tightening up some barb wire fence

[lawnviewfarm]

Hi all,

We recently acquired more acres (75) that is all fenced with barb wire. Corner posts and bracing all look good. Line posts are all 5' 3-4" wood posts spaced approximately 10-12', no stays. Wire is mostly 5-strand, a few runs are 6-strand of barb wire. For the most part, the fences are in good shape, but there are a few runs where some of the strands are a little too loose for my liking. What would be your favorite method to take up the slack? Home place is all high-tensile electric with those ratchet strainers, so not much experience here maintaining barb wire fences (yet).

Thank!!

--Marc

 

[Angus Cowman]

take all the clips off and re stretch the wire
I have seen some guys take those daisy deals and tighten it up but have never used them I think you would still have to remove the clips

 

[dun]

You may or may not need to pull the clips, but if it's only a little lose try these:
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_search_resu ... ?gas=jakes

 

[LRTX1]

Like said, removing all the clips and re-stretching would be the way to do it right. If you plan on having to fix or put up a lot of barbed wire i'd spend a little on some tools made for it. Just bought a three hook stretcher.....man do I like it. Have never used the crimped splices, been thinking about it. Always just loop and twist a short piece to mend anything,


http://www.gemplers.com/product/126023/Three-hook-Wire-Stretcher

http://www.gemplers.com/product/G598/Heavy-duty-Splice-Crimper-Wire-Cutter

 

[DavisBeefmasters]

My post disappeared, apologize if this is a double up...

Depending on the age of the wire you may not want to stretch it at all... if really old you could be making a bigger mess of things. Instead you may just want to ensure that the wire stays equally spaced to one another at the mid-spans.

IMHO on the clamp thing is absolutely NOT, 2 reasons:
1. If you have old wire (and we have some on the ranch older than dirt), it creates the next spot where the wire breaks
2. On new wire, it creates the spot where rust will begin and creates a spot that the cows like to tinker with by rubbing on it

 

[robertwhite]

If you are planning on using the ratcheting stretcher, you can either stretch, cut and crimp, or you can stretch and then do a twist loop splice with new wire rather than cutting. Either will work. One thing that I highly recommend if you do cut/splice is to take the protruding ends that come out of the splice and bend them at a 90 deg. to the crimp. That way they can not slip.

 

[dun]

This is the handiest and easiest to use clip tool I've found:
http://theclipkey.com/

 

[lawnviewfarm]

Thanks for the replies thus far!! There are no clips and T-posts in this case as all the line posts are wood, which means the barb wires are all stapled to the posts; not looking like a fun job pulling all them staples.

But then again, this fence is fairly new according to the seller - probably less than 5 yrs old. I am kinda surprised there doesn't seem to be any significantly rusted areas yet given the I'm up here in the Pacific NorthWeT. ;-) Don't want to cause any premature rust either.

--Marc

 

[dun]

Thanks for the replies thus far!! There are no clips and T-posts in this case as all the line posts are wood, which means the barb wires are all stapled to the posts; not looking like a fun job pulling all them staples.

But then again, this fence is fairly new according to the seller - probably less than 5 yrs old. I am kinda surprised there doesn't seem to be any significantly rusted areas yet given the I'm up here in the Pacific NorthWeT. ;-) Don't want to cause any premature rust either.

--Marc

With any luck the staples were put in properly and the fence isn;t pinched tight to the post. That way there is a little slippage but also the fence won;t be dinged so it won;t rust at the staples.

 

[cowboy43]

Do as most do around here, wait till something gets out , then fix where they got out.

 

[I luv herfrds]

Just pull the staples out far enough for the barbs to slide through. Get a fence stretcher and tighten it up at a corner post. Re loop the wire around that post. Put the staples back in.
Check the wire looking for thin places. If you find them my best suggestion is replace that area. If it is not thin then no problems.

Do not use a fencing tool to twist the wire to tighten it. FIL used to do that. It rusts out quickly and breaks quicker. Don't ask me how many of those places we fixed over the years. :roll:

 

[lawnviewfarm]

Well, that's what I was hoping I could do - pull the staples out far enough. But I didn't think I could get the barbs to slide through the partially extracted staples easily, if at all. I'll have to go 'play' with a section and try.

Dun, unfortunately, I did see a lot of wire snugged up tight against the fence posts when I walked the border fence. They'll be 'a lot of fun' to pull loose so I can take up the slack. :devil2:

Oh well, at least we were able to expand some.

--Marc

 

[jsramer]

If it were me i would just run one single strand of high tensil on inside of existing barb wire and be done with it. The old barb wire would serve as a good blind, but the one strand high tensil would keep them from getting ideas.

--Jeff

 

[dun]

Well, that's what I was hoping I could do - pull the staples out far enough. But I didn't think I could get the barbs to slide through the partially extracted staples easily, if at all. I'll have to go 'play' with a section and try.

Dun, unfortunately, I did see a lot of wire snugged up tight against the fence posts when I walked the border fence. They'll be 'a lot of fun' to pull loose so I can take up the slack. :devil2:

Oh well, at least we were able to expand some.

--Marc

For pulling staples, even those that are pounded in tight, this handy dandy tool is worth it''s weight in silver:
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html ... as=fencing tool

 

[jillaroo]

The best wire stretcher I've found is one called the Hayes Smooth Grip Chain Strainer. While it can be tricky to use if you haven't been shown the technique, it's a lot safer than the other ratchet/bar type stretchers. I think a Kiwi invented it so you know it's a gooder.

 

[jillaroo]

Oh and Dun is right in the money about fencing pliers.

 

[lawnviewfarm]

Thanks for all the replies. I appreciate the input.

--Marc

 

[Brute 23]

I wouldn't touch it unless the cattle are getting out.

IF you must fix it get a come along, clamp for the wire, and strap or chain. Undo the wire ties on the t-posts and loosen the steeples on the posts. Pull and re-wrap on the corners.

 

[dimestorecowboy]

I bought a tool called the Texas fence fixer . I found the add in the cattle man's magazine . Maybe you can Google it . Works really well on sagging wire.

 

[Caustic Burno]

You may or may not need to pull the clips, but if it's only a little lose try these:
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_search_resu ... ?gas=jakes

Jakes are handier than pockets on a shirt, they are a mainstay in my fence box.