Jason had custom-made narrow post pounders, but that is probably not necessary. Thanks Greg. - Train your livestock to electric fences:Training animals to electric fence is a very easy thing to do and in most cases takes less than a day in a smaller enclosure before turning them out into the paddocks system. The holes dug easily to Ozark standards ! Otherwise it may break at the most opportune time, when you don't have time to repair it.Same thing on dented wire, For example, you get sloppy installing a crimp sleeve and your crimp tool puts a dent or craze in the coating you may as well fix it on the spot as it again may break later. Fences for the Farm | UGA Cooperative Extension Be sure to tamp the soil well on the inside edge of the deadman as you fill it back in. Poly tape and poly wire. If you werent able to come, here is a step-by-step guide on how to build this style of fence. I also see a lot of these that will arc and give a pretty poor electrical connection. 5 and 6 strands are common. If you do decide to use steel t-post, just remember to use the best quality insulator that you can get, with a 10 year warranty. After you have finished your sketch, map all the fence support elements, which include: Lets dig a bit deeper into the subject of posts. STAY-TUFF offers a wide range of products, offering you the option to use less posts, which in turn will save money and labor, while investing in a good-quality fence wire that will last for generations. After all of the wooden posts are set and aligned with the guide wire, you can begin installing the Powerflex line posts. Each gate of this design (1 post and brace, 30 feet of polywire, one joint clamp, two insulator tubes, two staples) costs $56.75. - Line post selection:When choosing the type of line post that you will use try to think of it over a 20 year period rather than the cost per each post on that day of purchase! There are a lot of good quality crimps, split bolts, taps, etc that do a good job for very little money. 12-14. If you have a tree fall on a woven wire fence, it is a major job to re-stretch the fence to where it is tight again after cutting the tree off the fence. If you stand straddling the wire while you start, it is easier to get the post in the ground straight. What type of project do you have at hand? Consider this: a 20-year-old mare and her pasture pals probably wont need the same tight spacing as a lone stallion. So we finally got around to pick a date and I headed to Iowa. In this, T Posts are established and fixed into the ground using concrete foundation and wire mesh or wire stretched between them. Fencers tend to use too many posts, which likely stems from people's experience with barbed wire, where the rule of thumb was 1 post every rod length (16.5 feet). (Rebecca is a mighty fine cook too, by the way. The clips are simply inserted through two holes around the wire and the two ends are bent in opposite directions. Amazing how invisible old rusty barbed wire can be in a bed of leaves, forage and vines. Depending on the type of fence posts selected the spacing of the posts can be decreased or increased. First we layed out and spotted the posts at 30' spacings. A horizontal pole is then run between these two posts, reinforced by a diagonal wire that holds the brace system together. Many times, lots of people trespass on land accidentally, not realizing that theyre upsetting the owner. Choosing the right post size is important. The wire puts a lot of strain on the posts so it is important to brace the ends or corners by placing two fence posts in the ground eight feet apart and four feet into the ground. By leaving your crimp tool locked onto the crimp it will give you some leverage on the wire to make the wraps. If you put too much tension on the wires, your corner posts could get pulled out, and you are more likely to get breaks in the fence. Visit our blog to explore the latest research, news, podcasts, and more! Three wire sheep and goat fences require a closer spacing. This is normally the last step in putting up your fence. Their cost varies depending upon the material, size of their post, and most importantly the fence post spacing. These are general thumb rule for spacing fence posts; it does not include other scenarios. on . The standard spacing for fence posts is 8 to 25 feet apart, depending on the type of fence. - Product installed incorrectly:Yes believe it or not this happens all the time. I know, I know, you have this roll of old telephone wire that you bought at a sale years ago and you want to use it. To do this we use a piece of 12.5 gauge hi-tensile wire to go around the post and into the insulator. Very informative! Planning and Installing - Kencove To prevent the post from pulling out of the ground, fencing staples can be put in on the bottom of the post, angled upward. Stronger and more durable than traditional low carbon wire. Pictured above is a round donut style tensioner (#EZT), that can be turned with a simple hand tool. Ethan chose the Stafix X6i Energizer. See you soon! Next the brace posts and bracing were installed at the corners and ends. It's a little rusty, it may be 20 years old, but you want to use it. Install the next section of fence in the same manner. Thanks. 8 Quick Remedies To Remove It. Heres what you need to know about the difference between them: Brace posts give stability to your structure. And, a substantial herd of cattle will put more pressure on a field fence than a few lingering, docile calves. We use X/O Rustoleum enamel paint. It has 6 output joules and should give him plenty of power. Without some kind of device to help unwind it will turn into big ball of wire. Additonally, it will run off of either 110V plug in or a 12V battery. You can rather easily pull out a half mile of wire in this fashion, or you can use an ATV or other farm vehicle. Electric. Seymour, MO 65746 off the ground. This forms a very strong corner that will not heave or be pulled by the constant strain of the wire against the posts. Above, Ethan (left) and I, have just hooked up our jumper wires at the end post at the driveway. Generally, a successful structure will have five steel t-posts to one wooden post. In addition, a strand of electrified wire added to other types of fence usually improves their effectiveness tremendously. Fixed Knot; Field Fence: Hinge joint; Best Option Solidlock Pro Fixed Knot . When using high tensile woven wire like the Solidlock Pro, Sarson says, "You can go 20 to 30 feet between posts, depending on stocking densities, terrain and location. For high tensile fence, two posts with brace and brace wire shall be spaced at intervals not to exceed 1,320 feet in straight level sections of the fence. