Building Fence

[BC Acres]

I'm getting ready fence in a new spot for pasture. In the past I have always used metal pipe for bracing in corners and such. I run it straight across from post to post. I have seen some people set their braces at an angle with one side of the pipe near the top of one post and the other near the bottom of the other post. Do any of you do this? If so, what do you see is the benefit of setting braces at an angle? To me it doesn't seem like that would be as strong, but that wouldn't be the first time I was wrong about something.

 

[branguscowgirl]

We H brace here with peeler cores, then diagonal a tension wire as you describe. All the braces I see as you describe do not seem to hold up in our ground with out loosening. (irritated)
They do sell a brace that attaches to T posts that run diagonal on each side of the post, from near the top to the ground. I don't know how well they work, but see them on a lot of lines by the road. I know they are expensive. They have them at Tractor Supply.

 

[Rafter S]

I believe either way is okay, but if it's angled from the top of the first post to the bottom of the second one it needs to be securely attached to each post so it can't slip up or down.

The biggest mistake I see with fence bracing is when people X-brace with wire at the end of the fence. The wire going from the top of the first post to the bottom of the second one is pulling in the same direction as the fence wires, and contributes to loosening the fence instead of helping to keep it tight.

 

[grubbie]

If you are using pipe for the whole brace (cross brace and posts) and welding it together, I go diagonal. Only reason is that I save pipe that way. The corner post is full length, the brace post sticks out of the ground just high enough to attach the diagonal piece, saves me around 4 feet of pipe on each brace. I pre-fab the brace in the shop, take it to the field and install in concrete. I've never had to rebuild one of those. If I wasn't so cheap, and pipe wasn't so hard to get here, I'd do H brace, much easier to fabricate than diagonal.

 

[gonzo]

I diagonal brace from the top of a corner post to the bottom of the first post . When you stretch your wire the top of your corner is pushing close to the ground . :cowboy:

 

[chorewife]

We put the brace pipe at a slight angle. The top side being the corner or gate post and then run #9 wire the opposite direction and twist tight. There maybe a 1' to 1' 1/2" at most from the top side of brace pipe to the bottom side. works well.