Trust me, there is a difference in grades of chain. I know first hand.
I had a piece of plate that had to me moved alongside a wall, and it
had to be lifted overhead. I specified a proof test chain approved for
overhead lifting. Placed the order for the chain, days later the
chain was delivered. That night it was put to use. It broke. Upon
further investigaiton it was determined that the bean counters refused
to pay for the chain I requested, and ordered regular old hardware
store chain of equal size. A link gave up the ghost at a weld joint,
and in the end result was the loss of three fingers. Odds are the
chainwould have held and worked fine, if the weld on the link did not
fail, and thats what proof test chain for over head lifting is all
about, its fully tested and certified, not general run of the mill
materials. Its the companies ass riding on the line if their product
fails to meet specs listed. Its a lot higher in $$ than hardware store
variety. Needless to say the company I worked for had to spend a
considerable amount more money that what that chain would have cost
them to begin with.

On Fri, 26 Mar 2004 15:55:24 -0800, RainLover
wrote:

===I've been looking at chain lately (3/8") and I've noticed something that so far, every hardware guy
===says he's never seen before. On the box of chain, without exception, they all say "DO NOT use for
===lifting or any situation where a life could be endangered if the chain fails.
===
===Tell me if I'm wrong here, but what in the hell could a person use a 3/8" chain for that wasn't
===potentially dangerous. If the chain has a rating of 6,500 pounds and breaks, someone is going to be
===around!!!
===
===Is this a case of lawyers being in charge of chain-making or is there actually different chain that
===is approved for lifting and all the stuff at H.D., Lowes, Ace is made for something else... what I
===don't know.
===
===Any suggestions? :-)
===
===James, Seattle
===
===www.jameskelseystudios.com
===

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