Originally Posted by FBinNY

Since I no longer close chains (use connector links 100% of the time), I made my own easy on the hands chain tool.

I took an old pair of crappy pump pliers (Channellock copy). Drilled a hole through one jaw close to the pivot and partly through the opposite jaw. I then forced a bearing ball into the shallow hole, so it sticks out a bit.

I cut chains by suing the ball to crack both pins in the outer plate, forcing the pins sub-flush with a single squeeze. Then the rest of the link comes off the opposite side. Been using it for years. It's fast, easy, and no pins to break.