If you have a large pair of bolt cutters, such as a 24 inches (61 cm) pair, they should be big enough to cut most common chains. [2] X Research source
It may be helpful to put a mark on the link with a marker, just so you don’t lose sight of which one to cut.
Position the cutters so that you are cutting through the long side of the link. This will make it easier to position the cutters in place. Putting the link towards the back of the cutters will give you more leverage when cutting through it.
If your chain is large, you may need to cut one side of the link at a time. If you have a small chain, you can cut both sides of the chain at once.
Hacksaw Metal grinder, such as an angle grinder. Reciprocating saw Coping saw
Put a mark with a marker on the link you want to cut so that you can keep track of it as you go through the process of setting up your cut.
If the chain is attached to something, such as if it is held together with a lock, find a link to cut that can be steadied either with your hands or against what it is attached to. However, be aware that it is hard to saw through a chain by just holding it your hands while sawing.
If you are using a manual saw, take your time and adjust your position if necessary. It can take a lot of energy to cut through a large chain. Once you have cut through the link, it will be unusable. It should be easy to pull out of the remaining solid chain pieces.
If you are just cutting chain one time, use whatever small pliers you have. If you plan on cutting a lot of chain, you may want to purchase small jeweler’s pliers, which are made to cut chain. [8] X Research source
It won’t take a lot of pressure to cut through very small chain, so you don’t have to position it in the very back of the cutting area like you do with large chain. [9] X Research source
In some cases you will need to use small-nosed pliers to pull out the pieces of chain that you cut from the ends of the chain.
