How Much Does this Anchor Chain Weigh?

Question

Its 50 feet long

Its links are 3 inches

and are a quarter inch thick

Answer 1

It is certainly steel. Verify magnetic if you want.

Typical 1/4" chain is about 70lb/100 ft. See link. For long link chain, figure 20% or so less, so should be about 30lb. The 1/4 inch means this is light for a chain - are you sure it's not a thicker chain?

Chain link length is measured inside. Assuming a 3 1/8" outside length, this would be 5/8" chain, which runs 4.2 lb/ft. 50 ft would be 210lb.

Just put it in a box and on a bathroom scale to weigh it.

http://www.cmindustrial.com/products/cmi...

Answer 2

Well, from the picture at the link you added in "additional information"  it looks like far bigger than a quarter inch thick, perhaps more like three quarters.

You might have about 200-250 pounds.

I imagine the point is moot, no doubt someone has picked it up by now.

The scrap value of steel is nothing like that for copper, but still a couple hundred pounds is worth something

Answer 3

There is no way to tell what it weighs from your information.

      I'd suggest you get a set of scales that weigh a reasonable amount, say 2 Kilos/ 5 Lbs, or whatever.

Pick up the end of the chain, and place the first link on the scale. Continue to add links to the scale until you have a good reliable reading, as high up the scale's capabilities as possible. Place the last link you added in a position that will allow you to hold the next link clear of it, with your hand. Read the scale and make a note of the weight.

Now count the number of links on the scale. This number is obviously the number of links that make up the weight you noted.

Go along and count the total number of links in the entire chain, divide this accurately by the number that were on the scale, then multiply the result by the noted weight, You now have the weight of the entire chain.

You could alternatively cut off and weigh accurately, a sample number of links, and use the same mathematics. Even one link would do, if your scales are capable of very accurate measurements. No difference, just the first is quicker, and the sample weight should be more accurate due to there being (probably) more links involved in it.!!