China Chain Quality

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Catter.

[Snore]

Originally Posted by Twisticles

Did not take me long on these boards to get fed up with this kind of Sinophobia. You could just as easily say "don't buy American because they're all fat and they sue you all the time".

It's like this: a Chinese product can be as well made, environmentally friendly and ISO compliant as any USA made product.

Worldwide, there is a desire for product that are made as cheaply as possible - simply because consumers don't want to pay. Thus companies produce crap to meet that demand, and that gives China a bad name.

What is boils down to is the specification and the quality assurance process. If a product meets the right spec, it doesn't matter where it is made.

I hate to tell you this, but some things made in America are crap too.

Not a phobia when parts fail or castings are not true. Sorry for sharing REAL world experience.

CALL ME ANY type of MF you want, but never a bigot!!!!

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Twisticles

Did not take me long on these boards to get fed up with this kind of Sinophobia. You could just as easily say "don't buy American because they're all fat and they sue you all the time".

I will not deny that there may be "Sinophobia" on this forum and most certainly exists widely in the west. However, it is no more valid to label any complaint against Chinese made goods as Sinophobia as it is to claim all Chinese goods are crap.

Originally Posted by Twisticles

It's like this: a Chinese product can be as well made, environmentally friendly and ISO compliant as any USA made product.

That is true without a doubt although I think it may be common to have well made products in China that are not environmentally compliant. ISO? In general I think ISO is a joke. In my opinion ISO is nothing more than documenting what you do and showing a consistent procedure for production and compliance with customer requirements. That could easily mean documenting the fact that you produce crap, but you produce crap consistently and reliably.

Originally Posted by Twisticles

Worldwide, there is a desire for product that are made as cheaply as possible - simply because consumers don't want to pay. Thus companies produce crap to meet that demand, and that gives China a bad name.

That is correct as far as it goes but you also have to consider that many more Chinese companies focus on making cheap goods than do western companies. Also, based on my personal experience in importing millions of dollars in chemicals from China for 20 years, you have a much higher incidence of product shipping out of spec, inconsistent quality from producers and no hesitation to cut corners and reduce quality when circumstances allow. This doesn't even address the higher risk of fraud and counterfeiting goods from China. Yes, yes. I know it happens everywhere but the risk in China is greater and the odds of getting relief or catching the perpetrators is much, much lower.

Originally Posted by Twisticles

I hate to tell you this, but some things made in America are crap too.

I doubt anyone on this forum would argue that or even suggest otherwise. You can buy crap from just about anywhere.

[donradcliffe]

Having watched chinese chain fail at less than its WORKING load, I wouldn't have chinese chain or shackles on my boat.

[zeehag]

i didnt care at all about where my chain was made until a force 50 in sd bay broke loose one easter night in 1999 directly because of chain fail---the one link that failed caused 4 other boats to be hit by the force 50 at 0200 in a pnw storm packing winds in excess of 65 kts, per pegged anemometer on that force 50.

sinophobe--oh, yeah--is all good for china to send melamine comtaminated food for our critters, but do not be a sinophobe...lol....might be a long time before anyone familiar with the china chain incident comes around to thinking china chain might be usable on boats for anchoring---i , personally, would keep my use of china chain to decorative purposes.

[Group9]

Originally Posted by donradcliffe

Having watched chinese chain fail at less than its WORKING load, I wouldn't have chinese chain or shackles on my boat.

Yep.

There are a lot of things that are made in China, that I know are cheaper because they are not made as well as full price items from other manufacturers, that I will buy (I love Harbor Freight).

My anchor chain, and related gear, is not one of those things, though. It's hard enough to sleep at night in a big blow knowing all my gear is good.

[Geoduck]

Yeah, it's hard to figure Chinese goods. Most of it I wouldn't waste my time with.
I play guitar and I've had(have) a bunch of them. Cheap ones and expensive ones.
I have a $3600 Taylor and I have a $100 Yamaha red label made in Japan in 1968
The Taylor looks a hell of a lot better than the old beat up Yamaha but its a toss up on who sounds/plays better.
I just bought my first made in china guitar, a Voyage Aire with a folding neck!
Unbelievable sound and plays better than anything I've ever played and cost 1/4th what I paid for the Taylor or the Martin I have. Chinese are amazing people. They can duplicate anything but you take your chances on quality control. Luckily, my chain is in good shape and should last the as long as I will. If I had to replace it, who knows ?

[Cheechako]

I agree with concern regarding the steel... it could be great or could be garbage. Quite possible the galvanizing is better than US stuff as they dont have the environental issues. No personal experience. Get certs with the chain. Chinese shackles have been garbage that I have had. You get exactly what you ask for wth Chnese goods.... if you neglect to ask for certain things you get junk. so it's really up to the importer.... if he goes to the low bidder with out specifications.. it'll be garbage.

Yeah, I've had some Chinese made guitars, decent sound and great workmanship for the price, but if you start looking closely, often the wood used is crap with a nice finish on it.
The old Yamaha and Ibanez etc made in japan are amazing... and shouldnt be compared with chinese or korean guitars!

[Jon Neely]

I guess before I leave leave I could load test my chain myself, what better way of instilling confidence than to do the test yourself .

[Cheechako]

It's probably a false economy.... chain being something you want good. It's very heavy and hard to handle, If they can ship it clear over here from China and still be half price.... you get what you pay for....

[Quintessa]

I have purchased thousands of tonnes of steel from china and providing it comes from a reputable supplier it is fine and in many cases superior to quality supplied in Australia and other so called leading countries. the worst steel i have ever seen came from USA and it was disgusting. The same applies for chain bolts etc. often time you may find your so called local product comes from china but the quality is carefully managed. Really should test the whole chain yourself wherever it is made. Really no that hard to do. Put one end around solid post or big tree and set up right size turfer and pull it up as hard as it can go and then belt it a few times with bit solid bar as that is quite shock loaded.

[Kestrahl]

We have been cruising full time for just over one year. Brought Chinese made chain from the local Bridon (Bridon | The world leading specialist in the manufacture of wire and rope solutions) before leaving NZ. The galv is still fine after anchoring upwards of 300 nights in the tropics sometimes grinding on coral.

[goboatingnow]

I think ISO is a joke. In my opinion ISO is nothing more than documenting what you do and showing a consistent procedure for production and compliance with customer requirements. That could easily mean documenting the fact that you produce crap, but you produce crap consistently and reliably.

You know little about ISO and are confusing ISO 9000 for ISO specifications in general.

a bit like saying ANSI is a joke

dave

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by goboatingnow

You know little about ISO and are confusing ISO 9000 for ISO specifications in general.

a bit like saying ANSI is a joke

dave

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I am indeed referring to ISO9000 and I am very familiar with that. It is assumed as a guarantee of quality, at least in my industry by those that do not understand ISO9000 and ISO standards.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by skipmac

Sorry, I should have been more clear. I am indeed referring to ISO9000 and I am very familiar with that. It is assumed as a guarantee of quality, at least in my industry by those that do not understand ISO9000 and ISO standards.

as a once holder of ISO9000 it was never a indication of quality nor was it designed as such , it was an indication that you had a documented quality system, i.e. if you decided to make cheap crap, then thats fine as long as you documented it.

Hence your right ISO 9000 is/was a joke

dave