I pick up this heavy roller chain years ago from a machine shop that closed in the 1950's.  Just wondering if anyone has an opinion on whether it would work for chain damascus.  I have not spark tested it yet.

 

 

Close up of the chain.  It is laying on a 55 gallon drum.  The links are big.

 

 

Second length, the links are slightly smaller:

 

 

Close up of the name:  Link Belt and #size

 

Actually, it isn't. I got a boat load of it from my last job and made a "knife" out of it. The links are way to soft and it was a pain in the rear end to forge weld because most of those links are coated. If I were to do it again, I would do a san mai with it with a high carbon center.

Thanks for the information.  When I get power back in my shop, I will spark test the parts just to see what it shows.  I think this is the type of chain that was used on the early chain-drive trucks between 1910 and 1940's.

Thanks for the information.  When I get power back in my shop, I will spark test the parts just to see what it shows.  I think this is the type of chain that was used on the early chain-drive trucks between 1910 and 1940's.

Standard industrial chain with an endless variety of uses, still common though that is a large size, it likely has pretty high value to someone who still uses it and has occasion to replace some. 

I use a canister to enclose the chain, powder, and  steel. I think that chain would work, but not by itself there is to much open area between the links.. I use a thin wall square tube. Weld 1 end shut with a piece of scrap over it. Suspend the chain so it hangs straight down into the tube. Then pour 10 84 powder or 1095 powder into the can when full vibrate the can and refill with powder. Weld another scrap to close this end. First put some scrap paper inside to burn out oxygen. Weld on a handle and head for the forge. If this works let me know as I haven't tried it yet. Just a theory.

Merry Xmas

TJ Smith

There is a guy over on the Middle Earth Ranger forum that used heavy roller chain to make an axe.  Nice axe too.  I'd post a link, but I don't seem to be able to :( .  I've got quite a bit of the chain that was being thrown out at the mill where I work.  I haven't tried to weld any up since my forging skills improved, so I can't help you there.  If nothing else, you could do a san mai type construction with it, insert maybe a 1095 bit?