316 Stainless Chain for Marine, Outdoor & Trade Hardware
Exposed chain needs to handle the conditions around it as well as fit the job. Hobson 316 Stainless Regular-Link Chain provides polished stainless construction in multiple link sizes for marine, outdoor, workshop & suitable general hardware installations where durable material & a clean exposed finish are required.
Across the Hobson range, regular-link chain is available from 2 mm through to 12 mm diameter. Continuous drum supply allows chain to be sold by the metre & cut to the required length, making it practical for repairs, custom installations & jobs where standard pre-cut lengths don't suit.
For installations requiring additional connection hardware, browse Specialty Fasteners or Bolts & Fasteners. Hand Tools can also support everyday workshop preparation & installation work.
► 316 stainless steel construction
► Polished regular-link design
► 2 mm to 12 mm chain diameters
► Continuous chain supplied on drums
► Sold by the metre & cut to required length
► Suitable for marine & other outdoor environments
► Multiple link lengths & widths across the range
► Suitable for appropriate non-lifting hardware applications
► Not rated for lifting
Check the complete chain fit before ordering. Measure the required length & make sure the selected links will fit the shackles, eyes or other compatible hardware used in the installation.
What Are Hobson Chains?
Hobson Regular-Link Chain is manufactured from 316 stainless steel with a polished finish for suitable non-lifting hardware applications. Hobson specifically identifies marine & other outdoor environments as suitable uses for the range.
Instead of being supplied only as a finished assembly at a predetermined length, the chain is wound continuously onto a drum. The required metre length can then be cut for the installation.
Physical link dimensions change across the range. A 2 mm chain has a different link opening & overall geometry from a 6 mm, 10 mm or 12 mm chain, which becomes important when connecting into existing fittings.
Hobson Regular-Link 316 Stainless Chain is not rated for lifting. If the job involves raising, suspending or supporting a lifted load, use equipment specifically designed & rated for that work.
Where Hobson 316 Stainless Chain Fits?
Marine & Coastal Hardware
Salt-laden air, spray & exposed conditions put greater demands on outdoor hardware.
Hobson identifies its 316 stainless regular-link chain as ideal for marine & other outdoor environments. This makes the range relevant to suitable non-lifting hardware around boats, waterfront facilities, coastal properties & exposed installations.
Consider the complete assembly when working in these conditions. Shackles, eyes, bolts, anchors & other adjoining hardware need to suit both the chain & the environment.
For installations requiring less conventional connection hardware, Specialty Fasteners & Fixings provides additional options for trade fastening work.
Visible Architectural & Commercial Installations
Polished chain can provide a cleaner result where the hardware remains visible after installation.
Suitable commercial, architectural, landscape & public-facing projects may use stainless chain in non-lifting barriers, separation arrangements or other exposed hardware installations.
Start with the functional requirements of the job then confirm the chain diameter, link dimensions & attachment method.
The polished finish can then contribute to a more considered appearance where the finished hardware remains in view.
Workshop & Maintenance Requirements
Replacement work often starts with an existing fitting & a chain length that needs to match it.
Measure the required run & inspect both attachment points before ordering. Hobson's continuous chain format allows suitable replacement lengths to be cut without having to adapt a predetermined chain assembly.
Existing fittings deserve attention too. Wear, corrosion, deformation or an opening that's too small for the proposed chain can change what is required.
Where repairs also involve bolted connections, Nuts & Washers provides complementary hardware for suitable mechanical assemblies.
For more on choosing the hardware that completes a connection, read Why Good Fasteners Matter More Than the Tool You Drive Them With.
Outdoor Property & Facility Hardware
Gates, access areas & outdoor facilities can require chain without involving lifting or suspended loads.
Suitable applications may include non-lifting separation, access-control or general hardware arrangements where stainless construction is appropriate for the conditions.
Check how the chain will terminate at both ends before selecting the size. A larger chain may be unsuitable if its links don't pass through the existing eye or compatible connecting component.
Measure first where existing infrastructure determines the available connection space.
Fabrication & Custom Hardware Projects
Custom assemblies often make link dimensions just as important as chain diameter.
Fabricators can choose from multiple Hobson chain sizes then compare the link geometry with the components being incorporated into the finished assembly.
This is particularly useful when chain needs to pass through an eye, connect with another fitting or fit within a restricted space.
For drilling, cutting & general workshop preparation around custom installations, Power Tool Accessories provides supporting equipment.
Keep the finished application within the chain's intended non-lifting use.
Why Choose Hobson 316 Stainless Regular-Link Chain?
A wide size range makes it easier to match the chain to both the installation & adjoining hardware.
Hobson offers regular-link diameters of:
► 2 mm
► 3 mm
► 4 mm
► 5 mm
► 6 mm
► 8 mm
► 10 mm
► 12 mm
The 316 stainless construction suits applications where the material specification matters, while the polished finish is useful when the chain remains visible.
Continuous drum supply also gives workshops, facilities teams, fabricators & other trade buyers flexibility when different jobs require different metre lengths.
