[Salar]

Are there any metallurgists out there? Chain from a chandlers in horrendously expensive (£4 a metre for 4mm I was quoted) so I looked aound elswhere. I picked up 5mm chain at £2.20 a metre in a builders merchants. It claims to be galvanised but the finish is bright, compared to the grey galvanised chain in a chandlers. It is probably thinner galvanising than marine chain, but for occasional sea use I would expect it to last a few seasons anyway. The question is - what is the difference between builders galvanised chain and marine galvanised chain - is it galvanised in the same way?

 

[ChrisP]

The dull grey lumpy finish is a result of hot dipping into a bath of molten zinc. If it is smooth and shiney it is probably electroplated.

Electroplating is much thinner, cosmetically a nicer finish but not nearly as hard wearing.

Edit,

Better explanation here http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2629#_Zinc_Electroplating

 

[iseaall]

there is a chance that the builders chain is zink coated chain (electro plated)
were the grey coloured chain is hot dipped galv
diffrence is the galv will be thicker and better quality than the zink plated and would last 2 to 3 times longer as for price there should not be much diffrence sounds like the chandlers is using the BOAT word to turn a good profit
try your local scrap yard i just got 70ft of 8mm chain paid a £15 was a bit oiley but spot on for the anchor

 

[ChrisP]

I get my chain from a local company that specialises in lifting gear, once out of test they bin it. Some of the chain I have had from there for scrap value turned out to be a black finished high tensile some sort of alloy stuff. Too hard to cut with bolt croppers, ended up with a grinder on it and it doesn't corrode.

 

[Salar]

The dull grey lumpy finish is a result of hot dipping into a bath of molten zinc. If it is smooth and shiney it is probably electroplated.

Electroplating is much thinner, cosmetically a nicer finish but not nearly as hard wearing.

Edit,

Better explanation here http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2629#_Zinc_Electroplating

Superb site that Chris, I now have it in my Favourites! Looks very like electroplated but it clearly states galvanised on the trade stand. Maybe I should set the Trades Description people onto them?

 

[AL_Carpman]

I had some of that shiny galvanised chain, it went rusty as a horseshoe first time i used it.

AL ..

 

[SeanP]

Yep same here I went and tried the zinc plated chain once, it soon went rusty,:yucky:

 

[Mickb]

We galvanise trailers & the finish varies. Galvanising usually goes dull in time anyway. The good thing about galve over plating, apart from the thickness, is that it is self healing. A scratch will heal over whereas on a plated part it will rust.
I get mine from yatch rigging supplies at Grimsby - see ebay. I'm nothing to do with them but I buy a lot of gear from them for the boat and am very satisfied.