vyv_cox
Well-Known Member
There is detailed information on my website, but here is a brief summary.
C- links are inherently weaker than chain of the same material, simply a matter of engineering. Many of the c-links sold in your average chandlery are cheaply made from mild steel, and thus have strength of only about 40% of the chain, if you are lucky. Some stainless steel C-links, presumably 316, have the low yield point common to the material, so they can never be stronger than around 50% of the chain. However, if the C-link is made from an alloy steel that is hardened and tempered it can have strength equal or better than the chain. This is true of the Crosby ones, probably Peerless/ACCO and the ones sold by West Marine.
It is easy to tell whether you have a good one or not when you make it up. When the rivets are peened over to hold the link together a soft one will take no more than a couple of whacks with a lightish hammer to flatten them. A hardened and tempered one will require many heavy blows from a four pound hammer, usually requiring the use of a vice and drift to do it.
If you have doubts about a link, try cutting it with a hacksaw. A soft one will cut easily, whereas a strong one will resist cutting, with the blade skidding over the surface.
Galvanising on many of the cheap links is very poor and I am currently collecting photographs of some very dodgy examples. Links should be checked regularly for condition, kept dry in the winter and painted occasionally.
C- links are inherently weaker than chain of the same material, simply a matter of engineering. Many of the c-links sold in your average chandlery are cheaply made from mild steel, and thus have strength of only about 40% of the chain, if you are lucky. Some stainless steel C-links, presumably 316, have the low yield point common to the material, so they can never be stronger than around 50% of the chain. However, if the C-link is made from an alloy steel that is hardened and tempered it can have strength equal or better than the chain. This is true of the Crosby ones, probably Peerless/ACCO and the ones sold by West Marine.
It is easy to tell whether you have a good one or not when you make it up. When the rivets are peened over to hold the link together a soft one will take no more than a couple of whacks with a lightish hammer to flatten them. A hardened and tempered one will require many heavy blows from a four pound hammer, usually requiring the use of a vice and drift to do it.
If you have doubts about a link, try cutting it with a hacksaw. A soft one will cut easily, whereas a strong one will resist cutting, with the blade skidding over the surface.
Galvanising on many of the cheap links is very poor and I am currently collecting photographs of some very dodgy examples. Links should be checked regularly for condition, kept dry in the winter and painted occasionally.