Published link dimensions help remove guesswork where the chain needs to engage another component.
Product Selection Guide
Consider Where the Chain Will Be Installed
Marine, coastal & exposed outdoor environments make material choice particularly important.
Hobson's regular-link product is manufactured from polished 316 stainless steel.
Check the other hardware in the assembly at the same time, particularly where several metal components will remain exposed to the same conditions.
Choose the Chain Diameter
Hobson chain diameters range from 2 mm through to 12 mm across the regular-link family.
The intended application & adjoining hardware should guide the required size.
Avoid selecting a larger diameter simply because it looks more substantial. Physical compatibility & the product's intended use still need to suit the job.
Check Link Length & Width
A chain can be the correct nominal diameter & still be too large for an existing fitting.
Measure the opening that the link needs to pass through then compare it with Hobson's published link dimensions.
This check is particularly useful for maintenance work where existing shackles, eyes or other fittings will remain in service.
Hobson 316 Stainless Chain Size Guide
|
Chain Diameter
|
Link Length
|
Link Width
|
Hobson Roll Length
|
|
2 mm
|
26.0 mm
|
10.0 mm
|
500 m
|
|
3 mm
|
22.0 mm
|
11.0 mm
|
500 m
|
|
4 mm
|
24.0 mm
|
14.0 mm
|
300 m
|
|
5 mm
|
28.5 mm
|
17.0 mm
|
300 m
|
|
6 mm
|
30.5 mm
|
20.0 mm
|
200 m
|
|
8 mm
|
40.0 mm
|
26.0 mm
|
100 m
|
|
10 mm
|
48.0 mm
|
34.0 mm
|
50 m
|
|
12 mm
|
58.0 mm
|
40.0 mm
|
50 m
|
Use the link dimensions when checking fit with adjoining hardware. For example, the 10 mm chain has a 48 mm link length & 34 mm link width while the 12 mm chain increases to 58 mm long & 40 mm wide.
The roll figures describe Hobson's supply format. Where the chain is offered cut to length, order the metre quantity required for the installation.
Measure the Required Chain Run
Measure the path the chain will actually follow rather than only the straight-line distance between attachment points.
Account for the way each end connects & any additional length required by the installation arrangement.
For several separate runs, record each measurement before calculating the combined quantity.
This can reduce unnecessary offcuts while helping prevent shortages midway through the job.
Plan the End Connections Before Cutting
A chain length isn't much use if it can't connect to the hardware waiting at either end.
Check the fittings first & confirm that the selected links physically suit the attachment arrangement.
Where surrounding work also involves mounting components to timber, masonry or other suitable materials, Screws & Anchors provides additional fastening options.
Four Checks Before Ordering Cut Chain
A few measurements at the job can prevent the wrong chain arriving at the workshop or site.
|
Check
|
Confirm Before Ordering
|
|
Installation conditions
|
Whether 316 stainless suits the environment
|
|
Chain diameter
|
The size required for the intended application
|
|
Link dimensions
|
Whether the link fits the adjoining hardware
|
|
Finished run
|
The metre length needed after allowing for connections
|
If the work involves raising or supporting a suspended load, don't use Hobson Regular-Link Chain. Select properly rated lifting equipment for that application.
The Fastener Guide Bolts Screws Anchors provides additional guidance when the surrounding installation also involves mechanical fastening into timber, masonry or other materials.
Expert Tips for Stainless Chain Selection
Take the Fitting Measurement With You
Knowing the chain diameter doesn't confirm that the link will fit through existing hardware.
Measure the relevant opening in the adjoining fitting & compare it with the published link dimensions.
This can save a second trip when replacing chain in an existing installation.
Calculate Separate Runs Before Totalling the Order
Several installations that appear identical can require slightly different lengths once the actual attachment points are measured.
Record each run first then calculate the total metre quantity.
This gives workshops a clearer cutting schedule & can reduce avoidable waste.
Identify Cut Sections Before Installation
Several stainless chain sizes can become difficult to distinguish once they're removed from their original product identification.
Label prepared lengths where multiple diameters or installations are being handled at the same time.
Maintenance teams can also record the chain size for future replacement work.
Check the Rest of the Exposed Hardware
A 316 stainless chain is only one component in the finished installation.
Inspect the shackles, eyes, bolts, anchors or other hardware it connects to & consider whether those components suit the environment & intended application.
This is especially important in marine, coastal & consistently wet locations.
Never Judge Lifting Suitability by Link Size
A substantial-looking stainless chain isn't automatically suitable for lifting.
Hobson states that its Regular-Link 316 Stainless Chain is not rated for lifting.
Use purpose-designed & appropriately rated lifting equipment whenever a load needs to be raised or suspended.
Inspect Existing Attachment Points During Replacement
Removing old chain provides a useful opportunity to inspect the hardware that normally sits behind it.
Look for deterioration, wear, deformation or other concerns before connecting the replacement chain.
Where several tools & consumables are being prepared for upcoming maintenance work, Spring Jobsite Prep Getting Your Gear Ready provides a broader workshop & jobsite preparation guide.
