Anyone Use Chains?

[Illuminati]

anybody on here use chains, or have any info on them? i have been using the bands in my workouts. I want to start incorporating chains as well. Question is what size links should i get, and how long?

 

[salemlot]

www.elitefts.com or www.westside-barbell will give you your answer. I use chains to give me a break from bands.

 

[Devastation]

chains are essential to getting stronger.

elitefts.com is the place to go

 

[Illuminati]

thanks. im gonna see if maybe i can pick some chains up at home depot, or somewhere like that, and make that set up on my own. it would probably be cheaper that way. if not, guess ill shell out the $105 for them.

 

[mattwray]

thanks. im gonna see if maybe i can pick some chains up at home depot, or somewhere like that, and make that set up on my own. it would probably be cheaper that way. if not, guess ill shell out the $105 for them.

Elite recommends 5/8 or 1/2, which you won't find at Home Depot. They have 3/8, so if you go by the charts, just pick up enough to make the weights you need.

This is a good read, if you haven't already...

Accommodating Resistance

 

[Illuminati]

Elite recommends 5/8 or 1/2, which you won't find at Home Depot. They have 3/8, so if you go by the charts, just pick up enough to make the weights you need.

This is a good read, if you haven't already...

Accommodating Resistance

thanks bro. i've read that article before. but it is always good to refresh.

 

[Illuminati]

the biggest chain that i could find on a roll was at ACE hardware. it was 3/8''. the price comes out to be the same as ordering from elitefts.com so i think im just gonna order them from there.

 

[Becoming]

the biggest chain that i could find on a roll was at ACE hardware. it was 3/8''. the price comes out to be the same as ordering from elitefts.com so i think im just gonna order them from there.

for future reference you can get the 5/8 hella cheap by the bucket - but you can get like 5 sets or so out of it - so you have to find a couple dudes to go in on it with....

 

[Illuminati]

for future reference you can get the 5/8 hella cheap by the bucket - but you can get like 5 sets or so out of it - so you have to find a couple dudes to go in on it with....

i haven't bought the chains yet. where can i go to get a bucket of them? i check some places last nite, and the biggest that i could find was 3/8 inch.

 

[Becoming]

I know there are lots of places that sell it by the bucket/barrel on the net...
http://www.lacledechain.com/ - is an example - just call em up - tell em that you need 5/8s and the strength really doesnt matter, just the cheapest stuff they got (doesn't have to be stainless) and ask how much for a bucket of it... also ask what quantities you can order by (they have 5/8 proof coil in a half drum -75ft- that would probably work - but see what they reccommend)

if you look around see if you can find one by you... you can usually get the price down to 30-40 bucks a set if you can get some other peeps to go in with you (and most of the time you need more than one set anyways)




Also - there are places that sell used chain very cheap all over - but this takes more looking... I found one my me in Tucson on the net by accident (http://www.dolfzine.com/page447.htm) if you find a place like that - you can get single set cheap - and the chain is usually pretty clean too....


good luck bro - a little looking can save you some serious bucks on chain

 

[Illuminati]

I know there are lots of places that sell it by the bucket/barrel on the net...
http://www.lacledechain.com/ - is an example - just call em up - tell em that you need 5/8s and the strength really doesnt matter, just the cheapest stuff they got (doesn't have to be stainless) and ask how much for a bucket of it... also ask what quantities you can order by (they have 5/8 proof coil in a half drum -75ft- that would probably work - but see what they reccommend)

if you look around see if you can find one by you... you can usually get the price down to 30-40 bucks a set if you can get some other peeps to go in with you (and most of the time you need more than one set anyways)




Also - there are places that sell used chain very cheap all over - but this takes more looking... I found one my me in Tucson on the net by accident (http://www.dolfzine.com/page447.htm) if you find a place like that - you can get single set cheap - and the chain is usually pretty clean too....


good luck bro - a little looking can save you some serious bucks on chain

thanks for all the help bro.

You must spread some Karma around before giving it to Becoming again.

 

[mekannik]

Check out industrial supply stores in your area. We have one called Tom's Working Man store, everything from Dickies overalls to industrial cranes.

I called down and asked about chains - guy gave me 50% off on some old chain that was not stamped with the latest universal engineering standard for load baring (stuff was made in the 60's). They had up to 1" chains in big buckets. I bought about 100# worth for $40(US) - 1/2, 5/8, and some 1/4 (1/4 would be for connecting to the bar with the heavy stuff on the floor). They also cut the big ones (20 footers) to length right there, no charge.

Biggest problem with mail order is shipping charges.

 

[Devastation]

thanks. im gonna see if maybe i can pick some chains up at home depot, or somewhere like that, and make that set up on my own. it would probably be cheaper that way. if not, guess ill shell out the $105 for them.

that's not what i was saying, YES make your own lol

 

[Devastation]

Check out industrial supply stores in your area. We have one called Tom's Working Man store, everything from Dickies overalls to industrial cranes.

