Getting an anchor chain regalved in the UK

[Neeves]

It must be a bit more than 'too labour intensive'. Why not cost the labour and add it to the costs of galvanising - let the customer decide. I can believe they are inconveniently located, Cumbernauld is hardly easy access with 1cwt of chain if you live south of the border.

Someone here, Geem? investigated Sheradising but decided against it - I think because the operator was inconveniently located. I believe they are happy to do the work. I'd say its a better process, just a bit more expensive - for which the coating will last longer.

Jonathan

 

[simonbertie1]

Well you could speak to them yourself Jonathan if your wanted and then report back with authority and accuracy? I think galving chain is not without its process problems regardless of location. I was and am willing to drop my chain in person.

 

[Neeves]

Well you could speak to them yourself Jonathan if your wanted and then report back with authority and accuracy? I think galving chain is not without its process problems regardless of location. I was and am willing to drop my chain in person.

Sherardizing is now defined as Thermal Diffusion Galvanising (and 'traditional' galvanising, hot dipped galvanising HDG) and there are a number of developments, under the TDG umbrella, that are in common use, Green Cote and Armorgalv are two of the trade names. Armorgalv is an Israeli process.

I could speak to them but its easier for me to speak to the operator of a similar process, a licensee of Armorgalv, 200km north of where I live. I really don't need to speak to the operator here as I've had around 700m of chain and all the attachments, hammer locks, omega links, chain hooks and boomerangs, galvanised here - the process for galvanising chain is standard operation. I think I can speak with authority and accuracy. If you want chapter and verse send me your email address, by PM, and I'll attach a link to an article I wrote on the process where I describe how we galvanised our own chain, 75m of 6mm G80.

Location does matter as I doubt anyone is going to ship their chain from the UK to Australia, though one of the chains I had processed was for a UK member here, circumnavigating, and another for a French yacht - both of whom 'found' me to allow them to down size chain, for smaller G100 high tensile chain, 10mm to 8mm and 8mm to 6mm.

You could send a PM to Geem - I'm sure it was he who looked at Sharadising - and he bends over backwards to help members here (though he decided HDG was more convenient for him).

Jonathan

 

[geem]

It must be a bit more than 'too labour intensive'. Why not cost the labour and add it to the costs of galvanising - let the customer decide. I can believe they are inconveniently located, Cumbernauld is hardly easy access with 1cwt of chain if you live south of the border.

Someone here, Geem? investigated Sheradising but decided against it - I think because the operator was inconveniently located. I believe they are happy to do the work. I'd say its a better process, just a bit more expensive - for which the coating will last longer.

Jonathan

I decided not to go the sheredizing route as I needed to get the chain blasted and dipped so it was clean first. The sherardizer didn't have the kit to do this. By the time I had had this work done then the sheradizing, it was expensive. In addition, they were not keen to do the anchor. I would need to take the anchor somewhere else. In the end I took the lot to Yorkshire spin galvanising

 

[Neeves]

I decided not to go the sheredizing route as I needed to get the chain blasted and dipped so it was clean first. The sherardizer didn't have the kit to do this. By the time I had had this work done then the sheradizing, it was expensive. In addition, they were not keen to do the anchor. I would need to take the anchor somewhere else. In the end I took the lot to Yorkshire spin galvanising

Here, Oz, grit blasting is part of the process, straight from the grit cleaning to loading in an oven (better name would a a furnace or kiln) and galvanised. With chains with which I have been involved adding an anchor has always been accepted (and added to the invoice - based simply on weight). Dipping, acid, adds the potential for hydrogen embrittlement (for HT components) - so the grit blasting needs to be good. Used chain would need more care with the grit blasting - but if it was used it would probably be a G30 or g40 quality and HE would not be an issue - so I'd need to find someone to pickle (acid wash). Not so difficult as the Armorgalv operator is part of International Galvanisers and they could pickle (not far from the Armorgalv site)

If I wanted my 'used' chain processed I'd drag it across a beach prior - to clean, then grit blast.

The big market for TDG is galvanising high tensile components, studs holding up wind farm towers (2m long 100mm diameter), nails for nail guns, spring clips for railway lines, expansion bolts to hold up the roof of mines (big business in Oz). 'We' fill in some of the gaps.

I confess:

All my TDG processing has been with new, high tensile, chains (now all G100), already grit blasted by the chain maker, packed in standard oil drums and oiled (diesel), sealed - sampled in Oz and directed straight to the galvaniser who then grit blasts again. The chain is sampled every 10m for gal coating thickness and tested for strength (so tested before and after galvanising), sampled from the ends. The chain supplier, the TDG operator knows what is involved - its a well 'oiled' procedure .

You are lucky to get a coating thickness analysis from HDG or a strength test. If its your chain - you can sit in on the strength testing and receive samples such that you can check coating thickness independently.

But: The chain comes from Melbourne, the TDG operator is in Newcastle (200km north of Sydney and 800km from Melbourne) then delivery to 'you'. Its a big country. I'm simply QC manager, I don't advertise (I'm not in this for the money) but 6 individuals have chosen the process (one of whom builds offshore police patrol vessels (like your Border Force)).

I had ideas to commercialise my involvement, I'm lucky - we don't need the money. And I have passions other than chain - chain is boring - any idiot can do it, almost .

Jonathan

 

[RunAgroundHard]

…, Cumbernauld is hardly easy access with 1cwt of chain if you live south of the border …

Ignorance.

