Different Rigging Chain Grades: What Are Their Applications

Grade 120 Steel Chains

The Grade 120 Chain is considered to have the most formidable tensile strength in the industry. With a reputation like that, it comes as no surprise that we're typically finding it in heavy construction and industrial areas. Made with extreme overhead lifting in mind, It has secured its spot as the most reliable choice. Practically, you'll never have to question its capability to deliver.

It's the newest upgrade to the selection of rigging chains, and numbers show that it's really outstanding. It has an impressive 50% higher capacity to withstand weight than the Grade 80 chain and is around 20% stronger than its 100-Grade chain counterpart. It demonstrates extreme durability and outperforms other chain Grades in various segments. It has the highest strength-to-weight ratio and it's less prone to abrasions than the others.

Its striking functionality stems from its unconventional design. The square link shape creates a larger bearing surface, alleviating the pressure on the links and making it ideal for overhead lifting of demanding loads. You'll usually find it in a bright-colored finish, like blue or green. 

Problems in Chain Usage

Chain usage problems can happen to everyone, but it's important to track and address them promptly. That's why we'll point them out to help you avoid similar issues in the future and ensure a safe rigging environment for all. We've hand-picked the four most typically occurring chain usage problems. Let's have a look at them: 

• Using the Incorrect Chain Grade: It isn't rare to see some types of chains applied completely wrong. For instance, using Grade 30 for overhead lifting. Sometimes, the reason for this is the failure to differentiate between two different chain grades, which leads to improper usage. We understand if they appear interchangeable to newcomers, but the professional must spot them right away. Other problems that arise are joining chains in lifting, putting two chains in a single connector, point loads, and side, back, or tip positioning of hooks.
• Not Using the Hoist Load Chain Properly: Hoist load chains aren't designed for lifting purposes, yet many make this mistake repeatedly. It's best not to attempt this at all because you'll put safety in question. 
• Neglecting the Impact of Wear and Tear: Remember that a weakened chain strength is a natural consequence of extensive usage. Always do regular inspections and make sure to keep the chain in good shape.
• Continuously Overloading Your Chain: Almost everyone new to chains tends to overload due to lack of experience. You shouldn't be that one. So, remember to choose the right chain grade for the load and stay within the load limit.

Chain Grades and Prices

A rule of thumb is that a high-end material and advanced functionality of a chain grade will result in a high price tag that represents its inherent value. The more thorough and specialized the production phases will be, the higher the price. So, chains that undergo heat-treating during manufacturing tend to have greater value and resilience. That's why you'll find a huge difference in price between the untreated 30 and 43-chain grades and the heat-treated 70-chain grade.

Another factor raising the chain price is the raw materials used for manufacturing alloy chains. This is notable in the price difference between a grade 70 chain made from carbon and a grade 80 made from high-quality alloy steel. The higher price is justified by the level of quality offered and the capacity for overhead lifting. 

However, there is an exception to this, considering that the pricing between Grade 30 and 43 chains is really similar despite the obvious differences in quality. The latter has significantly higher carbon content and shows greater strength. That being said, a 43 grade chain is the obvious win in terms of performance and is even more resistant to wear and tear.  

We get similar results when we compare the difference between grade 80 and grade 100 chains. Grade 100 is known to be 25% more withstanding than grade 80, and its use extends the scope of grade 80. In spite of all this evidence, these two have nearly the same price. When it comes to the most drastic difference between chain grades in the industry, it can be spotted in grade 43 and grade 70 carbon chains, and grade 70 and 80 carbon alloy chains.