Quick Links

I've never Bolted anchors or any bolts before and noticed that they sell quick links at home depot. I was wondering what the difference is between a quick link or chain that you can buy from a store such as lowes or home depot and one that is sold through an actual climbing company such as Fixe or Metolius? I would also like to make it clear that i dont plan on bolting anything, I'm just curious.

I don't think there is any difference between a SS link from a HW store and anywhere else. If they are metallurgically the same they are the same.

I think everybody buys chain from the HW store. Plated or SS.

"I don't think there is any difference between a SS link from a HW store and anywhere else."

Wrong, the quicklinks sold by Fixe and Metolius are CE rated whereas the stuff at your hardware store is not CE rated.  The stuff at the hardware store is not designed for climbing whereas what is sold by these two companies is specifically designed for climbing and other outdoor activities as well as certified for it.  While they could be the same metals, they are not tested in the same manner and are not designed in the same manner.

Mark Fletcher wrote: "I don't think there is any difference between a SS link from a HW store and anywhere else."

Wrong, the quicklinks sold by Fixe and Metolius are CE rated whereas the stuff at your hardware store is not CE rated.  The stuff at the hardware store is not designed for climbing whereas what is sold by these two companies is specifically designed for climbing and other outdoor activities as well as certified for it.  While they could be the same metals, they are not tested in the same manner and are not designed in the same manner.

Most of the shit at my local crag was from the hardware store....and who says they stuff from the HW store isn't certified. All construction stuff has to be certified or it won't go into a building.

Hardware quick links are very widely used and have been for decades. It’s a rare day when I see one labeled with a climbing gear manufacturer’s name. I would bet good money no one is designing climbing quick links other than material specification and as noted above, testing and certification after production. 

The Hardware Store stuff still has rated "working load limit" specs that, say in 5/16" chain or quick links is somewhere between 1500 and 2000 lbs.

This means they can be used day in and day out for those loads towing etc and have actual breaking strengths 3-4x the WLL.

While I am sympathetic to the liability constraints of a climbing company and use CE certifined QLs on my jugs etc when used in a redundant fashion the HS stuff is perfectly fine for top anchor hardware (ie rarely much more than body weight) with a very large margin for safety.

Use only CE rated stuff if someone might actually take a lead fall on it, imo, if at all possible.

The difference is mostly in price. Climbing companies buy from the same manufacturers and pay to have a certified stamp slapped on the side. Even shitty China links are way strong enough for climbing anchors. The quality of galvanized coating on the other hand...

If you're in the Northeast you should only use stainless links. You probably can't find them at a hardware store, maybe a marine supply store. The Working Load Limit should be stamped on the link along with 316 or 304 (types of stainless steel - almost every stainless link is 316 stainless aka "marine grade"). Most climbing specific links are not stainless either. Some climbing suppliers do sell stainless links, for instance: https://climbtech.com/products/quicklink-3-8/?sku=QLK-375-316SS

Most of the chain I have seen comes straight from the hardware store. Though Fixe makes a really nice ring anchor.

Yes even though surface rust is not a big deal on a chain or quick link, unless you placed the thing you dont know how long its been there rusting. Rust is real in the east. I would choose smaller stainless over larger PS any day. SS links from hardware store in 5/16 are over strong for lowering stations. If you want more piece of mind for a multi-pitch belay look for links made by Camp. Team tough/Bolt-products also can be relied on. 

I just ordered some “climbing” quicklinks from climb tech and they are just hardware store ones. They even have a China stamp on them. 

Tristan Burnham wrote: I just ordered some “climbing” quicklinks from climb tech and they are just hardware store ones. They even have a China stamp on them. 

But Dude, they are special "climbing" links, so they must be stronger....kidding. 

They are different.  IN PRICE !  The petzl ones I have are rated to 35 kn. and the hardware store ones are rated to 1250 lbs wll.  ( which needs to be multiplied by like 3 or 4 to determine  Mbs.  So either way, the math works out in your favour.  Just buy a better brand of hardware store quick link. They are fine. 

Anywho, I have used them for a "don't care-a-biner"  good to leave for a rap or to bail a route, but that's all I use em for.  

Do a quick search to find multiple threads on this subject with better information:

From the now static Supertopo site:
​Supertopo quick link testing​​​

And the most recent of many from here:
​https://www.mountainproject.com/forum/topic/114008997/quick-link-open-unscrewed-break-strength

Take note of Jim's comment about the low torque values on the scew gate.

