Chain Link shifter

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I've got a request to make a shifter out of chain links for an older Chevy pickup. Gonna gather the plans this weekend with the guy who wants it, but does any ideas on what chain to use and where to buy it? Would Home Depot or Lowes sell something that would work?I think the hardest part will be keeping the shape correct on the table. I will be Tig welding this. I've looked at some other threads and read not to use chain thats already been "hardened".Anyone else have any ideas or opinions? Thanks
Reply:I made one out of 3/8" forged chain.  I sprial wrapped it around a piece of 1" round bar to hold the shape and stick welded it.  It was not welded to the round bar, the bar came out after it was welded.   It was a B*#!h to clean up but came out ok.
Reply:If I was going to buy chain for this project I'd be sure to get the non-plated variety.  Especially if I was going to be TIG welding it.  As to hardness being a problem...do a test weld between two links, let it cool, clamp one link in the vice and wail on it with a BFH.   If it breaks to easily try annealing the chain and do another test piece to see if that makes a difference.   My guess though is that with good modern made commercial chain and if you use good hot tig welds you won't have a problem.  I think making stuff out of chain (especially yard art) has a lot of good possibilities.  I've cut a lot of chain links in half and welded them to things for tie off / hold down points (using tig, mig and stick).  So far I haven't run in to any problems.
Reply:We are finishing up a rat rod and my dad used chain welded for a lot of the things like front grill struts and light mounts. Can’t say he selected anything special but the rustier the better for this build. All was MIG welded and we had no problems. If you can't find untreated chain some acid to eat the zinc off will be at hand.Airco Heliweld II AC/DC HomeMade Wire FeederLincoln 255PLincoln HD130Everlast PP804x8 CNC TableWelding helps me build my hobbies and takes up time on the side.
Reply:Finding a way to fixture (hold) the links in the desired configuration will be key to making this turn out good.  Especially since it takes both hands to make a TIG weld.  If you can't do some thing like Fast Leroy mentioned or if the complexity of the shape won't allow simple fixturing a second person to hold the links in place while you move down along the chains length tacking them will really help you out.I think a chain link shifter lever could be a good looking thing.  Especially on a Rat Rod.   Have you given any thought to what the knob on the top's going to be?
Reply:I'd think if its going to be completely straight or have straight sections, pulling it tight with a come-along then welding would keep it looking good.
Reply:Post some pics when it's done. Sounds like it's going to be cool!Sent from my SCH-I545 using TapatalkBuilding a 94 crew cab Chevy long bed dually welding truck. Has a Cummins, Ford ZF6 transmission with custom made adapter plate, NP271, Dodge Dana 60 SAS, Chevy 14 bolt rear, 8 inch suspension lift, with 3 inch body lift. Check out my build thread!!
Reply:Originally Posted by AdvanI'd think if its going to be completely straight or have straight sections, pulling it tight with a come-along then welding would keep it looking good.
Reply:Thanks to everyone for the replies.Not sure exactly what he is looking for yet but I will find out.I'm also figuring that having the chain set in two straight pieces meeting at an angle for comfort.Not sure if he has plans for the knob yet - may be able to come up with something cool.I will definitely post pics of the process!
Reply:Originally Posted by Steve FrenchThanks to everyone for the replies.Not sure exactly what he is looking for yet but I will find out.I'm also figuring that having the chain set in two straight pieces meeting at an angle for comfort.Not sure if he has plans for the knob yet - may be able to come up with something cool.I will definitely post pics of the process!
Reply:Originally Posted by Canadian WeldingOff topic... TRAILER PARK BOYS!
Reply:Originally Posted by Steve FrenchGetting two birds stoned at once!
Reply:I did this one out of 5/16" non galvanized chain from Tractor Supply. I tacked the first link to some 2 7/8" pipe, then wrapped it around and tacked the last link to it as well. MIG'd up every link then cut it off the pipe and this is how it ended up:
Reply:How's this for some serious chain?
Reply:I need perspective. Is the wood in the right side of the picture a toothpick or a 4x12 beam?GravelThe difference between theory and practice is that in theory there is no difference.
Reply:That's a 2 x 4 (inches).
Reply:Originally Posted by 4956That's a 2 x 4 (inches).
Reply:Originally Posted by 4956How's this for some serious chain?
Reply:Originally Posted by Mick120Sorry but, there's no way that's 2 X 4.....More like 1 X 4 or 1 X 3.
Reply:Originally Posted by 4956How's this for some serious chain?
Reply:Originally Posted by Robert HallWhere the hell did you find that?Is that used to lock up someones battleship?
Reply:Little bit of an update:We were discussing some ideas and he wants something unique that he hasn't seen before. He said a lot of people make them straight or with a slight "dip", so someone threw out the idea of making it "coil" shaped. So, we are going to wrap it around a post, weld it up, remove the post, and then figure out something for attaching to the truck and for mounting the shift knob, which is going to be a beer tap handle of some sort.I'm not sure how it is going to work, if at all, but I'll give it a try. He already has the chain, but it needs some rust removal. The gun on my sandblasting cabinet is screwed up at the moment, so he is going to soak it in something to remove the rust, and will deliver it to me in a few days.
Reply:It should make a nice shifter, I'd be a little concerned with the weight pulling on the linkage, if it's long.
Reply:Way back in the early seventies my home was on a corner.  Corner lots have people cutting across the lawn, just the way it is.  My wife was on me like a bad coat of paint to put up a fence around the front yard to stop the making of a trail across the yard plus she didn't like people so close to the front windows at awkward times.I owned a fence company at the time.  Our primary product was chainlink but we also did ornamental iron and ranch stuff.  I hated the idea of a fence in the front yard because that kind of fence screams out that the neighborhood sucks or the person with the fence does, most of the time both.So I set some 2' square tubing posts on eight foot centers and started looking for chain.  I didn't like chainlink fencing but the idea of a chain link fence sounded kewel as heck.I found five hundred feet or so of 5/16" mild steel chain that was used, just a light coat of rust.  I tacked up a piece on the corner and let it sag just right.  I then tacked the links up and then broke the original post tacks.  I welded that upside down for the bottom rail and then welded in another length of chain for the top rail without it having the links tacked up.It looked really nice.  Top rail sagged down natural like and the bottom rail sagged up very unnatural like.  That lasted less than a week.I don't care how old they ere, eight or eighty, they had to stand on the bottom rail to test it, to see if it was a magnet thing I guess.  The tacks broke and it looked like heck in less than a week.  I didn't want to go through the hassle of welding it all solid for the bottom rail all the way around the front fence so I ended up just hanging two rails.  It looked nice and it did what it was supposed to do without being ugly visually or making the neighborhood statement I didn't want to make.In the nineties I drove by the old place and the fence was still there, chain link fence installed by the chainlink fence company owner.life is good
Reply:Originally Posted by Steve FrenchLittle bit of an update:We were discussing some ideas and he wants something unique that he hasn't seen before. He said a lot of people make them straight or with a slight "dip", so someone threw out the idea of making it "coil" shaped. So, we are going to wrap it around a post, weld it up, remove the post, and then figure out something for attaching to the truck and for mounting the shift knob, which is going to be a beer tap handle of some sort.I'm not sure how it is going to work, if at all, but I'll give it a try. He already has the chain, but it needs some rust removal. The gun on my sandblasting cabinet is screwed up at the moment, so he is going to soak it in something to remove the rust, and will deliver it to me in a few days.