I love this idea! I am working on next year already. (Wow that comes as a surprise because we all wait till October 1st right?) I took a 10 foot length of underground 1.5 conduit I had left over from a grabber I made and at first started on the miter/chop saw. It was too strong and shattered the 1/4 links. So I slowed down did not cut through and finished with a hacksaw. That ended quick I then got the smart idea to set my fence on the table saw to 1/4 and stood off to the side and cut like 10 ft in about 5 minutes.... of course I had to chase them around the shop later but that is why we have kids...

Anyway the links are so strong at that size I have to stick needlenose in the ring to pull it apart to stick the next link in and in one night I cranked out 8 ft of chain. At a $1.29 a length of conduit even the wife can't complain! I am using it to wrap around a culdron and then suspend 3 8 ft lengths off of that and hang it from a tree. Let me tell you one 8 ft length attached to the chain around the neck of the kettle is strong enough to hold so when I balance out the weight it will work great.
I like the bias idea someone had on here but the I think the round rings really look like "old" chain and even the cut in the link with a pair of diagonal cutters makes a nice touch.
Does anyone know if liquid nails works on PVC? I would like to make the shackle for around the branch with the ring to hold the chain, and I was thinking I could gob on the Liquid Nails and take a popsicle stick and indent the glue to look like a weld spot? Any ideas?
Thanks again for the awesome chain idea!!