How Much Weight Does a Chain Support?

You can try with a magnet. Shiny silver is not magnetic. If it is magnetic, the chain is probably made of steel with a layer of protective material on it. For lifting purposes you are supposed to use calibrated chain and the supplier has a rating for it. If not, go for safety first and suppose it is a common chain that can range from ST 37 on the lower load band. Check for a rod of the same diameter and how much it can hold before breakage. If you really want to use it divide it by 2. That is my recommendation. You can also have it tested in a laboratory to do it safe.

But should it supports weight say about 400kg?

If it is silver NO, steel YES than you are very safe.

I don't think it's silver. It's has like a silver colour.

Banu.....

If the chain is pure silver, take it down, bring it to a precious metals dealer , sell it and buy a steel chain.

If it is a dull silver chain, it is good for 380 kg

Green chains, (regardless of link size) are good for 900kg.

Red chains should not be touched with bare hands.

If the chain has a red link, a black link then a yellow link, then it is a dangerous snake....dont use it for lifting.

Things must be tough out there in the third world..... Try using this new tool called GOOGLE and use the seach term "chain" or "chain capacity"

http://chain-guide.com

This sounds like 3/16" Grade 30 zinc-plated chain. If so, its working load limit would be 800 lb (~364 kg), and it is not intended for lifting. Grade 30 is a lower strength chain, so this guess is probably conservative. But not certainly. The absence of data suggests caution.

I agree with your assumptions Tornado, and i cannot fault the load rating for a galvanised chain either, however, without the proper certification, or at least having seen the original reel wherefrom it was cut, i will not use it for lifting anything other than a bucket of water. It may well be an already condemned piece of chain. Rather stick to rated lifting gear, with appropriate certification.

Unless you know FOR SURE the load rating of the chain and that it has been certified to meet this rating, and it is in good condition; DO NOT USE IT TO LIFT OR SUPPORT ANY LOAD! If you choose to ignore this warniang, I suggest that you place your body under the load so as to cushion the impact of the falling load when the chain fails.

"Unless you know FOR SURE the load rating of the chain and that it has been certified to meet this rating, and it is in good condition; DO NOT USE IT TO LIFT OR SUPPORT ANY LOAD! If you choose to ignore this warniang," says GringoGreg!

In spite of the misspelling, this is a very good answer. If you do not know the source or certification of the chain, use it with extreme caution. Too many sources use non-standard materials and mis-label product. I would cut the 375 kg capacity to 1/2 or 1/10 (depending on condition, rust, other intangibles) for a chain that is from an unknown source or vendor. Depending on how lucky you feel, the assumed capacity would be anywhere between 36 kg to 180 kg. If you had to stand under the suspended loadd, how lucky do you think you would be that the chain did not come from "Schlock Enterprizes, INK."

As much as its weakest link.

just had to say that!

oilcan13

We have to know what the original purpose of the chain. A picture would be helpful. We could go through a chain catalog. Knowing the pitch would be great. If thre is a sprocket associated with the chain you can give us that, it should be marked on the sprocket.

Another factor is that HKK manufactured chain is considerably stronger than chain made by other manufacturers with the same pitch.

If you do not know the chain specification 100%. You should not use it for overhead lifting. If you do and are using it for lifting it should be tagged with the capacity. That is what the regulations state in our jurisdiction (British Columbia, Canada) If you use it and someone gets hurt (including yourself) you can consider yourself completely responsible.

Outside that you could test to breaking point with suitable sample size, if you had suitable test facility and employ a significant factor of safety based on results. I would say 6:1 or 8:1 at least unless shock loading is suspected and then I'd go 12:1 but seriously is it worth it?

Based on your description it does not sound like lifting chain which is grade 80. Tie down chain is grade 70 slightly less stringent standards. If it is lifting stuff in the air you want it to be correct. If not you are nuts and should not be trusting people to tell you how to know what it is good for.

Be safe. Buy load lifting chain for lifting loads.

You have 1.5 feet of chain of unknown quality, material, or certification. Use it for ornamentation or as a handle on a purse.

Buy the correct (correctly marked and certified) chain for the load. It will cost very little. Simple.

No more than was stated in its last test record for collapse insurance cover, which will be in the facility's General Register.

If there is no record then the answer is "zero until it has a test record".