It is motorway or dual carriage way from anywhere south of the border, east or west coats. About 6 hours from Bristol, for example, assuming traffic is okay, up the M6. Daughter does the trip regularly.

It’s not a backwater.

Of course Highland Galvanisers may not be interested in a single load.

 

[vyv_cox]

Of course Highland Galvanisers may not be interested in a single load.

According to the OP in post #20 they were not interested. In previous posts he informed us that nobody other than Yorkshire Spin wanted the job.

 

[Neeves]

Ignorance.

It is motorway or dual carriage way from anywhere south of the border, east or west coats. About 6 hours from Bristol, for example, assuming traffic is okay, up the M6. Daughter does the trip regularly.

It’s not a backwater.

Of course Highland Galvanisers may not be interested in a single load.

I did not mean to imply it was a backwater - but its a long way if you live (in the populated areas, where people sail) south of the border.

I lived just outside Cumbernauld for 2 years. My house drying green had Antonine's Wall running underneath. I knew the area well.

Jonathan

edit

The house, grand name for a cottage, was on one of the less frequented roads from Falkirk to Glasgow, the row of cottages was built adjacent to the road which was on the south side of Antonine's Wall. The land sloped down from the road and the wall was built on the crest - lower down was the Forth/Clyde canal. The cottages, named Dundas Cottages after Lord Dundas, had a big slope and the top of the slope had been filled in, burying the Wall to give all the cottages a grass drying green.

Times change, burying a Roman artefact would not even be suggested today

 

[Neeves]

I thought a bit more of acid washing. Conceivably you could do it your self - but it would distinctly hazardous and I don't know what you would do with the spent acid, which would still be acidic.

Jonathan

 

[MM5AHO]

Why Highland Galvanizers used to be interested enough to do chain regalvanizing, was that the then MD (me) had such an interest in yachts that it was ensured that there was interest in regalvanizing anchors and chains. One year I rounded up a bunch of people and did a big batch over the Christmas break.
Here's a contact source for most UK galvanizers...https://galvanizing.org.uk/find-a-galvanizer/
I'd say that Yorkshire Spin is the most likely. The least likely are Joseph Ash and Wedge plants - between these 2 groups make up more than half the UK galvanizers.
The reason for the reluctance is hassle factor. But this is a bit misguided - as someone on here said, just price accordingly. Small orders like a single chain, and the thought that they can't do a great job means likely complaints (they don't know we don't mind the downsides), so thay just say "no thanks".

 

[RunAgroundHard]

….. Small orders like a single chain, and the thought that they can't do a great job means likely complaints (they don't know we don't mind the downsides), so thay just say "no thanks".

What could we say that would convince them that we can accept the standard they give? What is a minimum acceptable standard? Like Aja I spent a bit of time undoing the links that were stuck together, but no big deal, just effort. Is that what you mean?

 

[MM5AHO]

What could we say that would convince them that we can accept the standard they give? What is a minimum acceptable standard? Like Aja I spent a bit of time undoing the links that were stuck together, but no big deal, just effort. Is that what you mean?

I'll make some enquiries. My own chain could do with re-galv sometime soon. It's been done at least 4 times already. It might be the original chain on my 51 year old boat!

 

[RunAgroundHard]

I'll make some enquiries. My own chain could do with re-galv sometime soon. …

Thanks.

 

[DanTribe]

I once took some chain for galvanising but the reception said can't do it, too expensive, not worth our while, minimum charge, you wouldn't be happy with result..
By the time I had driven round the yard to the exit, a guy, who had been in the office, waved me down and offered to do it for cash, no receipt.
Nice little side line.

 

[dunedin]

I'll make some enquiries. My own chain could do with re-galv sometime soon. It's been done at least 4 times already. It might be the original chain on my 51 year old boat!

I am sure we could find others interested in making up a batch - I might be able to add a 70+ m length of 8mm.

 

[Ian_Edwards]

When I enquired about re-galvanized 80m of 10mm chain, I was told that the cost of galvanizing components had gone up significantly, and it was probably cheaper to buy a new chain.
I've had chain re-galvanized in the past, and if it's done correctly, a chain shaker is used, to remove the excess zinc. If that's not done links can get glued together with zinc.
Last time I had it done, the company didn't have chain shaker, some of the links where stuck together, but a tap with hammer sorted that out, and by the time it had run over the gypsy a few time you wouldn't have know the difference.
I also think there was more zinc on the chain than when it was new, I'm still using it.

I am sure we could find others interested in making up a batch - I might be able to add a 70+ m length of 8mm.

I'd be interested, my boat is out of the water at Clyde Marina, Ardrossan, which isn't too far from Cumbernauld.
It's already on a half pallet, which will go in the back of my Hyundai. 80m of 10mm chain, plus a spade anchor.
I'll probably have to melt the lead out of the spade anchor first, but that can be arranged, and get the yard guys to use the telehandler to load it into the car.

 

[Neeves]

I once took some chain for galvanising but the reception said can't do it, too expensive, not worth our while, minimum charge, you wouldn't be happy with result..
By the time I had driven round the yard to the exit, a guy, who had been in the office, waved me down and offered to do it for cash, no receipt.
Nice little side line.

Similar to here,

The owners of galvanising plants are commonly large corporations and/or the owners don't need to be on site. The cash or a slab of beer (in the summer - galvanising is hot work) are very persuasive.

Jonathan