I'm attempting to make a heavy duty reusable slider chain for use on a particular K9 set where i want to preserve the location but can't use a drag. I have #7 chain from MTP and a lock made of 1" black pipe cut at a 45° on one end with a hole drilled in for trap attachment and cut straight on the other end. I've tried various lengths of this lock design and can't seem to get good lock up. Next step is to see if 3/4" pipe might lock up better. Has anyone tried a setup like this? Any advice on a better lock design?

I have use 1/8 cable with a standard sliding lock with good success. Depending on the numbers of catches it is cheap to remake if needed. I had one this year with 5 catches and only the last foot is kinked up. I my just cut it off and recrimp the end or just remake it entirely. It seems to me if you would go up to 1.25" diameter pipe and go a bit shorter but with matching 45s on each end so your cuts are parallel. I think you want it so that you lock can rotate around the chain and the 45 will catch on the links of the chain. Something like this might work:

FNT Post Chain Drowner Locks

Schmattz

Why not use a cable? Cable may be better depending on what you’re looking to do. I’ve slid hundreds of coyotes out of the way with 1/8” cable with a drowner or just a swivel.

Problem is you dont have a "lever" to lock up the chain. The more surface area you have on the contact area, the lever needs to be longer to put enough bite on the chain. Take a look at the commecial chain drowner lock.

Yeah, I can’t see that one locking up. Does it?

If it doesn’t lock up, cut this part out and it should.

Not very well. I tried shorter versions also that kinda-sorta locked up but not well enough. I'll try adding a longer lever onto the shorter versions today.

Shorten your lock a little and cut a V notch like shown below. It will lock up. The one in the picture is smaller pipe that I use on 1/2" rebar for beaver but the same design will work on chain.

USMC47 - I'll try that today. Thanks

Oohhh, I like Harold’s, too.

Ended up going with USMC47's suggestion. Locks up wonderfully. Thanks for the help!

By golly John if you hadn’t become a jar head you could have been an engineer , lol .
Uncleduck you never did say why you didn’t want to use cable .

Chain is easier to manage and lasts forever, but its heavier.

Cable is lighter and cheaper, but its a pain in the butt to manage and needs replaced often.

1. It'll last forever
2. Wanted it to be durable enough for any incidental lion
3. Very easy to adjust the length
4. Can add a big quick link to the chain anywhere along the length of the slider to act as a stopper if I don't want the lock to be able to reach the end
And most importantly, I already had all of the materials sitting around

Good post. I use adjustable 7x19 cable when I need submersion cables, but you have me thinking about chain. It’s very important to be able to stop a catch from reaching the end. With chain, you can easily make stop adjustments anywhere you need by adding pretty much anything to the chain. Very interesting.

Another great thing about the chain drowners is you can use them to long chain when you need/want to. Obviously you can do the same with cable but any tangling and there goes your drowner. Of course, if the stupid thing wraps up on a tree under water you dont see, its a lot easier to cut cable than chain. Not that Ive had to do that a time or two...

Good thoughts and information in this thread