Creative uses for old chain
#1
Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: OC, CA
Posts: 1
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
Creative uses for old chain
Just replaced my chain today and was wondering what to do with the old chain. Any suggestions for a creative use of the old chain or should I just let the dumpster divers have it?
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Detroit, MI
Posts: 551
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 2 Times
in
2 Posts
You can do lots of stuff with old chains.
Art
bracelets
jewelry
chain whips
hangers
bottle openers
Just depends on your creativity and skill set.
Art
bracelets
jewelry
chain whips
hangers
bottle openers
Just depends on your creativity and skill set.
#3
Insane Bicycle Mechanic
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: other Vancouver
Posts: 9,835
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 802 Post(s)
Liked 703 Times
in
376 Posts
Where old chain is turned into new art:
__________________
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
Jeff Wills
Comcast nuked my web page. It will return soon..
#4
rebmeM roineS
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Metro Indy, IN
Posts: 16,216
Bikes: Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Mentioned: 15 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 653 Post(s)
Liked 347 Times
in
226 Posts
You can use a couple of links to make a bicycling trinket to carry around in your pocket - bike worry beads, you could say.
__________________
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
Bacchetta Giro A20, RANS V-Rex, RANS Screamer
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Northern Nevada
Posts: 3,811
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
There's a woman here (in Reno) who makes jewelry and knickknacks from old bike stuff to sell at flea markets. I haven't seen her for awhile, but she charges $14, I think it was, for a slip-on bracelet made from an old chain. Pins in shell shapes, from coiled chain, were $10 or $12. I imagine the market is fairly limited, since anybody serious enough to want one probably has a chainbreaker and will think, "Hey, I could do that in about nine seconds." She also made a couple of alleged stools from old frames, pretty much just pulled off the forks and put on take-off bin saddles, but they were really ugly and fell over.
#6
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
I have used them to secure saddles, put them inside an old inner tube, run them around a seat stay and up over the saddle rails, then pinned them back together. Other than that mine go into the steel recycling bin.
Aaron
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Los Angeles
Posts: 161
Bikes: 1998 Land Shark 853, Ibis Bow-Ti
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
We used to make them into bracelets in college, but they're really pretty uncomfortable to wear. Especially if you spend much time typing on a computer. Steel is a little heavy for earrings unless you're trying to mutilate your lobes.
I second the vote for recycling.
I second the vote for recycling.
#12
No, not really.
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Kirkland, WA
Posts: 231
Bikes: 2010 Cannondale Synapse Carbon 5, ~2006 Specialized Sequoia, 1999 Specialized Rockhopper
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#13
Membership Not Required
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: On the road-USA
Posts: 16,855
Bikes: Giant Excursion, Raleigh Sports, Raleigh R.S.W. Compact, Motobecane? and about 20 more! OMG
Mentioned: 5 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 70 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 15 Times
in
14 Posts
We used to make them into bracelets in college, but they're really pretty uncomfortable to wear. Especially if you spend much time typing on a computer. Steel is a little heavy for earrings unless you're trying to mutilate your lobes.
I second the vote for recycling.
I second the vote for recycling.
I recycle whole bikes when they reach the end of their lifespan. Recently I have been getting ~$12-15 for a big box store aluminum frame at the scrappers. Steel not nearly as much. But it gets the stuff out of the landfills and hopefully back into the useful materials stream.
Aaron
__________________
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
Webshots is bailing out, if you find any of my posts with corrupt picture files and want to see them corrected please let me know. :(
ISO: A late 1980's Giant Iguana MTB frameset (or complete bike) 23" Red with yellow graphics.
"Cycling should be a way of life, not a hobby.
RIDE, YOU FOOL, RIDE!"_Nicodemus
"Steel: nearly a thousand years of metallurgical development
Aluminum: barely a hundred
Which one would you rather have under your butt at 30mph?"_krazygluon
#15
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Syracuse, NY
Posts: 809
Bikes: 2010 Felt F5, 2010 Dawes SST-AL
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 0 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
#17
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Eugene, Oregon, USA
Posts: 27,547
Mentioned: 217 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 18372 Post(s)
Liked 4,507 Times
in
3,350 Posts
Since everyone likes old threads
I just blew out another chain. I think it was only about 4 months of use I should pay more attention to mid-winter riding
So, any new suggestions for chain art? What's your favorite project?
I did also find this thread, and a few unique items on the
I don't have quite enough chain saved up to do some of these larger sculptures (unless I find a shop to donate discards). Nor quite enough creativity for some... but I can do a bit. I just need some inspiration.