I called down and asked about chains - guy gave me 50% off on some old chain that was not stamped with the latest universal engineering standard for load baring (stuff was made in the 60's). They had up to 1" chains in big buckets. I bought about 100# worth for $40(US) - 1/2, 5/8, and some 1/4 (1/4 would be for connecting to the bar with the heavy stuff on the floor). They also cut the big ones (20 footers) to length right there, no charge.

Biggest problem with mail order is shipping charges.

if you have any farm implement stores in your area, start there. they should have many sizes of chains including the ones you need

 

[Becoming]

lots of good tips here...

stuff is easy to find real cheap with a little work...

This should be a sticky.

 

[Illuminati]

lots of good tips here...

stuff is easy to find real cheap with a little work...

This should be a sticky.

very much agree with that. i was almost content with shelling out the $105 to elitefts.com. but thanks to you guys, i will probably only spend about half that.

 

[Becoming]

very much agree with that. i was almost content with shelling out the $105 to elitefts.com. but thanks to you guys, i will probably only spend about half that.

and get twice as much chain, LOL

 

[mekannik]

Tractor Supply - most likely on the pricier end, but I am pretty sure if you ask someone working there they can tell you where to pick some cheaper priced chain. But this is a place to start....

Store Locator - type in zipcode
http://www.mytscstore.com/customer_service.asp?action=editStore

Type in "chain" in product search
http://www.mytscstore.com/search.asp

CM PROOF COIL CHAIN -WELDED GR30
SIZE Load Price
3/16" 800 Lb. $0.79
1/4" 1,300 Lb. $1.59
5/16" 1,900 Lb. $1.99
3/8" 2,650 Lb. $2.49

price should be per foot


As for a rough guide to the different grades of chain and their weight per foot
http://www.feeneywire.com/chain/
(scroll down to the charts)
(note: weight given is per 100ft - so divide the weight given by 100, and you will get the weight per foot)
(note: note: this courtesy was brought to you on behalf of some of our more special board members who are not that quick on the draw)
(and if you are still reading - the above comment was for you)

 

[mattwray]

I just got 2 5' lengths of each, 5/8, 3/8, and 1/4 for $45.00. Do a google for Anchor chain and your city. I googled anchor chains houston and found 4 places that carry 5/8 and 1/2. Most were about 10 bucks per foot, but the place I got it from hooked me up for $3/foot.

 

[got2getripped]

I know this will make me sound stupid but, how do you use chains? and what are they for? I've never even heard about them and I've took weights in high school and have been a veteren of the gym for about 8 years.

 

[Illuminati]

I know this will make me sound stupid but, how do you use chains? and what are they for? I've never even heard about them and I've took weights in high school and have been a veteren of the gym for about 8 years.

go back through the thread, and check out the link mattwray posted (#5 reply) also check out becoming's link (reply #10).
basically what you do is suspend some chains off the ends of the bar. the weight of the chain varies. what you want to do is make it so that the majority of the chain is on the floor when the bar is on the chest (using the bench press as an example.) the idea is that as you get more towards, you have more leverage, making the lift easier. so as you are extending towards lockout, you are adding the weight of the chain. so if you have a bar weight of say 225lbs, and each set of chains weight 25lbs. at the bottom of the lift, you have 225, as you get towards lock out, you are increasing to 275lbs top weight (or close to, depending on how much chain is on the ground.)
this is just the basics. i may have typed it up wrong, and im sure someone will correct me if i did. but check out the links on the page. the one mattrway posted will probably give you a good idea of the theory behind the usage of chains (and bands.)

 

[got2getripped]

go back through the thread, and check out the link mattwray posted (#5 reply) also check out becoming's link (reply #10).
basically what you do is suspend some chains off the ends of the bar. the weight of the chain varies. what you want to do is make it so that the majority of the chain is on the floor when the bar is on the chest (using the bench press as an example.) the idea is that as you get more towards, you have more leverage, making the lift easier. so as you are extending towards lockout, you are adding the weight of the chain. so if you have a bar weight of say 225lbs, and each set of chains weight 25lbs. at the bottom of the lift, you have 225, as you get towards lock out, you are increasing to 275lbs top weight (or close to, depending on how much chain is on the ground.)
this is just the basics. i may have typed it up wrong, and im sure someone will correct me if i did. but check out the links on the page. the one mattrway posted will probably give you a good idea of the theory behind the usage of chains (and bands.)

Thanks for the reply now I understand. I guess you learn something new everyday.

 

[mattwray]

N/M didn't see the second page...

 

[mm2510]

I hate to reccomend this place because they sell crap but www.nybarbell.com has 60 lb chain...fairly cheap.