I'm 100% good with 5/16 (8mm) SS links.  BP/Team tough sells nice long link ones that no one else seems to or normal length ones are readily available for reasonable costs (sub $3).  

I'd be curious to get peoples thoughts on 1/4" or 6mm QLs which are the same diameter as Wave or Twist 6mm bolts. We're totally good with that diameter get I rarely see 6mm links.   One issue is in normal length they don't clear typical 10mm rings so you need the long link ones which are hard to find.  Second is there seems to be a significant drop off in MBL vs 8mm/5/16 ones.  That's why I'd like to see some test on the smaller size. I'e seen 8mm ones rated to 20kN MBL but as that video (and Bolt Products site) indicate, they break at far higher #s.

Same thoughts on chain.  6mm Long link is intriguing for long hikes in...

mattm wrote: I'm 100% good with 5/16 (8mm) SS links.  BP/Team tough sells nice long link ones that no one else seems to or normal length ones are readily available for reasonable costs (sub $3).  

I'd be curious to get peoples thoughts on 1/4" or 6mm QLs which are the same diameter as Wave or Twist 6mm bolts. We're totally good with that diameter get I rarely see 6mm links.   One issue is in normal length they don't clear typical 10mm rings so you need the long link ones which are hard to find.  Second is there seems to be a significant drop off in MBL vs 8mm/5/16 ones.  That's why I'd like to see some test on the smaller size. I'e seen 8mm ones rated to 20kN MBL but as that video (and Bolt Products site) indicate, they break at far higher #s.

Same thoughts on chain.  6mm Long link is intriguing for long hikes in...

Can you link to the sub 3$ quick links?

As mattm and Timothy Fisher have said 5/16 SS are plenty tough.  Rating is 2000 lbs and actual breaking is about 3x that, 6000 lbs !  You're putting, what??? 400 lbs on it when lowering.  3/8 SS's are even stronger (and the rope fits better).  Anybody have an Instron available?? I'd bet that a 5/16 SS QL would be 3 to 5 times stronger than a "bail biner" someone said they'd use, probably even 2-4 times stronger than most aluminum locking biners.  3/8-inch SS QL's are even stronger.

CE-rating ??  This means the much vaunted people in Belgium have looked at your manufacturing process and quality assurance and given your product an OK.  Any stronger, safer??  You'll also get a big printed page with all the "correrct" and "incorrect" things you can do with your CE-Approved-Product. (Many smaller biners, the "CE paperwork" weighs more than the product.

 I've never seen SS chain, in anything other that "decorative" sizes, at HD or Lowes; maybe you can find it at a hardware store near marinas.   Plated chain, available at most hardware stores has a weld in each link. (as does SS) But weather can get "into" anything less than a perfect weld and rust it from the inside. So any chain used for a long-term, outdoor environment really should be SS.

mattm wrote: I'm 100% good with 5/16 (8mm) SS links.  BP/Team tough sells nice long link ones that no one else seems to or normal length ones are readily available for reasonable costs (sub $3).  

I'd be curious to get peoples thoughts on 1/4" or 6mm QLs which are the same diameter as Wave or Twist 6mm bolts. We're totally good with that diameter get I rarely see 6mm links.   One issue is in normal length they don't clear typical 10mm rings so you need the long link ones which are hard to find.  Second is there seems to be a significant drop off in MBL vs 8mm/5/16 ones.  That's why I'd like to see some test on the smaller size. I'e seen 8mm ones rated to 20kN MBL but as that video (and Bolt Products site) indicate, they break at far higher #s.

Same thoughts on chain.  6mm Long link is intriguing for long hikes in...

I've personally used a lot of 6mm maillons and chain but the downside with 6mm maillons is they don't really fit over 8mm bolts or chain. 6mm chain has problems taking larger karabiners like 12mm round stock ones so aren't so practical for belays. 6mm maillons aren' strong enough for us to sell as part of a belay.  Edit; should have said I don't actually use 6mm maillons for climbing, they are on my boat and stuff like that. I don't use maillons for belays either only safety shackles as they are cheaper, stronger and less likely to be stolen.

Ironically I was thinking about this yesterday.  I had just bought some from Lowes, so I compared them to some I got from ClimbTech.  The markings were all the same.  I think there was a 10lb difference.

I bought a maillon-rapide off Amazon, it arrived about 30 minutes ago. It was $11...it is also 10mm, I thought I was ordering an 8mm.  UIAA and CE certified to 45kN and 10kN minor axis. But I really can't see how you could cross load this thing. I bought it to use with a Torse for TR soloing with a chest ascender and a Mini-trax backup.