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.


I think you can buy proof tested chain that has actually been proved
to make its rating. Run of the mill chain is not tested and therefore
could fail at low tensile loads. Let's face it, every one of those
links is welded and it is entirely conceivable that one in a million
welds will be defective. Leigh@MarMachine