fence tips and tricks

[True Grit Farms]

From the outside looking in I don't know how you can get the fence to look straight using a knot to tie. I always used a knot as a measuring tool so the fence knots would be plum. That was a main selling point to me for the use of Gripples.

 

[ez14.]

Can you wrap 12.5 ga high tensile smooth wire that tight? When ever I've tried putting that tight of a turn on it it breaks (I haven't tried it with the tornado wire yet)

yes it can be wrapped that tight . the first couple twist are loose and then as wire heats up the wraps get tighter . you make a handle out of the loose end. It take a little practice but it is slick when you master it.

does this only apply to using the tool? Or can you do it by hand? (I know the knots wouldn't be quite as tight by hand but i've still broke wire by hand)

 

[M-5]

all my end terminations are done by hand you just leave an extra 18" or so, then do your half hitch then you twist a 90deg bend last 6" of wire this makes a handle you go round and round the line wire 5 or 6 wraps then back twist and the handle breaks off at the wrap

 

[callmefence]

Can you wrap 12.5 ga high tensile smooth wire that tight? When ever I've tried putting that tight of a turn on it it breaks (I haven't tried it with the tornado wire yet)

yes it can be wrapped that tight . the first couple twist are loose and then as wire heats up the wraps get tighter . you make a handle out of the loose end. It take a little practice but it is slick when you master it.

does this only apply to using the tool? Or can you do it by hand? (I know the knots wouldn't be quite as tight by hand but i've still broke wire by hand)

If you'll notice most all the demos are with a single strand wire. Or a 12" stay net. It gets considerably more difficult when you get into the tighter nets.

 

[M-5]

yes it can be wrapped that tight . the first couple twist are loose and then as wire heats up the wraps get tighter . you make a handle out of the loose end. It take a little practice but it is slick when you master it.

does this only apply to using the tool? Or can you do it by hand? (I know the knots wouldn't be quite as tight by hand but i've still broke wire by hand)

If you'll notice most all the demos are with a single strand wire. Or a 12" stay net. It gets considerably more difficult when you get into the tighter nets.

on net i have a tool for that.

 

[Farm Fence Solutions]

Can you wrap 12.5 ga high tensile smooth wire that tight? When ever I've tried putting that tight of a turn on it it breaks (I haven't tried it with the tornado wire yet)

180ksi is perfect for hand knotting. All Tornado wire is in the sweet spot.

 

[callmefence]

does this only apply to using the tool? Or can you do it by hand? (I know the knots wouldn't be quite as tight by hand but i've still broke wire by hand)

If you'll notice most all the demos are with a single strand wire. Or a 12" stay net. It gets considerably more difficult when you get into the tighter nets.

on net i have a tool for that.

Me too

 

[Farm Fence Solutions]

https://youtu.be/-aaKUYhHmuw

Hand knotting net wire...... It ain't hard.

 

[callmefence]

https://youtu.be/-aaKUYhHmuw

Hand knotting net wire...... It ain't hard.

2x4 be a little harder.

 

[callmefence]

If you'll notice most all the demos are with a single strand wire. Or a 12" stay net. It gets considerably more difficult when you get into the tighter nets.

on net i have a tool for that.

Me too

Ok top secret stuff here.







My old favorite
And my new favorite.

 

[greybeard]

all my end terminations are done by hand you just leave an extra 18" or so, then do your half hitch then you twist a 90deg bend last 6" of wire this makes a handle you go round and round the line wire 5 or 6 wraps then back twist and the handle breaks off at the wrap

Yep, like a little ice cream churn crank handle.

 

[M-5]

on net i have a tool for that.

Me too

Ok top secret stuff here.







My old favorite
And my new favorite.

I use a deepwell 9/32 1/4" drive socket most of the time

 

[Lucky]

How are y'all joining or splicing regular barbwire?

 

[Farm Fence Solutions]

How are y'all joining or splicing regular barbwire?

.....or a barb Gripple if you are into profit and time savings.

 

[callmefence]

How are y'all joining or splicing regular barbwire?

We still use the western union. You have to spread it out about a foot on hightensil as you can't make the wraps as tight without it breaking. It holds plenty strong. If the wire breaks before the knot, you can't ask for much more.

 

[callmefence]

Me too

Ok top secret stuff here.







My old favorite
And my new favorite.

I use a deepwell 9/32 1/4" drive socket most of the time

Use a metric socket. I keep hearing European is better..

 

[Lucky]

How are y'all joining or splicing regular barbwire?

We still use the western union. You have to spread it out about a foot on hightensil as you can't make the wraps as tight without it breaking. It holds plenty strong. If the wire breaks before the knot, you can't ask for much more.

Fence I've been unraveling the wire about 12-14" back then taking the barbs off. This gives me a V on each piece of wire. I put the Vs together and hold with pliers then wrap one wire clockwise and one counterclockwise then do other side the same way. This has always worked and never had one break. I saw someone do this once so I've done it ever since. Are you just doing a regular western union splice? I'm all for a better way.

 

[callmefence]

How are y'all joining or splicing regular barbwire?

We still use the western union. You have to spread it out about a foot on hightensil as you can't make the wraps as tight without it breaking. It holds plenty strong. If the wire breaks before the knot, you can't ask for much more.

Fence I've been unraveling the wire about 12-14" back then taking the barbs off. This gives me a V on each piece of wire. I put the Vs together and hold with pliers then wrap one wire clockwise and one counterclockwise then do other side the same way. This has always worked and never had one break. I saw someone do this once so I've done it ever since. Are you just doing a regular western union splice? I'm all for a better way.

We use that method well my son does. It makes a very slick looking knot. We use it when we want a good slick looking knot. We use the regular Western Union mostly though.
There some pics in the knot thread.

Edit to add... last nrcs specs I saw actually required a Western Union splice.

 

[Lucky]

NRCS has some good specs. Some I don't agree with but what are you gonna do. I'm going to try the western union on my next run

 

[ddd75]

NRCS has some good specs. Some I don't agree with but what are you gonna do. I'm going to try the western union on my next run

nrcs when i looked into it were 2 HT wires with 40' stays.