Sucker rod vs continuous panel

[fnfarms1]

Growing up we always built sicker rod pipe fence. 2 7/8 post, 2 3/8 top rail, 5 sucker rods with a vertical brace center of each span. 8ft spans in corral 10ft in less crowding areas. My place now, still sane farm but my checkbook. 2 3/8 post and top rail, 2 7/8 corners. Still 5 rods etc. question being has anyone compared pricing? Finding time is my enemy lately and trying to add more pipe fencing. By my estimates I have $65/25ft span with sucker vs 85-$115/20ft span with continuous panel. Depending manufacturer, pipe quality etc. But the continuous goes up a lot faster. My dad and I built a lot of our fence 25+yrs ago with no plans to replace. Some that's 35yrs old my grandpa put in using oil field pipe(same as ours) and hog wire on a roping arena im still using as corral catch pen. So longevity I know is good

 

[Lucky]

We built about 750' of fence along the road and around the house last year. We priced pipe and sucker rod and using continuous fence with figures close to what you have. We ended up going with continuous fence panels. We used 5" octagon post without a top rail though. I got a good deal on the post so bought a bunch several years back. The panels are pricey but a huge time saver. Me and the wife could put a 20' panel up in 10 minutes. Only tool needed was a drill. I think it'll last as long as any other fence.

Edit: just looked at your location. We bought a Hydrabed and feeder at a farm auction 6-7 years ago in Miami,Ok. Nice place.

 

[SBMF 2015]

I'd say you're spot on. Finding time is my biggest challenge.
One thing to consider; sucker rod is solid. Continues isn't. I think it will still last a lifetime.

 

[SuperiorIan]

Growing up we always built sicker rod pipe fence. 2 7/8 post, 2 3/8 top rail, 5 sucker rods with a vertical brace center of each span. 8ft spans in corral 10ft in less crowding areas. My place now, still sane farm but my checkbook. 2 3/8 post and top rail, 2 7/8 corners. Still 5 rods etc. question being has anyone compared pricing? Finding time is my enemy lately and trying to add more pipe fencing. By my estimates I have $65/25ft span with sucker vs 85-$115/20ft span with continuous panel. Depending manufacturer, pipe quality etc. But the continuous goes up a lot faster. My dad and I built a lot of our fence 25+yrs ago with no plans to replace. Some that's 35yrs old my grandpa put in using oil field pipe(same as ours) and hog wire on a roping arena im still using as corral catch pen. So longevity I know is good

Would love to see if we could help on materials. Give us a call at Superior Steel Sales 417.358.5555

 

[fnfarms1]

Would love to see if we could help on materials. Give us a call at Superior Steel Sales 417.358.5555

I think I called and priced some continuous through you guys. My main issue being that I'm trying to match my current fence as close as possible, which is 5ft 5bar with top rail. Your 5 bar is designed to make 5ft as is. Special built anything is always higher. So I don't know.

I'd say you're spot on. Finding time is my biggest challenge.
One thing to consider; sucker rod is solid. Continues isn't. I think it will still last a lifetime.

Guy told me today that sucker is high tensile, which I knew but that it won't hold paint. Paints pops off, granted it's solid so lasts well but still pops off.

We built about 750' of fence along the road and around the house last year. We priced pipe and sucker rod and using continuous fence with figures close to what you have. We ended up going with continuous fence panels. We used 5" octagon post without a top rail though. I got a good deal on the post so bought a bunch several years back. The panels are pricey but a huge time saver. Me and the wife could put a 20' panel up in 10 minutes. Only tool needed was a drill. I think it'll last as long as any other fence.

Edit: just looked at your location. We bought a Hydrabed and feeder at a farm auction 6-7 years ago in Miami,Ok. Nice place.

Yeah we like it. Dry as a bone right now, no rain going on 55days. Remember who the auction was for? Born and raised here my whole life, no desires to leave I guess or to dumb to. Lol. My fence will all weld on so it's not that fast but that's the draw to the continuous for sure. Less scrap and waste with sucker since I screw together and use them

 

[Lucky]

Remember who the auction was for?

I can't remember the name but it seems like one of his sons was the auctioneer (Brian maybe?) and the other must have ran cattle. It was odd seemed like one son was trying to buy things the other was auctioning off. Could be off on that. It was a drought year and the auctioned some decent bermuda grass hay for $80-100 a roll. Really suprised me that it sold so well. The truck I bought was a junker '80 model chevy 3/4 ton. I took the bed and feeder off and sold the truck.

