Working with chandelier chain?
Dave Mitton
I have finally recieved my chandelier and I have to work with the chain to hang
it up. I have to open the links at the top and bottom ends, as well as
shortening it to the proper length.
It seems I need to bend the links, but how about some tips on technique?
Just grabbing it with a pliers with duct tape cushioned jaws seems insufficent
to get it bent easily. And eventually I have to close them too.
Dave.
Tom & Mary
Boy, I had fun doing this with am old chandelier my mother-in-law had
givin us. (I spent almost one whole month cleaning and re-wiring it ...
it's circa 1920's, from Spain... real nice ... AND HEAVY!!!). I had
temporarily supported the main brass support (minus crystals... I put
those on later) with a piece of coat hanger then adjusted the brass
chain. The chain which I had started with was 1 foot too long. Instead
of opening the chain with pliers (like making it into a bigger circle),
I decided to simply twist the link open, like (boy this is hard to
explain...) so that I was just able to get the other link out to shorten
the whole chain. Anyway, after I pondered the effectiveness/strength of
this, I decided to have a custom chain made. It is made out of solid
brass, with all the links welded (braised?) I now don't worry about it
ever falling! I feel better with welded links, especially with such a
heavy (30lbs!) chandelier.
--
======================================================
From: Tom & Mary
Homepage URL: http://www3.edgenet.net/lingling
(I hate spammers! Please remove the "!" to email me!)
======================================================
wil...@albany.net
In article <3480a342...@news.tiac.net>,
dmi...@tiac.net (Dave Mitton) wrote:
>
> I have finally recieved my chandelier and I have to work with the chain to
hang
> it up. I have to open the links at the top and bottom ends, as well as
> shortening it to the proper length.
>
> It seems I need to bend the links, but how about some tips on technique?
>
> Just grabbing it with a pliers with duct tape cushioned jaws seems insufficent
> to get it bent easily. And eventually I have to close them too.
>
> Dave.
you've got the right idea about what. As to how; I usually use two pair
of pliers, one on each side of the break, and twist sideways, 1 plier
going one direction and the other going the other, just enough to
separate the link. That seems to distort the link less than spreading
lengthwise and makes reversing the procedure to close easy. Since you
have to shorten the chain, use one or two links on one end as practice.
Enjoy your new light.
Dale
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JBOBST
Vise grips might work better than pliers. I keep a pair handy with the
serrations on the jaws ground off (with a disc sander) for jobs like this.
Also consider using 2 links instead of one where you squeeze them together at
the bottom, just for safety in case they're brittle.
JBO...@AOL.COM
Mr Fixit
Dave Mitton <dmi...@tiac.net> wrote in article
<3480a342...@news.tiac.net>...
> I have finally recieved my chandelier and I have to work with the chain
to hang
> it up. I have to open the links at the top and bottom ends, as well as
> shortening it to the proper length.
>
> It seems I need to bend the links, but how about some tips on technique?
>
> Just grabbing it with a pliers with duct tape cushioned jaws seems
insufficent
> to get it bent easily. And eventually I have to close them too.
>
> Dave.
>
You need to open a link but not change its radius. This takes two pair of
pliers. Holding the link so that you are looking at its 'face' with the
joint at the top, grab each of its sides with pliers and twist one side
toward you while forcing the other side away from you. (misaligning the
ends of the link loop but not spreading the loop larger)
To close the link, simply apply pressure in the opposite direction to
re-align the ends of the link loop.
Mr Fixit
danh...@millcomm.com
In <3480a342...@news.tiac.net>, dmi...@tiac.net (Dave Mitton) writes:
>I have finally recieved my chandelier and I have to work with the chain to hang
>it up. I have to open the links at the top and bottom ends, as well as
>shortening it to the proper length.
>
>It seems I need to bend the links, but how about some tips on technique?
>
>Just grabbing it with a pliers with duct tape cushioned jaws seems insufficent
>to get it bent easily. And eventually I have to close them too.
To open the links twist them sideways, don't pull them apart. A pair of
chain pliers (not "chain nose pliers") helps, but is not absolutely
necessary.
Dan Hicks
Hey!! My advice is free -- take it for what it's worth!
http://www.millcomm.com/~danhicks
TinMan132
A very easy way is to slip in two screw drivers on the link in opposing
directions. Simply pry one side of the link in one sideways direction and the
other in the opposite direction. Reverse when hung.
J.P.
Dave Mitton
danh...@millcomm.com wrote:
Well my chain was particularly heavy duty, and just trying to use two pliers (or
a vise grip) didn't give me enough mechanical advantage to even budge a link.
However, a quick trip the local electric supply house/lighting store turned up a
chain pliers. This tool opens the link from the inside, using the fulcrum of
the tool (not my arms) and I could put two hands worth of grip into it.
Dave.
