Can you splice anchor chain via proper welding?

mobocracy

Active Member
Jun 29, 2014
541
United States
Boat Info
310 Sundancer
Engines
350 Mag & Bravo III
And by proper welding, I mean done by somebody who understands welding and not some hobbyist who has a garage setup. I have a new length of chain coming for replacing the rode-and-chain setup I have and it pains me to have 35' (25' original, 10' test length for evaluating windlass feed) as basically junk/"backup" clutter.

I get mixed results on this -- some people have said "no way, nobody will do it" and other places I have read that done properly it's fine.

I don't know welding to know whether this is "safe" or whether the weld substantially derates the chain's strength. It sure seems like lots of stuff is welded properly and it holds up, plus aren't chain links themselves welded?
 
If you figure ~$5 / ft. you're talking $175. If (to keep the math simple) you figure $25 to have it welded. you're saving a whopping $150. Do you really want to risk a single bad link for the sake of $150?
 
The crux of the matter is what kind of risk is it exactly?

I know jack about welding or what the "right" way to do this would be, but if I had to do it I would assume you would cut out part of the straight part of the link and then weld it back in. Most of the stress would seem to be borne by the round part of the links, so even if a weld joint failed, you'd need the link member to bend out to break the chain.

If some guy who knows welding tells me its stupid, I totally wouldn't do it and frankly, the monumental headache for me of finding a guy who can do this right (skill and knowledge of welded joints plus some knowledge of chains) isn't worth it to begin with.

But now knowing what the risk is and whether it can be done at all is bugging me. I keep thinking that there must be an awful lot of spliced chain out there, but perhaps its all done by people with PhDs in chain splicing using special welding techniques and materials and only on chains with proof strength some multiple of what the working load actually is and a ton of experience proof-testing their techniques and materials.
 
When welding high tensile steel chain there are number of concerns.
1. Without proper pre heat and post heat the welded area will be brittle.
2. Correct weld preparation ie root angles and correct welding rods, current amperage for the HAZ (heat affected Zone).
3. TIG welding would be the best process, more control and very precise.
4. My advice don’t weld the chain.
 
It can be done, but...For the length of chain you're talking, use the 10 footer on your stern anchor and some day you'll find a use for the other piece.
It used to be that some chain suppliers would weld an oversize link onto the end of a rode to accommodate shackles with larger pins in order to more evenly match shackle WLL strengths to that of the high test chain, but today's alloy shackles can closely match up with the chain strength so I don't think it is very common anymore.
 
Chain is not a big deal to weld. If it is galvanized though, that coating will have to be be ground off before welding. If used in salt water after the fact you may be dealing with rust stains in your locker down the road.
 
Now you see why it wasn't clear to me. People saying it's not a big deal, people saying it ruins the chain.

It's a timing/errand headache big enough that it's not worth saving 35' of chain to me.
 
Welcome to the internet. You are guaranteed to get opposing answers to the question; "is the sky blue?", each one backed up with declarative confidence.
 
Chain is not a big deal to weld. If it is galvanized though, that coating will have to be be ground off before welding. If used in salt water after the fact you may be dealing with rust stains in your locker down the road.
This^^^^^. It sure isn't high tensile strength steel. Those links will stretch before they break. I've done it, touch up the weld with cold galvy paint.
 
If it was my money ....I would buy the extra 35' of chain and not weld a link.

That said this link does not require welding and is what riggers use to join chain which are used in winches. It is not the light duty versions you find at Home Depot or West Marine.

https://tulsachain.com/connecting-l...MIkb2B9dWZ2wIVwrXACh1dxQGJEAQYAyABEgLdLvD_BwE

connecting_link.jpg
 
Welcome to the internet. You are guaranteed to get opposing answers to the question; "is the sky blue?",

Well..... It's grey today... and dripping as usual :) and no it's not funny

So true though
 
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Welding is an art and it takes 4 years to become one to build pipelines and oil storage tanks. I would trust a real welder to weld a chain. You need to remove all the galvanized from the link and you will need to cut the link in two and weld both sides. In the end a real welder would charge you 100+.
You will get some weld splatter on the adjoining link that will corrode.
I used a mechanical link to attach new chai and it has been good for 10 years in salt water.
 
I don't know if the question should be whether or not the extra chain can be welded. The question should be, if the weld fails, and you're anchored out - what is the potential damage to your boat if the weld fails and suddenly in the middle of the night you break free? (because these things never seem to happen when you're awake and alert!)

If it was my boat, the value of the chain that you're taking off the boat is not worth risking your entire boat should you have a bad weld in attempting to save 35' of chain. If you find that you need more rode beyond the new chain that you've added, you can splice rope to the bitter end of your chain to extend your ability to anchor in deeper water with more scope. This is what we did. We have a 450 DA that came with 200' of chain. Last year I added 100' of 8-plait rode and although I haven't had to tap into that extra length yet, I'm very glad to have it. Also, since I did both ends of the splices myself, I feel secure in knowing it was done correctly and that it will hold.

Best of luck with whatever you decide to do.

Sandy
 
Welding is an art and it takes 4 years to become one to build pipelines and oil storage tanks. I would trust a real welder to weld a chain. You need to remove all the galvanized from the link and you will need to cut the link in two and weld both sides. In the end a real welder would charge you 100+.
You will get some weld splatter on the adjoining link that will corrode.
I used a mechanical link to attach new chai and it has been good for 10 years in salt water.
If concerned about the mechanical link, I would just nip enough out of one side to slide a link in and fill it. Probably be happy with cold beer!
 

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