 

[Brute 23]

From what I have seen the well conditions the rods came from effects if they hold paint, not the high tensile. Certain things like CO2, h2s, etc will impregnate themselves in the metal and as it comes out it makes the paint come off. Good rods from a clean well will hold paint.

 

[fnfarms1]

I can't remember the name but it seems like one of his sons was the auctioneer (Brian maybe?) and the other must have ran cattle. It was odd seemed like one son was trying to buy things the other was auctioning off. Could be off on that. It was a drought year and the auctioned some decent bermuda grass hay for $80-100 a roll. Really suprised me that it sold so well. The truck I bought was a junker '80 model chevy 3/4 ton. I took the bed and feeder off and sold the truck.

Pretty sure that was Ronnie Clapp's auction. I was at that auction, watched that hay sell. At the time that was all the talk around because it was the most expensive hay we'd ever seen

 

[Lucky]

Pretty sure that was Ronnie Clapp's auction. I was at that auction, watched that hay sell. At the time that was all the talk around because it was the most expensive hay we'd ever seen

We were really dry that year too and I hadn't bought any hay yet. After seeing that hay sell so high I came home and started looking but nothing was available. Ended up calling a neighbor that grows really nice irrigated and fertilized Tifton and Jiggs. When he answered I said what are doin. He replied loading out golden nuggets how many you need? I bought 250 @ $80 a roll and after that he went to $100. We still use the Hydrabed I bought as a backup, the wife likes it better than the new bale bed.

 

[fnfarms1]

We were really dry that year too and I hadn't bought any hay yet. After seeing that hay sell so high I came home and started looking but nothing was available. Ended up calling a neighbor that grows really nice irrigated and fertilized Tifton and Jiggs. When he answered I said what are doin. He replied loading out golden nuggets how many you need? I bought 250 @ $80 a roll and after that he went to $100. We still use the Hydrabed I bought as a backup, the wife likes it better than the new bale bed.

Thought about it after the post. You are correct. Brian is the auctioneer son, Mike is the other son. lol. Ronnie that was the owner to that truck was my wife's godfather.

 

[SBMF 2015]

Growing up we always built sicker rod pipe fence. 2 7/8 post, 2 3/8 top rail, 5 sucker rods with a vertical brace center of each span. 8ft spans in corral 10ft in less crowding areas. My place now, still sane farm but my checkbook. 2 3/8 post and top rail, 2 7/8 corners. Still 5 rods etc. question being has anyone compared pricing? Finding time is my enemy lately and trying to add more pipe fencing. By my estimates I have $65/25ft span with sucker vs 85-$115/20ft span with continuous panel. Depending manufacturer, pipe quality etc. But the continuous goes up a lot faster. My dad and I built a lot of our fence 25+yrs ago with no plans to replace. Some that's 35yrs old my grandpa put in using oil field pipe(same as ours) and hog wire on a roping arena im still using as corral catch pen. So longevity I know is good

So, I've been thinking . Could you build a jig on a trailer or saw horses and build continuous fence panels out of sucker rods? Then when you have time and help, you can put fence up in sections.

 

[bird dog]

There are different grades of sucker rod. A lot of it is heat treated to raise the tensile strength. Most of it does not weld very easy. A weld that looks good on mild steel will not have the penetration on the high tensile and the weld will crack and break. Its more trouble than its worth to me.

 

[fnfarms1]

So, I've been thinking . Could you build a jig on a trailer or saw horses and build continuous fence panels out of sucker rods? Then when you have time and help, you can put fence up in sections.

I've considered jigs to make it go faster by myself. But haven't so far. I don't know.

 

[Lucky]

There are different grades of sucker rod. A lot of it is heat treated to raise the tensile strength. Most of it does not weld very easy. A weld that looks good on mild steel will not have the penetration on the high tensile and the weld will crack and break. Its more trouble than its worth to me.

I've started using the clips to weld sucker rod on.

 

[fnfarms1]

I've started using the clips to weld sucker rod on.

I've been using the clips last couple of years. It's not high pressure areas, those I blow holes and run through posts. But yeah the clips save time and cutting gas. Cost 50cents each but save that in gas plus time.