artesianspringsfarm":bzhvtw2d said:
Farm Fence Solutions":bzhvtw2d said:
The width of your box brace is where the strength is derived, assuming that the brace posts are the proper size, and properly set in the ground. At least 2 and a half times the height of the fence is a good rule to follow with HT wire, and the less angle on your brace wire, the better. The horizontal strut should be placed at 2/3 the height of the highest wire. We generally run on a single 10' or single 12' brace, but do use a double H once in a while. We use a 10'x8" for the end/corner post, and an 8'x7" for the second post with a 4-5" diameter horizontal strut. On the high side of your brace wire, simply line it up with your horizontal strut, and it will help to keep your corner or end from heaving. That's where the width comes into play to keep the angle of your brace wire a little less steep. The easiest brace wire to use is 5/32" galvanized aircraft cable with a large Gripple. I just happen to know a fella that sells a quick brace pretty cheap. Of course, some areas of the world have conditions that dictate other methods.
I appreciate everyone's comments. I think Callmefence identified my main issue right off the bat. I use a postpounder but we have a shelf of rock thats 30-36" down and that is just as deep as is reasonably possible here. What I see happen on some gates with an H brace and fence running the other way is that the bottom of the post close to the gate starts to wobble after a few years of swinging. I generally put my horizontal in at 54" and my top line is 60". You are saying thats too high? Also, I use 6-8" pine posts for main beams, 4-5" for horizontal, would going up one size really help my problem? What would you guys do if 30" is all the depth you can reasonably get? I use 8' posts since I can only get 30" in the ground anyway.
One more question. I just use 12.5 wire for my brace. I just started using a gripple instead of a strainer and love it but why should I consider using cable instead of wire, other than maybe a little faster?
You
You just can't get a worse deal than a couple of feet of heavy soil on top of bedrock. (unless you mix in some tree roots) it's just a bytch.
Rock drills bog down in dirt , rock augers wanna walk , and you can't drive em deep enough. Pipe makes it easier, but I know that's not what your dealing with.
If you can't get the equipment, like farm hinted your gonna have to get creative.
I pulled up alot of old cedar braces built like greybeards. Built all with hand tools long ago. after setting the post as deep as They could get. They had dug about a 18" wide buy 12 " deep trench the length of the brace encompassing both post and filled it with concrete.
Not a recommendation....but a example.
Whatever you do it's worth the effort . ..better than fighting a leaning brace, dragging gate and sagging fence the rest of your days. :bang: