Stop grinding chains use a chain break
In this episode segment of *The Fence Podcast*, Brian T. Frederiksen and his guest discuss a simple but important shop habit: using a chain break instead of grinding chain links off with a grinder. The conversation starts with the guest admitting that they had never used a chain break and had typically relied on fence pliers and a grinder to remove chain. Brian pushes back on that approach, arguing that a chain break is faster, easier, and cleaner when it works properly. They also discuss the frustration of using low-quality chain breaks, including one that didn’t function correctly and seemed to reinforce the habit of defaulting back to a grinder. Brian notes that a reliable chain break makes a big difference, and the guest mentions a dependable source for the tool through Automatic Gate and Equipment Supply. The segment ends with a practical demonstration mindset—Brian describing how he teaches others to feel the “pop” when the chain breaks free, showing that the right tool can make the job much more efficient.
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Full Transcript
(357 words)How many people out there do you think have you seen Brian still doing chain with cutting off chain with a grinder? I have never used a chain break and I know I've watched you do it and um I always grab it with my fence pliers and I I grind that sucker off and I I honestly What was that chain break we we got from We got some a chain break somewhere. Remember it wouldn't even work or something. Yeah, we did get a chain break. Uh people have to know. I mean I I can tell you where I've got my last couple automatic gate and equipment supply. They're not a sponsor. They're not um uh anything, but they they have a chain brake there. Whoever they buy it from, it's super reliable. Uh because of the pin, the way that the pin fits in there and the design of it. Uh but yeah, it wouldn't even You're absolutely right. And and I think I even brought that to your attention. I'm like, "Hey, Brian, you know, you just paid for two of these and they [ __ ] I know." So that was how you were going to introduce chain brakes to me and I'm watching you and you're just like, "Oh, no. This is definitely the way to do it. You should stop. put down your grinder and I'm just like what what do you and then well these are bad ones. Okay, but uh you know normally Yeah, you know that's that's right because that's before I think I moved out to Las Vegas and then when I was out in Las Vegas I had I had my own and I think you just recently put out a video of me doing the chain break uh in California when we taught in California and I was doing the chain break with Edge. I was like, "All right, do you feel it? Do you feel it? Do you feel it? You hear it pop? That's it. Now you're through. Now do the other side." It's just so much easier to do that.
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