Chains
 

Anyone know any cheap places to buy link chains from? I know APT has them obviously, but I'm looking for local places. On the Home Depot site, they don't have any listed although (if I remember correctly) they do have a bunch of chains that you can measure out and they cut for you(?) Anyone know for sure?

I've seen them at Home Depot.

I know a guy at my gym went to a local weld shop and had them make some up for cheap. If you know of one close it may be worth a try.

my roommate got his from home depot.

You might try a marine supply place if there is one nearby. A lot of those places carry all kinds of chains. Any hardware store should have them also.

Hmm, I called Home Depot asking for 5/8" link chain. They said that they only carry 3/8, 1/4, and 5/16".. BUT, if I did my math right, that would mean that I'd need 4 pieces (2 per side) of the 5/16" which would equal two of the 5/8" (1 per side) correct??

Edit: Actually, I'd need four sets of 1/2" links that'll bring me pretty close (23 total pounds added on top) if half the weight sits on the deck at lockout.

Yeah, my home depot doesn't sell chain that size either.

APT sells the chain sets that my training partner makes. http://www.prowriststraps.com/weight...ins_resistance

Not sure how that is on cost for you, but he does have the bigger chain with loops already on them and they are powder coated. I've played with them a couple times in his store, and I would buy them if I had the extra cash.

5/8" chain will be more then twice as heavy as 5/16th" chain. I believe the size is the diamater of the chain if you straightened out one of the links. We all know that area of a circle = Pi*(D/2)*2 ... So if the diamter doulbes, area goes up 4 times. So if you had the same size of link (which you wouldn't) a 5/8" chain would be 4x as heavy as a 5/16" chain. Since the links are physically larger then this value would probably increase to more like 5x.

This make sense?

Anyone care? lol


IronWorker

i care :) i was thinking the same thing. not sure if lowes would have it...i'm pretty sure our local Ace hardware has some fairly large chain. and i'm betting you could get something at a tractor supply store...if you guys have those out there.

So, if you need more weight I would definately search around for some larger chain. However with the smaller chain you could add sections on one at a time to vary the weight if you wanted.

IronWorker

So far, after calling just about everywhere, here's what I've found.

1) Most big named places (Home Depot, Lowes) only carry up to 5/16" chains.

2) Most big named Marina places (search anchor chains) do NOT carry 5/8" because it's too small LOL.

3) I've only found one store in my immediate area that can cut me 5/16" chains and it'll cost me $110 for two 5 ft lengths. But I'd also need additional chain to attach the 5/16's to so I can do my lower days (ie box squats) with them as well as speed bench. So perhaps it's a wash with APT since they also offer carabiners (sp) and additional chain. Plus they have a 20% off sale, so that'll knock out shipping.

OR, perhaps I'm not looking at this right. Perhaps when I hit up OCSC today, I can make an offer since they got enough chain to wrap around the globe.... Twice. :D

I figure every other payday (once a month), I can invest in something. Protein from TP every two weeks, APT every two weeks. I'm looking to pick up a true dragging sled with nylon straps from Scott (sandblaster) so I can start upper body work. Then it's on to monster mini's and average bands, then chains.

i wonder if a junk yard....or a towing place would have some? or at least be able to get you the hook up.

Don't pay that much for chain. I'm sure you can find it *way* cheaper then that. Look for like a big rig type store or like agriculture. Or a scrap/new steel place.

IronWorker

or steal it. :)

Ok I found some weights:

http://www.thecrosbygroup.com/produc...g/body_190.htm

5/16" chain is ~1.1lbs/ft (110lbs/100ft)

5/8" chain is ~3.78lbs/ft (378lbs/100ft)

I know this isn't the 4x-5x that I claimed but I forgot to take into acount that as the individual links get longer it takes less links to make X length so that reduces your total weight by a factor.

Anyways, I hope this helps. I'm looking for a retail source for you.

IronWorker

Found this yesterday. Didn't have time to post it:

http://www.1st-chainsupply.com/

http://www.1st-chainsupply.com/chain/wlifting_chain.htm

That is a good find.

I'm not sure if APT's pricing is better. I didn't realize they have free-shipping as well.

http://www.prowriststraps.com/inc/se...hains&n=861098

I think, in general, though, failing a junk yard or something, if you go regular retail (stores) they'll be overpriced.

Th chains that APT uses are put together by my training partner Steve Slater. I can tell you that he makes sure these things are good quality. He also happens to make atlas stone molds, logs, etc. Very good guy, and an honest businessman.
http://www.slatershardware.com/
Not that most of you would be in the market for his stuff, but I can vouch for his chains.

Here is a vid of me using the chains on a log press (truthfully, a dumb idea)

And the man himself, Steve.

Yeah, terrific find Eric! I've neglected to mention that a lot of my family out here in CA is in construction.. Hopefully I'll "stumble" upon a few sets. :D

Haha, totally. When I was growing up it seemed like everyone had a bunch of chains in the back of their pickup :biglaugh:. Now they seem to be scarce.

didn't steel shoot up in price about a year ago? i know copper sure as shit did...but i thought steel did too...

Yes, I think you're right.

Steel went up like crazy about 4 years ago and has been high ever since. Copper went up like crazy about 2 years. Went up like 4x or something like that.


IronWorker