Re-galvanize anchor chain

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catalac08

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My 60M of 8mm calibrated chain is now quite rusty after only 15years of regular use! anyone an idea where I can get this regalvanized either NW uk or Portsmouth area and what I should expect to pay for this. I understand that there are a number of different plating processes and that I need "Hot dip replating" - happy to be corrected if this is not the process needed for anchor chain and is there anything to be aware of when ordering this repair.
 
a job lot is not a bad idea - when I made an all steel rudder about ten years ago it cost me about £40 to have it galvanized as there was a minimum charge. More recently a local workshop that did garden gates, railings etc said that the charge per kilo for galvanizing was very low and they could put my stuff in with their loads, but that contact has now retired from the business.
 
As we speak my 60 metres of 8 mm chain is being regalvanised at BE Wedge in Willenhall, West Midlands. They tell me they are the only company in UK with a continuous line for galvanising chain. At least two other companies I called referred me to them, so this is probably not an idle boast.

There is no minimum size/weight but you will have to wait a while (1 - 2 weeks) until they have sufficient to make it worthwhile putting the line together. It will cost you £1 per kilo or £1.5 per kilo if you have painted it.

See http://www.wedge-galv.co.uk/ Contact is Lee Dickens, Sales Manager. Very helpful and friendly chap.
 
catalac08 said:
My 60M of 8mm calibrated chain is now quite rusty after only 15years of regular use! anyone an idea where I can get this regalvanized either NW uk or Portsmouth area and what I should expect to pay for this. I understand that there are a number of different plating processes and that I need "Hot dip replating" - happy to be corrected if this is not the process needed for anchor chain and is there anything to be aware of when ordering this repair.
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In my experience regalvansing old chain is often very disappointing and probably not economic when you consider that it has to be, removed, cleaned, boxed, transported to and fro and then remarked and replaced back on board. You will probably need some sort of lifting equipment to get it on and off the lorry. We also found that often the galvanising was not acceptable probably because the chain was salt contaminated and often had paint on it.

So unless the chain is really in good condition, under the rust my advice, for what it is worth, is to accept it will cost slightly more and buy new.

A final thought is that the last time we went through this exercise we found out that rather like fresh vegetables and their repackaging journey, the chain had been sent from the UK to Singapore and back for galvanising. Not at all eco friendly.
 
catalac08 said:
"Hot dip replating" - happy to be corrected if this is not the process needed for anchor chain and is there anything to be aware of when ordering this repair.
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Paid c£50/60 last winter for 45m of 8mm - cleaned/replated and spun. Excellent job and well worth doing. Birmingham is the centre for this sort of thing, so should be handy for you to drop off and collect a couple of weeks later. I could give you the name of the place I used but I suspect they acted as agents and it may well have ended up at vyv-cox's place anyway.
They cannot deal with chain that has been painted.
 
Amalgated chains to B E Wedge

Twister_Ken said:
I also have 50 m of slightly rusty chain. Maybe if there are more of us, we could club together and get a discount?
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Sounds like a good idea to group up several lots of chain and head North;
We've got circa 30m of ex-rusty(given by a friend!),now shot blasted 10mm short link chain that i was down to galvanise or hammerite paint this winter.
Twister, you're Chi/Solent based?
 
More rusty chain!

I have about 100m of partly rusty 3/8 chain and a 45lb Bruce to add to the consignment if I can get it off the Island..
 
If the paint on your anchor chain is just the length marks, take it off with a blow lamp. Put the chain between a couple of bricks to save gas. A few strokes later with a wire brush and it will soon be gone.

If there is a lot of paint to remove, grit in a cement mixer works very well. Even better if the internal paddles can be removed from the mixer.

There has been a "tip" on this site about towing the chain with a vehicle over sand. I haven't tried this.

Before your stuff goes off to the works, take pictures. Helps to find it later! Yes, of course one lump of chain looks like any other but it is better to be safe !

73s de
Johnth
 
Here's a list of galvanizing plants throughout the UK
http://www.hdg.org.uk/?cms_id=127

There are many. Its true that the Midlands is the place with the most, but they are spread from northern Scotland to Devon.

Spin galvanizing is a good way to do this, but most galvanizers don't have the facility. But its not essential to getting cleanly galvanized chain. Someone mentioned slat being a problem. Its not! All steel (including chain) getting galvanized goes through a cleaning process that normally involves degreasing, cleaning in hydrochloric acid and dipping in flux (zinc ammonium chloride). No salt on a chain will survive this cleaning.
Paint is a problem, as these cleaning processes don't easily remove paint.
If there's existing zinc (galvanizing) on the chain (most likely), then this must come off too, but will easily come off in the acid. It consumes acid though, so you might get charged a bit extra for that.

Galvanizing has no measureable effect on the strength of the chain.

Spin galvanizing gives a smoother finish, but a thinner coating. Thickness of coating is important to the life expectancy.

Most galvanizers have a minimum charge. 100kg usually covers this minimum charge, so add other items or team up with others to get your order size to match their minimum charge. Alternatively see a friendly steel fabricator, and ask them to include with their next order.

Remember to remove shackles, swivels etc, or they will get "welded" up with zinc.

Yes, I'm a galvanizer as well as a yachtie and do my own chain!
 
MM5AHO said:
Galvanizing has no measureable effect on the strength of the chain.
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May be true of G30 chain, which is generally what your chandler sells, although some authorities are telling me that galvanizing three times is enough. For any heat-treated steel, i.e. G40 and upwards, there will be a reduction in strength due to tempering by the galv process, and possibly some intergranular penetration by the pickling acid and zinc, which would be catastrophic.

I picked up my chain this afternoon, looks like an excellent job to me. Total cost £92. 60 metres 8 mm.

They showed me a Maxwell anchor, don't know the model but it looks rather like a CQR, with a hinge. The owner assured them there was no lead in the tip, it was galvanised and exploded in the bath. There was lead in it! Could have been very unpleasant but fortunately nobody was hurt.
 
"May be true of G30 chain, which is generally what your chandler sells, although some authorities are telling me that galvanizing three times is enough. For any heat-treated steel, i.e. G40 and upwards, there will be a reduction in strength due to tempering by the galv process, and possibly some intergranular penetration by the pickling acid and zinc, which would be catastrophic."

G30 & G40 can be successfully galvanized without hydrogen embrittlement, but higher grades not.
It would be rare to use such a high strength chain as an anchor chain though wouldn't it?
 
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