So, what's your favorite chain art projects?
I just blew out another chain. I think it was only about 4 months of use I should pay more attention to mid-winter riding
So, any new suggestions for chain art? What's your favorite project?
I did also find this thread, and a few unique items on the
I don't have quite enough chain saved up to do some of these larger sculptures (unless I find a shop to donate discards). Nor quite enough creativity for some... but I can do a bit. I just need some inspiration.
So, what's your favorite chain art projects?
#20
Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Richmond VA area
Posts: 2,618
Bikes: '00 Koga Miyata Full Pro Oval Road bike.
Mentioned: 17 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 475 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 8 Times
in
7 Posts
Since everyone likes old threads
I just blew out another chain. I think it was only about 4 months of use I should pay more attention to mid-winter riding
So, any new suggestions for chain art? What's your favorite project?
I did also find this thread, and a few unique items on the
I don't have quite enough chain saved up to do some of these larger sculptures (unless I find a shop to donate discards). Nor quite enough creativity for some... but I can do a bit. I just need some inspiration.
So, what's your favorite chain art projects?
I just blew out another chain. I think it was only about 4 months of use I should pay more attention to mid-winter riding
So, any new suggestions for chain art? What's your favorite project?
I did also find this thread, and a few unique items on the
I don't have quite enough chain saved up to do some of these larger sculptures (unless I find a shop to donate discards). Nor quite enough creativity for some... but I can do a bit. I just need some inspiration.
So, what's your favorite chain art projects?
#21
Super Moderator
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: Ffld Cnty Connecticut
Posts: 21,843
Bikes: Old Steelies I made, Old Cannondales
Mentioned: 12 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 1173 Post(s)
Liked 927 Times
in
612 Posts
I have one of these belt buckles. Requires a welder of some sort.
This version has a recycled tire too.
This version has a recycled tire too.
__________________
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
Bikes: Old steel race bikes, old Cannondale race bikes, less old Cannondale race bike, crappy old mtn bike.
FYI: https://www.bikeforums.net/forum-sugg...ad-please.html
#22
Advocatus Diaboli
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: Wherever I am
Posts: 8,635
Bikes: Merlin Cyrene, Nashbar steel CX
Mentioned: 14 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 4733 Post(s)
Liked 1,531 Times
in
1,002 Posts
Maybe use titanium chain for the earrings?
I recycle whole bikes when they reach the end of their lifespan. Recently I have been getting ~$12-15 for a big box store aluminum frame at the scrappers. Steel not nearly as much. But it gets the stuff out of the landfills and hopefully back into the useful materials stream.
Aaron
I recycle whole bikes when they reach the end of their lifespan. Recently I have been getting ~$12-15 for a big box store aluminum frame at the scrappers. Steel not nearly as much. But it gets the stuff out of the landfills and hopefully back into the useful materials stream.
Aaron
#23
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: New Rochelle, NY
Posts: 38,696
Bikes: too many bikes from 1967 10s (5x2)Frejus to a Sumitomo Ti/Chorus aluminum 10s (10x2), plus one non-susp mtn bike I use as my commuter
Mentioned: 140 Post(s)
Tagged: 1 Thread(s)
Quoted: 5774 Post(s)
Liked 2,572 Times
in
1,424 Posts
If the chain is nice looking, you can accumulate a bunch, add some specialized hardware and build a shelf system that hangs from the ceiling. For the shelves themselves you can use wood or glass depending on the look you want to go for.
__________________
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
FB
Chain-L site
An ounce of diagnosis is worth a pound of cure.
Just because I'm tired of arguing, doesn't mean you're right.
“One accurate measurement is worth a thousand expert opinions” - Adm Grace Murray Hopper - USN
WARNING, I'm from New York. Thin skinned people should maintain safe distance.
#24
On Your Left
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Long Island, New York, USA
Posts: 8,373
Bikes: Trek Emonda SLR, Sram eTap, Zipp 303
Mentioned: 34 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 3004 Post(s)
Liked 2,433 Times
in
1,187 Posts
Drop it down the seatpost to make the UCI weight minimum
#25
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: wisconsin
Posts: 71
Bikes: cinelli,falcon super route. masi
Mentioned: 0 Post(s)
Tagged: 0 Thread(s)
Quoted: 2 Post(s)
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times
in
0 Posts
I used a piece of old chain to make a chain whip to take off cassettes. Was simple to do and cheaper than buying one.