Dividing Up A Long Piece Of Chain

[SkylineAcres16]

I had a continuous 63' piece of 1/4" G43 chain given to me and I am wondering how you guys would divide it up for general chores around the property? Disclaimer, I know 1/4" is light (2600 lb working load) but I already have plenty of 3/8" chain for the big stuff. This would be more like lifting a motor, an implement out of the weeds, etc.

I have already cut (2) 10' pieces from the original 63' so I am down to 43' but I am nervous to cut more because I don't want to end up with lengths I don't use much of. I was thinking a few 4-6 footers? Seems like short ones come in handy. I was also thinking a 20' but don't know how practical that would be with a 1/4" chain.

 

[Tooljunkie]

1-3' 4-10'
Remember it was free. I have a couple 2 footers in my toolbox for various purposes. Wrap a chain around lower control arm for seperating ball joints to swap axles. Short one in tractor toolbox to fasten/load drag something.

 

[jimbo913]

Dont cut the rest until you need it and then you will know what you need without guessing

 

[bcp]

I have a 1/4 inch bucket chain system. From the center, I hang a short chain with a swivel hook. A clevis goes in the hook. It has 4 short (maybe 6in) chains with grab hooks.

Then I have four 4-5ft chains with a grab hook on one end. I hook these chains around the thing to be moved. Then lower the bucket hooks over the thing and hook the 4ft chains into the hanging grab hooks. This allows a little more versatility than having the 4ft chains permanently fastened at the top end.

And I have a half dozen other chain lengths available. Most used are a couple of 12ft 1/4 inch grade 70 I keep on the tractor. They are usually too long for a job, but are there if needed. Easy to make a chain shorter.* Hard to make it longer.

*Hook two grab hooks back-to-back with a link or two between.

Bruce

 

[Lil Foot]

I love short pieces of chain with grab hooks on both ends. I'm always rigging something to lift it, pull it out, or tie it down, and short chains are always handy.
If I had to guess, I probably have
(3) 20'-30' 3/8"
(1) 10' 3/8"
(1) 3' 3/8"
(2) 2' 5/16"
(3) 10' 1/4"
(3) 6' 1/4"
(3) 2' 1/4"
Plus another half a dozen pieces in various sizes & lengths without hooks.
I like chain.

 

[skeets]

Put hooks on both ends and leave it alone,,, you can make it any length you what to then, it sucks when you need a long chain and only have a bucket full of short ones,,, dont ask

 

[NoJacketRequired]

One of the most useful chains I have is about 25 feet long. Three feet from one end another three foot piece has been added on to form a "Y". Grab hooks are on all three chain ends. I initially thought this was a stoopid thing to have. Now it's my "go to" chain because it can do so many things so quickly.

 

[dandeman]

My chains were acquired over time, the smallest being 5/16" and some are 3/8" and 1/2" lengths all around 20' long and with hooks.. and add up to around 100 feet.

I keep them on a steel bar carrier that's on the back of the tractor to add additional weight as a counter weight for the FEL.

Very handy there..

 

[BWXT]

Personally I would just cut pieces as I needed it. I have a 100' bucket of 3/8" in the garage. That being said, I've found that for vehicle recovery the longest pieces come in handy and 6-10' sections for pretty much everything else. I wouldn't be too trigger-happy on the cut-off wheel until you need it for something.