Log chain organization? Let's see your chains!

[Mr. Fry]

Of course everybody has chains. Some little, some big. Some short, some long. How do you store yours? I see too many guys with their chains laying on the floor. Racks? Hooks? Shelves? Pictures are highly reccommend! [emoji106]

 

[Tenex]

Of course everybody has chains. Some little, some big. Some short, some long. How do you store yours? I see too many guys with their chains laying on the floor. Racks? Hooks? Shelves? Pictures are highly reccommend! [emoji106]

I tuck mine to the left

 

[jdl25]

I keep mine in a milk crate with tow straps and other chain accessories. I keep the tow straps rolled up neat with small bungies around them.

 

[jakemac]

I bought a bunch of cheap plastic yellow toolboxes at the hardware store and keep a chain in each one (I tossed out the removable trays). It makes them easy to move around or throw into the back of my truck.

 

[kctyphoon]

I made a couple choker chains at work out from a set that was used to load strand reels on the inboard holders of telsta/altec bucket trucks.. They are all 3/8" chain, not sure of the grade, but I can put about 30,000 lbs of force on them and they are fine.. I had enough hardware and add-on links to make a 4" and 6" chain that each have master links on both ends that I use to place and remove telephone poles.. Made another 7" chain with a master link on one end and a sliding choker hook on the other.. For what I do, I found the chains to be a huge upgrade over regular steel slings.. They hang nice inside the utility doors on hooks, and never get damaged,splinter, and get stuck from having gotten embedded in the pole..

 

[nikerret]

There's a few 2X4's on my garage rafters. I just fold the chains evenly, over themselves, and hang them over the 2X4. Here's a picture of the few I have up, right now. My biggest chain is not up there, right now. The second biggest is in a milk crate with my two gallon gas can. I keep it in the milk crate to weight it down and use the chain to keep it in the corner of the bed of my truck.

 

[bluebolt]

I just use a 5 gallon bucket and hang the hooks on the rim.

 

[Boilerhouse]

I have several chains slung over cross supports on my woodshed. They are outside but under cover. Two of the chains are 3/8 logging chains x 20 or more feet. I welded a couple 3/8 grab hooks on my Kubota loader and used them for a variety of jobs, however this project I would have to file under "what was I thinking?" The loader lifts 800 lbs, the tractors weighs 2000 lbs soaking wet, and the chain is rated for 6000 plus lbs. It takes a man and two boys to lug it around. Now I use 5/16 chain - more than adequate for what I do and a lot lighter.

 

[soj]

I just use a 5 gallon bucket and hang the hooks on the rim.

I do this but with some smaller buckets. I think pool chemicals or some kind of cleaner/detergent came in them.

If more than one chain in a bucket, I hang the two hooks for each chain side by side, so I know what will be on the other end when I start pulling one out. Some have two grab hooks, some have one slip and one grab.

Also, I spray a little WD40 on them when I put 'em back in the bucket, to slow down the rust. I just spray the top layer and it migrates down over everything in the bucket.
jp

 

[theoldwizard1]

I had enough hardware and add-on links to make a 4" and 6" chain that each have master links on both ends ...

What do you mean by a "master link" ? I have only heard that term in the context of drive chains (bicycle, motorcycle, etc)

Do you mean a screw link ?

Or an anchor shackle ?

Or a chain shackle ?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Here is a few tips I have picked up over the years regarding chains.

• A chain is much more useful if it has a "slip" hook (a hook big enough to allow the links to slip through when making a choker loop) and a "grab" hook (will grab onto one chain link).
• Screw links are convenient but nowhere near as strong as anchor or chain shackles. It takes 2 anchor/chain shackles to link 2 chains together. It will still be the "weakest link" in the chain.
• Chain or straps with hooks are very poor tools for towing/recovering a vehicle. You can tear into most car "frames" with a hook. You are much better off with a strap with a loop on each end.

For the vehicle being towed, slip one of the loops over front cross member/engine cradle and then pull the long end of the strap through that loop. Make sure there are no fluid lines that can be crushed on the back side of the cross member.