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. What do you use for corners and end braces on those 5-wire fences? You can use a ratchet in-line strainer or tightener to tension wires. The chance ofthis can be decreased if high-tensile fences aremade more visible by placing posts closer to-gether, or hanging ribbons or something else fromthe wire. So, there was some friction in pulling the wire. PDF Chapter 11 Fencing - Oklahoma State University-Stillwater See the Animal Selector section for recommendations by animal. Were glad to connect you with an authorized distributor! The electric wire also prevents cattle from constantly pushing against the wires and wearing them down. If you go from 10KV to 8KV you are still in good shape. Less space between posts increases the strength of the fence; more space gives it greater flexibility. There is this thing called resistance. I am not aware of any problems with cotter pins pulling out installed this way. The closely spaced fence posts provide additional strength and safety. It stretches up tighter and stays tight and has way more strength and substance to it than the Gaucho. A 20" length of Powerflex post was used as a twitch stick to tension the brace wire. Use plenty of ground rods on the north side of a building or installed around a pond. Always overestimate the amount of wire you will need, as it is a lot easier to cut than to splice. Ive found some great tips for barbed wire, and for welded wire fencing. Typically high tensile wire comes in 4000 or 8000 foot rolls. Privacy: Many homeowners want some distance from outside space to inside space. These will hammer in just like a nail. This strainer had to be re-done because the wire broke when we initially tried to tighten it. Bison. PDF Section 3: Bracing the ends and corners - Extension Our farms are very hilly and it is quite easy to keep wire tight when you use good products and strong corners. The lower wires are spaced at 6? The setting of your posts needs to be done correctly because it affects the performance, durability, and longevity of the fence. If you are used to putting up barbed wire, then you would normally put about 300 to 350 pounds of tension on it. You want to have a few feet of wire rolled onto the strainer (this helps if the wire breaks and you need extra wire length too). The most popular high tensile fence used for fencing in cattle is a simple five-wire fence with posts spaced every 24 feet and having two wires electrified. The Importance of Proper Fence Post Spacing for Your Property - Electrical connections:I think this area is one that needs to be discussed more. And although you may have used steel t-post all your life, just remember that "steel is the enemy" with electric fencing. 4. This resource only survives with your assistance. These unrollers were used. Fence posts are mostly spaced 8 to 12 ft apart. 17 gauge wire has much more resistance than does 12.5 gauge. Jason said this can happen if the wire is already tight when you start tightening the strainer. How to build High Tensile Fence - Pictoral Guide - Powerflex All without the hassle of dealing with fiberglass. . 12-20. of ground penetration. Set a treated wood plate, ceramic paver, or whatever else you have underneath the end of the brace so it does not sink into the ground. So, how far apart should line posts be set? The high tensile wire itself is engineered with tremendous strength. For temporary fencing, increased spacing may be the best solution. Ive had this fence and a modified seven-wire version of it and found that unless I cleared the fence line with a weed whacker at least monthly during the growing season, I couldnt keep an adequate charge on the wires to keep sheep in. Read More: What Color Light Helps You Sleep Well. All Right Reserved. This is a non-trivial consideration because if you have a 10 year lease on a piece of land, youd be eligible for cost share on it. Wire is attached at the beginning and end of each straight run. Its important to consult with local building codes and a fence installation professional to determine the appropriate spacing for your specific fence project. High-Tensile Fencing Tips from Greg Judy | On Pasture This spacing can be used for any type of fence work. When one coil of wire runs out and you need to attach the next one during a pull, here is a simple joint you can do easily and quickly. Visit https://staytuff.com/store-locator/ to learn more. This is not a problem at the ends where you may want to hand knot your wire to an insulatorbut on the fence wire that you are transmitting an electronic pulse you need a good connection on your jumpers. Deer Exclusion. I have found that buying a good quality brad tip bit is a good investment and you can literally drill thousands of holes with one. However, the ground was so soft and easy to work with here that the rest of the posts were just driven with a standard post driver. This also decreases future maintenance, as there are more points of contact for the fence to brace itself against impact. In short, larger spacing saves the cost of material and labor but reduces strength and safety. We aligned it so it would be between the top and second wire, and out of our way. While one person is doing this, another can be pulling another wire to keep the process moving. Check . Electric Fences. It is truly impossible for large animals to go through a woven wire fence without first breaking it. Put in connectors between the sections for the power to run through. They sit on top and their prime function is to maintain wire spacing. If there are additional wood posts on this run of fence, you will want to run insulator tubes along the wire (from whichever side is closest) to