Ever use ratchet strainer on barbed wire fence?

[robbyr]

I've used ratchet strainers on electric fence but never a barbed wire fence. Can't recall ever seeing that done. Just curious if any has done it and how well it worked.

 

[TASMAN17]

suppose you can if barbs are far enough apart to allow enough spooling on the ratchet, but not sure I would. Chain strainers work well to pull wires together and tie off under tension, or use as come-along here and there to tension while then mounting wire to a braced set of posts. I've found the thicker stranded wires easier to reduce slack in vs a thin electric wire so the chain and tie method works good enough for me. Need to tighten - just hook up again and add a twist or two to the wire. I have old stone walls that run outside and along my fence lines that act as a deterrent to cattle wanting to push out on them though. Be interesting to see anyone uses the ratchets.

 

[oosik]

I used Ever Sharp 4 point barbed wire. I strung out an entire roll and stretched with my tractor. It was somewhat of a PITA because a lot of my fence line is "over hill/over dale". I ended up using my HI- LIFT jack to stretch most of it. So far, after 40 years, it's still up and tight. There are times I wish I would have used something other than Ever Sharp. Sliding under the bottom wire will still slice my Carharts very easily.

There was a reason I got such a good price on all my wire - nobody else in our area uses it. I still have scars on my forearms.

My neighbor has a stretcher that has a roller chain ratchet. Simple, easy, does a good job. Wish I would have had something like that - back then.

I'm just glad that I did it 40 years ago. Today I run around the mile and a half of fence - checking and making any adjustments, twice a year. That's enough of a job for this old fart.

Fortunately - after all this time, I tend to forget how much effort went into this project. In this case, time is a blessing.

 

[Alien]

Yes, The clamp on the chain latches on to the barbed wire and pulls it tight, then just tie it off while you still have tension on it.

 

[Beeenvenue]

I use a come along with the smooth/barbed gripper attachment from TSC….

 

[bcp]

If I needed to use an electric fence ratchet strainer on barbed wire, I would remove one wire for a couple of feet so it would go onto the strainer easier. Or connect the barbed wire to a different single strand of smooth wire.

Bruce

 

[TASMAN17]

If I needed to use an electric fence ratchet strainer on barbed wire, I would remove one wire for a couple of feet so it would go onto the strainer easier. Or connect the barbed wire to a different single strand of smooth wire.

View attachment 699418


Bruce

that's a good idea - didn't think of that

 

[robbyr]

If I needed to use an electric fence ratchet strainer on barbed wire, I would remove one wire for a couple of feet so it would go onto the strainer easier. Or connect the barbed wire to a different single strand of smooth wire.

View attachment 699418


Bruc

This is what I was considering. Wondering if anyone has done it.

 

[Alien]

Yes, I have done that but the barbed wire wraps around those ok as is.

 

[Tinhack]

I use a come along with the smooth/barbed gripper attachment from TSC….

That sounds like what I used. Don't know the name of it and I didn't have to wind wire around a ratchet or whatever. It had a cam arrangement to grip the wire. The harder you pulled, the harder it gripped. Worked for me.

 

[Beeenvenue]

This worked great

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/speeco-wire-gripper?cm_vc=-10005

This did NOT (very hard to use and didn’t grip well, took 2 people / 4 hands). This is the style I used but from tsc, this exact one from Amazon MIGHT work but the speedco definitely does. CBI Tools New Cable and Wire Grip 6000lb. Capacity - Cable Size Range 5/8"- 1 3/8" - - Amazon.com