chain storage

[Lkdelta]

Lots of other "rust threads" going right now too

For chain falls, chain hoists, tire chains....
Any ideas how to store my chains for next winter so they don't get all rusty and jammed up again?

 

[OccupantRJ]

I am storing my chain falls in a 5 gallon bucket until I get my hoist rail installed. I keep my several tow chains in one gallon buckets, with the hooks engaged onto the rim of the bucket to make usage easier. Just grab a bucket and set it into the back of the truck or on the footboard of the tractor when I need to take one somewhere. A shop cloth layed in the bucket seems to deter rust.

 

[ibedayank]

I coat mine with motorcycle chain lube and put them in a 5 gallon bucket with a lid on it

 

[Northstar9126]

Hook your chains up to the back of your ATV. Then tell the kids to run up and down the driveway to knock the rust off. Give the chains a quick shot of some bright color spray paint, makes them easier to find when they drop off in the snow or woods. Store in old sheetrock mud bucket. For rural members only.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Hook your chains up to the back of your ATV. Then tell the kids to run up and down the driveway to knock the rust off. Give the chains a quick shot of some bright color spray paint, makes them easier to find when they drop off in the snow or woods. Store in old sheetrock mud bucket. For rural members only.

Funny, as when I was younger, I found a rusty 20 foot tow chain someone had lost on a woods path. There was a dirt road near me with 6 inch deep shifting sand on it. I hooked the chain to my hitch and had a run or two, switching ends each way. Cleaned that sucker right up.

 

[5lima30]

I keep one of my tow chains wrapped around the 3 point bracing the box blade on my tractor. The others store nicely in an old 20 mm ammo can. YMMV.

 

[Torque1st]

For tire chains, rinse them off well and let dry. Drop the chains in a bucket of old engine oil. Drain onto a rag/paper. Put the chains into a mud bucket or other tightly sealed container with a rag on the bottom. Empty metal paint cans are OK also.

 

[babzog]

I keep one chain in a 5gal pail. The others I'm keeping at various places around the countryside where I'll reclaim them as the auctions come up.

 

[BigMike782]

I made a bracket to bolt to the wall in the narrow useless space between two overhead doors.....works like a charm.

 

[Greatbear]

I keep tire chains in old canvas money sacks. The bags let them breathe, so they tend to stay pretty rust free. For tow chains, etc, these go into lidded plastic buckets.

 

[wewiserangers]

I have a large number of heavy log chains I store haning from a angle iron bracket on the wall. The angle iron is pointed up so the hooks just latch on it. I have 3/8" bolts ran through the bracket at different places and loop the other end up over the bolt. Works great with no tangles and I can see at a glance if I am missing any chains. Takes up very little room.

 

[hetkind]

Kitty litter bucket...and the chains go into the parts washer when dirty, with the parts washer solvent keeping the rust off.

Soaking them in old motor oil does a great job also, but then they need a LONG time to drip.

The chain falls have wall hooks when not in use.

Howard

 

[bb1970]

I hang mine on big nails. I hang the chains for the tractor up too. I'd rather deal with a little rust on them than messy *** oil.

 

[theoldwizard1]

5 gallon bucket. But I need to get another bucket as my "collection" of chains, hooks, shackles and straps weighs over 100 lbs and I am not getting any younger !

 

[Highbeam]

I also use a bucket. Several 3/8 and 5/16 chains. That bucketis so dang have that it takes two hands and the metal bucket handle is bent into a triangle. Buckets work great but you can't fill them with chain. The logging chains are in their own bucket, the mud and rust stay on them. The rigging chains for binding equipment to trailers is stored seperately so that they stay non-rusty and clean. I don't oil the chains but modern chains come with either that gold coating or galvanized. Seems to hold up well. Old chains seem to rust more.

 

[onewaydave]

Presuming you are talking 1 ton vehicle and smaller I do the 5 gallon bucket thing. In fact every winter I just throw the bucket in the bed of the truck and hope nobody figures out what is in it.

My tractor tire chains overfill a 7 gallon bucket each.

Log chains stay wrapped around the front loader mount on the tractors and one wrapped around the hooks in the bucket. Rust away, I won't be here to worry about replacing them from rust damage.

I wish I had a chain fall to worry about.

I've never liked hanging chains up on a nail. A welded rack would be ok though.

At least I don't have to worry about storing these http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.plowsunlimited.com/archive/GeneratedItems/images/tire_chains/china_tpc/big_link_man.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.plowsunlimited.com/archive/GeneratedItems/tire_protect_chains.htm&usg=__zPgZxSLdCooCGDsO0vpG9EWEWuo=&h=300&w=400&sz=122&hl=en&start=49&zoom=1&tbnid=_T3XYl0WGpts0M:&tbnh=93&tbnw=124&ei=1GCFTdmgCc_PgAeP1b3MCA&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dbig%2Btractor%2Btire%2Bchains%2Bimage%26start%3D40%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1&itbs=1

Dave.

 

[DaleK]

I have used 120mm mortar round ammo boxes fastened on all the tractors to hold chains and longer tools that won't fit in the regular tool boxes. Works good for me.

 

[jkherd]

Ammo cans X2. Ammo cans come in different sizes, fairly cheap and available at surplus stores and the thicker wall construction holds up well to the heavy chain and have strong handles to carry them around.

 

[justanengineer]

Screw a piece of steel plate to the studs and hang them vertically on the wall in a warm dry garage. You should have no problems. The above mentioned ideas will work well for old rusty farm/shop chains, but chains used on the road should have plenty of plating left on them and not rusty or be prepared for the DOT nazis to write the tickets. Dont ask how I know.

 

[kbs2244]

Depending on size I use the 5 gal pail or an antifreez jug with one side cut out.