insulate each post. For further fence building instructions and to see pictures from a 2015 fence building field day, click here. Use a tension indicator spring to adjust each wire to the proper tension. Lets take the example of square 20 acres of grassland. Stranded steel or polywire with polystakes or steel stakes. The spacings are all 6? Thank you! Six to Seven inch round treated posts, just like those used with the high tensile fence, is optimal when installing woven wire fencing. This energizer has a fourth terminal (black) which is for earth monitoring it will let him know how his grounding is working and if he should add more ground rods during dry soil times. The tensioner should be located near the center of the fence run, rather than at one end. Electric Fencing for Sheep | OSU Sheep Team Correct T Post Fence Spacing is required to achieve effective fencing at an affordable cost. Experts recommend you use around five strands in a barbed-wire fence. Store Hours - Mon - Fri: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. Start by putting two staples neat the top of the brace post on the opposite side of the brace. Electric Fencing for Goats | Electric Fence for Sheep - Zareba This ability to customize to fit a range of needs is one reason this type of fence is so popular. They are considering installing a simular fence on their farm. You can get by with ground off to t- posts or such things when it is wet out but when it gets dry it will fail to be enough. The wire is worth the money because it saves money in the long haul and once your 1st 300 is up and you see the difference between old wire compared to this wire, youll understand why its #1 in my book. We are using a 30 foot spacing on the line posts on this perimeter fence that borders a gravel country road. This farm had been in CRP for the past 14 years and has some clay under great black topsoil. If fence posts are too close together, the fence could be too ridged and not allow the wire to have the flex and give to absorb an impact. It is an important aspect of fence installation as it determines the strength, stability, and durability of the fence. Vegitation at present is primarily switch grass. Experience Although most commonly used forcattle fencing, a high tensile fence is also used forsheep,horses, bison, and other exotic animals. I purchased the sheep and goat wire. Why take the chance? Next, you will tighten the rest of the wires by feel to match the tension on the wire with the spring. Adding one more wire would cost $46.48 per quarter mile of fence (wire and U-clips). If youre looking for a fence that is a physical barrier rather than just a psychological barrier, the woven wire is the best choice. The nut on the unroller should be tight enough (provides drag) that the unroller stops spinning when you stop pulling on the wire, otherwise you will end up with a tangle. Increasing the amount of carbon in the steel makes the wire stronger, but also less flexible. The tension on the high tensile barb wire should be 200-250 lbs. We must allow this to happen! The Recommended T-post Fence Spacing is 8 12 feet. Diameter: 5-6 in. If it is a very short run than its ok to mount the tensioner at the end. We must allow the wire to pass thru all line post connections. One failed insulator on a steel post will cause your whole system to lose effectiveness. Wow, they have some nice "dirt" up there compared to here in the Ozarks of Missouri ! Above, he is installing a crimp sleeve with a new Hayes 4 in 1 tool. Hog Fence Requirements | Bekaert Fencing Example: a 10 output joule charger will need a minimum of 30 feet of ground rods, or 5 each 6 foot rods. Although a $500 to $800 energizer sounds like a lot of money (and it is) in most cases when you look at the total length of fence is will likely figure in at less than a penny a foot. Establish Boundaries: Fences are also useful to establish the boundaries of your property. Greg's popularity as a speaker and author comes from his willingness to describe how anyone can use his grazing techniques to create lush forage, a sustainable environment and a successful business. By continuing to use our website you are agreeing to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. bit. - Poor quality line post insulators:This is probably the largest area of failure (and frustration) for electric fencing. In a 40 foot line post spacing it is OK to have 1 to 2" of sag between posts. Step 9. You can not do this without a voltmeter. Wires can be run from the coil or roll using a payout spinner or, a multi-wire fencer, if running multiple strands. To make a longer story shorter, we talked over email off and on and I continued to check in with him over the next several months. But it is possible for animals to get through the high tensile wires if they are determined enough. While there is no such thing as over protection, a Red Brand dealer is the most qualified person to assess your animals needs, and what spacing is best for your farm. I see a lot of people just wrapping a jumper wire around the fence wire. Keyline Plowing: What is it? which uphold the fence in position on the ground surface. Notice that we do NOT wrap the cotter pins around the fence wire. In this 2:38 video, I describe how I set up a 5-strand hi-tensile fence using 12.5 gauge 180,000 psi hi-tensile wire. The next step was to set the corner and end posts. We also have an office & representatives in the Elkton, VA area, Providing livestock fencing for Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, New Jersey, Delaware & West Virginia. What kind of paint works best on the fiberglass? The innovation of this wire is that is has an unbelievable amount of elasticity when compared to the old barbed wire used in years gone by. One of the most effective and affordable fences is the T Post Fence. 20 years is pretty impressive! A trench was dug just in front of the post, and a half-length post was put in. Does it work. Have you experienced any trouble with that? The standard space between fence posts varies depending on various factors, such as the type of fence material, the height of the fence, and the local building codes. Do you have a fence installation project at hand?