South coast galvanisers? - wedge no longer do chain

Is there any news of this? I have 25mtrs of 8mm chain, one end about 5mtrs or so the galv has gone and its a rusty mess. I'm on the Isle of Wight just to add complexity!

Perhaps we could make it worthwhile for a galv place if we did a group buy?
 
burgundyben said:
Is there any news of this? I have 25mtrs of 8mm chain, one end about 5mtrs or so the galv has gone and its a rusty mess. I'm on the Isle of Wight just to add complexity!

Perhaps we could make it worthwhile for a galv place if we did a group buy?
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See Post #20. When I get an answer, I will post it here,
 
Poignard said:
See Post #20. When I get an answer, I will post it here,
Click to expand...

Thanks. If there is an option that's cost effective and a group buy, then count me in for 25mtrs of 8mm.

If it doesn't work out, at least buying new chain will give me the chance to buy new and get a longer bit, I'd prefer a few more metres.
 
Email from wedge last week is that they no longer re-galvanise chain.... Let me know if you get a different reply.
 
I've been unwell a while, so just catching up on the progression on this thread. I have plenty of contacts in the UK (and further) industry, so will make enquiries as to Wedge doing or not doing chain re-galvanizing.
Most galvanizers find it a paint to do it. Almost any could do it, but most say they can't as it's not worth the bother. Galvanizers, like any business are looking to make some margin, and while zinc is one of the costs, labour and time are significant, and if a job is a hassle, then these costs rise. There's three ways to HDG chain, all mentioned in this thread. 1. Galvanize as a "lump", shaking it a bit to get best seperation of the links as the zinc solidifies. The purchaser is left to sort out those links soldered together with zinc, using a hammer. I use this method on my own chain. This method gets a thicker coating than any other, and life is proposrtional; to coating thickness. 2. Centrifuge galv. The chain is dipped in zinc in a "bucket" suspended on a motor that rotates the perforated bucket as soon as it clears the zinc on raising it on the crane. This spins off the surplus zinc which would have soldered links together. But you get a thinner coating. Most new chain is done this way. 3. Specialist machine to vibrate the chain as it comes out of the zinc link at a time. This is slow, so means the tonnes per hour of the kettle is low, and that costs someone money, but you get something between 1 & 2. Reasonable finish without spinning all the zinc off.

Sheardizing.
We looked at buying into this industry once. That particular one was really messy and poorly set up. Neeves has described the modified sheradizing (which is just a refinement on sheradizing) above somewhere in this thread. There's not much more to be said. It's better if you can get it. A harder coating as its all alloy of iron and zinc and no free zinc, it conforms to the shape of the item, as it is all done in the solid phase, compared to HDGs liquid phase zinc, lower temps, no acid cleaning meaning no risk of Hydrogen embrittlement (and yet I've never encountered a case of this in HDG in nearly 400,000 tonnes of galvanizing, but I don't deny its a risk in HT steels).

It would be interesting for someone to ask at what price a galvanizer would re-galv a chain (one who says they don't). Would give an interesting idea about that barrier to getting it done. I can't do that!
The quoted article from the Wedge website (about regalvanizing a chain and anchor off a classic yacht) is nearly 5 years old, so doesn't directly imply they do chain today. Business models change, and what was worth doing at one time won't necessarily do for all time.
Many galvanizers do odd jobs as a PR effort. Sculptures, charity jobs, high profile things. We once did a scale model of a battleship, about 6m long. Stands on a plinth in Clydebank now. If it hadn't been for the PR value, it would be a bit like chain. Is it worth the hassle? That hassle factor sounds brutal, but businesses need to make money to survive!
 
MM5AHO said:
[...]
The quoted article from the Wedge website (about regalvanizing a chain and anchor off a classic yacht) is nearly 5 years old, so doesn't directly imply they do chain today. Business models change, and what was worth doing at one time won't necessarily do for all time.
[...]
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Yes. That is why I emailed them today. To find out whether they still do it.
 
MM5AHO said:
Sheardizing.
We looked at buying into this industry once. That particular one was really messy and poorly set up. Neeves has described the modified sheradizing (which is just a refinement on sheradizing) above somewhere in this thread. There's not much more to be said.
Click to expand...

One of the problems I had when Neeves raised it before - and I don't blame him - is that the process descriptions on line were all metallurgically illiterate. Clearly the process works, but equally clearly those who had bought into the various specific versions had no idea how it worked, which would considerably reduce my confidence in their ability to monitor and control it effectively.
 
"but equally clearly those who had bought into the various specific versions had no idea how it worked " there are galvanizers like that too. There must be similar issues in every industry.
 
burgundyben said:
Thanks. If there is an option that's cost effective and a group buy, then count me in for 25mtrs of 8mm.

If it doesn't work out, at least buying new chain will give me the chance to buy new and get a longer bit, I'd prefer a few more metres.
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Group buy is a good idea. No idea why there are not more of these in the sailing world. It is done in car clubs I am a member off.
 
JumbleDuck said:
One of the problems I had when Neeves raised it before - and I don't blame him - is that the process descriptions on line were all metallurgically illiterate. Clearly the process works, but equally clearly those who had bought into the various specific versions had no idea how it worked, which would considerably reduce my confidence in their ability to monitor and control it effectively.
Click to expand...

JD, I don't think anything has changed. There has been no update on how the operators think it works - and I'm not arguing with them. I don't think the operator here cares particularly - it works, why does not matter so much. As Geoff mentions some conventional galvanising leaves much to be desired ( think of the consistent complaints of poor chain galvanising). Also, consistency, people who have their chain regalvanisied all say how good the 'second' coating is. There must be a technical explanation - but whatever the reason no-one seems to have exploited the idea to make a galvanised product with super longevity.

In terms of them knowing what they are doing - they have found that if they know the surface area they are coating then if they add a specific amount of zinc they achieve a certain thickness of coating - they can then extrapolate - and the extrapolation works. They also find they can operate at lower temperatures - but through put reduces (they need to keep at the lower temperature for longer). For most items this latter does not matter - but for Quench and Tempered steels operating at a lower temperature retains more strength of the original steel - its very much a suck it and see - fortunately the operator here in Oz has a little rotating oven and I have run trials and have a good feel of what is possible.

And as mentioned the process is simply an update of Sheradizing - its just a pity the update could not have been made where Sheradising originated.

Jonathan
 
So... not found anyone so giving up and going to buy new. Having said that probably less work and not worth the hassle. Some of my chain is quite rusty in parts.
 
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