The other end can be secured to a hitch ball mounted to a Class III receiver by pulling the strap through the other loop or by using an anchor shackle. Never try to use a bumper hitch or Class I or Class II litch to pull ANYTHING ! The hitch ball shank is probably the weakest point so if you are going to be doing a lot of pulling use frame mount front hooks or a hitch receiver mounted tow strap loop.

A large anchor shackle is a good thing to carry with your strap. It can close a slip loop if you can not use the "pull trough" trick I mentioned to go over something like a hitch ball or frame hook. It is also a good way to connect 2 tow straps.


The HF 3" double loop strap is actually a pretty decent !

 

[thebeekeeper1]

For the ones that will fit I use what passes for a modern "3 pound coffee can"--the plastic ones. Drop the chain in, spray a little WD40 for good measure, and they keep nicely. Wear gloves when handling, obviously.

 

[TheEquineFencer]

I keep mine in a milk crate with tow straps and other chain accessories. I keep the tow straps rolled up neat with small bungies around them.

same here or piled in a corner, the last place someone used them....

 

[bobcatdan]

For hauling, I keep chains and binders in a metal milk crate. For shop chains. I hook them on the edge of the 55 gallon drum I keep floor dry in. If the chain has hooks on both ends, I hook the other end by the other hook. Makes the chain shorter for storage also keeps the chains from getting tangled in each other.

 

[cliftonbros89]

I do not have a picture. But for chains we have a piece of angle iron mounted to the wall. Then either round metal rod or rebar bent into a u-shape for a hook and welded to the angle iron. Works good to hang chains and clevis' on.

 

[becker_atc]

Gi ammo cans work pretty well. 30 cal for smaller and the different 50 cal types for bigger.


Sent via message in a bottle

 

[Farmall 1066]

15 gallon grease drum. Drop chain in and hook hooks on sides.

 

[MJD1]

The double clevis style connecter is a better option than 2 shackles or a threaded link.

 

[Jason280]

I keep them in the small tool bags, makes them a lot easier to keep up with. I also keep some of the shorter ones in plastic Folger/coffee cans, seem to work very well...

...well, except this piece of chain. I have to keep it in a milk crate.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have a wall mounted rack I made for my rigging.

 

[Badger 13]

I have a wall mounted rack between two overhead doors where I keep the most used chains. The few older, and less used I store in .50cal ammo cans. Like others, I keep the chain binders in milk crates.

 

[geartow]

I have a wall mounted rack between two overhead doors where I keep the most used chains. The few older, and less used I store in .50cal ammo cans. Like others, I keep the chain binders in milk crates.

Appears to be a mix of g43 , g70 and posssibley some g80 on that rack

 

[1badbird]

Made a rack to hang them on out of some angle iron.

 

[gregthor]

I just took an old heavy truck rear end cover some steel tubing and a parking meter I've had since I was about 10 years old (that was about 50 years ago) and welded up a chain stand for my shop. I don't have that much chain so did'nt need too much storage. The joke is; put a nickle in the meter if you borrow a chain from me!. The stand is easy to move. I can just roll it around.
View media item 57121

 

[Badger 13]

Your right "geartow", there is some of each. The 1/4" stuff is grade 43, the 5/16" is grade 70, along with a couple of the 3/8". One of the 3/8" is grade 80. I'm sure from your "handle" you know your chains.

 

[36truck]

I have a rack on the wall that I bought at auction years ago. It works great for chains. Need to weld some small hooks for the binders to go on. No pic of it though.

 

[1badbird]

Love the parking meter gregthor!

 

[FORDification]

I tore down an old barn and saved one of the rails that a small sliding door would roll on. Attached it to the wall of my garage, and it's a perfect hanger for all my chains, binders, ratchet straps and bungee cords. They're off the floor and I can see everything at a glance. Very handy.

 

[soj]

I just took an old heavy truck rear end cover some steel tubing and a parking meter I've had since I was about 10 years old (that was about 50 years ago) and welded up a chain stand for my shop. I don't have that much chain so did'nt need too much storage. The joke is; put a nickle in the meter if you borrow a chain from me!. The stand is easy to move. I can just roll it around.

Love the parking meter gregthor!

He doesn't store his chains... he "parks" 'em.
jp

 

[Phantom552]

I keep mine in ammo cans, they get used rarely enough that I don't need instant access, and the ammo cans keep everything neat and easy to locate.