Wooden Chain Stress Test

A couple months ago, I made this wooden chain out of a single piece of wood – and ever since, I’ve been wondering just how much weight it can bear. Well, there’s only one way to find out.

I’ll use these quick grip clamps to apply the load. Fortunately they just barely fit into the chain. The clamps presents a relatively wide surface area, so they shouldn’t induce a weak spot during the test. I’m hoping the break happens on a middle link and not one of the end pieces.

I got this set up real quick accross my workbench. Now there’s not much to do but apply some clamping pressure.

So that hit 30 lb, or just under 14 kg.

Not bad for some 2×4.

The break happened on a middle link just as I wanted, and it split right along the diagonal. Pretty cool!