Re: Fence building

Posted by Hal/ Eastern WA on May 21, 2013 at 12:29:23 from (97.115.146.31):

In Reply to: Fence building posted by Farmallmaniac on May 20, 2013 at 17:55:19:

I usually use treated railroad ties for corner assemblies and gate posts, and occasionally along a fence. But mostly I use heavy metal T posts, driven in well past the spade. I try to get my T posts in the ground just after the Spring thaw, when the ground is the softest. I usually use barb wire, either 4 strands or 5 strands, and install it so if a critter pushes against the wire, he is pushing the wire into the posts, not off of the posts.

A lot of my ground is quite rocky, and it is very hard work to have to DIG a post hole with a shovel, clamshell digger and heavy bar. Years ago we tried a 3 point post hole auger. It worked OK where we were not hitting rocks, but where there was rock, the auger just bounced around. As a kid, I dug hundreds of post holes on our ranch, and I always thought "there has to be a better way to make a fence that will hold in cows and not need to be redone in 10 years".

Railroad ties used to be very cheap, as lots of track was being taken up. Good used ties are now pretty costly, but I think they are still worth getting. We used railroad ties for all the posts in our corrals, and those posts are still good 50 years later.

We used split cedar posts that had been treated on both ends by soaking them for months in used crankcase oil, penta and who knows what else my Dad put in the soak. Lots of those posts are still in pretty good shape. The tops have got pointed and weathered, but the part down in the ground is usually still very firm and solid. It is still possible to get used crankcase oil, but I don"t think that penta or other preservatives are still available. I have not been impressed with the green treated posts that have been used the last 20 or 30 years...after about 10 years they don"t look very good. So I don"t mess with wood posts, other than railroad ties.

The metal T posts work best for my situation. They cost a bit, but if pounded in in the early Spring, they go in with the least effort on my part. And except for a few that were damaged by a guy who went off the road and hit my fence, every one of the T posts I ever set is still working fine doing its job, and I believe that they will continue to make good fence for the rest of my life.

I generally put T posts 10 feet apart, and use the wire clips that come with the posts to attach the barb wire. I like the looks of a 5 strand fence along the road, but a 4 strand fence is probably plenty to keep cows and steers home. Bulls can be much more of a challenge, but I doubt that I will ever have another adult bull.

Fences require some maintenance. The wires should be tight and if there are any holes, cows will find them. When I was a kid, I always wore the back pockets of my jeans out first, because that was where I constantly carried my pliers. Fixing fence was easier than chasing cows back home!

Good luck with your fence! I do not envy you the work.

Replies:

Add a Reply Name: E-Mail: Subject: Comments: Optional Link URL: Link Title: Optional Image URL: Optional Video Title: Optional Video URL: Advanced Posting Options Email Notification: If you check this box, email will be sent to you whenever someone replies to this message. Your email address must be entered above to receive notification. This notification will be cancelled automatically after 2 weeks.   Advanced Posting Tools   Upload Photo  Select Gallery Photo  Attach Serial # List  Return to Post

TRACTOR PARTS	TRACTOR MANUALS

We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]