the larger chain in a higher grade. I don't know, I guess it doesn't really matter, just something I was curious about.

-Jester

 

[JohnnyU]

The chain on my trailer is 5/16" Gr70. The chain that we use for recovery is 3/8" Gr 43.

Chain strength rating is sort of like bolt strength ratings. Both size and material composition are equally important.

 

[Capt Jay]

The chain that we use for recovery is 3/8" Gr 43.

Not around me please. I'll let you borrow a strap.

 

[JohnnyU]

Not around me please. I'll let you borrow a strap.

I'm not talking about pulling trucks with trucks.

I'm talking about winching and recovery

 

[Capt Jay]

Ok, your off the hook......this time. LOL

 

[JohnnyU]

Ok, your off the hook......this time. LOL

Oh geez.

 

[rboyer]

I personally have used straps alot and love them but the one thing I don't like is when careless people use them and don't bother to throw them out once they frey. When one starts to go on me it gets thrown in a pile and used for small stuff like tying off a snowmobile so that I can winch it backwards into my trailer. A couple of years ago I tied a tow strap to a tree and used it to straighten out the front subframe on a Subaru wagon. Needless to say the strap won and the wagon drove straight after that.