T&T: anchor chain

[Rudy and Jill]

> The specifications of my chain are:
> Wire diameter  .35 inch
> inside measurement of link, long way    1.02
> inch
> outside measurement of link, long way   1.68
> inch
> outside measurement of link, across     
>   1.15 inch
>
> the chain links are stamped G4
>
> I measured some drill bits with the same caliper and found
> a 5/16" bit shows as .32" on the caliper dial
>  a 3/8" bit shows as .375


Steve, assuming the chain was manufactured in the USA, 3/8 chain measures .39"
in wire diameter, both for NACM and ISO chain.

5/16 chain, both NACM and ISO measures .33"; allowing for galvanizing, your
chain appears to be 5/16". G4 indicates Grade 43 (high test)chain.

NACM 5/16, Grade 43 measures: inside diameter- .48"; inside length- 1.28".
ISO 5/16, Grade 43 measures: inside diameter- .51"; inside length- 1.03". (ALL
ISO 5/16 chain will have a minimum inside ID of .50".)
Again, you need to make allowances for galvanizing, a few hundredths.

Subtracting the the wire diameter (.35 x 2, since there is wire on both
sides), from your overall width of 1.15, a figure of .45 is obtained, even
allowing for galvanizing, this suggests that your chain is not ISO, but NACM
chain. But, the inside length of 1.02 does suggest ISO chain.

Maybe double check your inside dimensions? If these measurements are correct,
you very well could have chain manufactured outside of the USA. It cannot be
BBB, or Grade 30, 60, 70, 80, or 100 since it is stamped G4. Other than that,
I'm at a loss, but interested in what you find out.

These figures are from Peerless Chain, the manufacturer of ACCO chain- the ISO
chain manufactured in the USA. Crosby's chain dimensions, which also
manufactures NACM chain, are similar, but do vary by one or two hundredths.

Best thing to do, whether you know the type of chain that you have, with
certainly, or not, is to ask for a couple feet of chain from where you are
buying it, and then check it against your wildcat; or send them your wildcat
so they can compare it to chain that they have. ****If you send them your
wildcat, make sure it is insured. Wildcats can cost several hundreds of
dollars to replace and if it should come up missing?***

We know that the size chain, and the stamped size on the wildcat does not have
to match, so your chain supplier may be able to help, even if the chain is,
for the USA, an unusual size. Our wildcat is stamped 3/8, but works well with
our 5/16 NACM chain.

Keep us all posted.

Rudy and Jill
Briney Bug, Panama City, Fl