Barb Wire Selection - high tensile vs low carbon and coating choice

[rrb1981]

All,

Wanted to ask if anyone has opinions on the relatively new Bekaert brand, High Tensile Strength 14 guage cattleman barb wire with either the Class III galvanizing or the zinc aluminum coating.

Of course, the big shift in fencing is whether to use the old school beefy 12.5 guage low carbon wire or go with the much lighter 15.5 gauge high tensile strength wire. The high 15.5 tensile wire is as strong or stronger than the 12.5 gauge and has a Class III galvanized coating which lasts 2x longer than the conventional Class I coating. Old school farm boys know that bigger is always better but in this case, the high tensile wire really does seem like the way to go, but that puny wire size bothers me.

Fortunately, Bekaert has now come out with a 14 gauge high tensile wire that gives you the best of both worlds, a strong wire and a little more girth than the puny 15.5 gauge. They coat it with either Class III galvanizing or with a new corrosion resistant coating called Bezinal (Bekaert zinc aluminum). They then cover the Bezinal with a very light green polymeric paint.

The 14 gauge high tensile seems like the route to go (unless I can find a 12.5 gauge high tensile!!). I am just torn on whether to go with the Class III galvanizing or with the Bezinal coating.

The Bezinal coating does have a nice green tint to it that kind of makes it stand out.

Oh, by the way, this fence will be used to hold cattle, using T posts, with H brace supports about every 100 ft (made out of 2 7/8" pipe) and with welded metal corners.

 

[meadowlarkponds]

I'll have to try that. I have not seen any in the stores in my local area....any of the chains carry it?

I will use the 15.5 on internal/cross fencing but on the boundary fence its 5 strands of 12.5 gauge for me. Cost more but worth it...but I'd be interested in this new product.

 

[rrb1981]

I agree on not using the 15.5 gauge high tensile wire on perimeter fence, but if you look at the data, the 14 gauge high tensile wire is actually over 2x as strong as the conventional 12.5 guage low carbon steel wire.

Call Bekaert and talk to the the technical guys. It has taken off on the east coast but they have had a tough time getting old habits to die hard in the west.

The zinc aluminum coating also seems to be taking off according to Bekaert.

 

[sixdogs]

Check if you can use the aluminum coated wire against the metal post.
My instructions told me not to let the alum coating get scraped off.
Might depend on what area of the country you are in for weather consideration.
I liked the thinner HT barb so I could stretch it tighter with less effort.

Go to Kencove Fence internet site--they have a boatload of info.

 

[Western]

I have used both 12.5 and 14 and the Green cattleman's series.I have never had a problem with either.

If you have a Bull or a "wild" ***** cow, it wont matter, cause they aren't going to take the time to check the gauge size of the fence!

Just pay attention to the install notes as to stretching. I don't "buy" the "less t-post needed for light gauge wire" theory though, that is the strength of your fence really. Personally, I don't like to go over 12' spacing and prefer 10'

 

[rrb1981]

Western,

What is your opinion of the Bezinal coated wire? How does it actually look installed? I wasn't too sure how a green barb wire fence would look from an aesthic standpoint, but from a endurance standpoint, it sounds like the best option.

 

[Mudfarmer]

30 years after installing 15 gauge high tensile wire on T-posts to keep in my herd of Highland Cattle, I am now taking it all down. No animals anymore. Never stretched, seldom broke (except where a herd of elk hit it hard). The cattle never got out. And it certainly didn't rust away. I have a little bit of 12 gauge barb wire I am also taking down that was installed 31 years ago before I wised up and got the cheaper and and stronger 15 gauge. After about 4 years the latter sags and bends and starts to rust. By fifteen years it is almost shot. The former is a little dulled, had no sags and now sits salvaged in the barn in case 's needed again for fencing. The 12 gauge could never be reused. If you want your fences working and looking sharp ten years from now with no particular effort at maintenance (and who wouldn't) go with the high tensile. I would suspect the 14 vs 15 is an effort to make a little money on on folks' apprehensions. Buy the cheapest high tensile you can find. Mine from 30 years ago came from either Brazil or Korea. I couldn't ever tell the difference. Both lasted just fine. :thumbsup:
Mf

 

[Western]

Western,

What is your opinion of the Bezinal coated wire? How does it actually look installed? I wasn't too sure how a green barb wire fence would look from an aesthic standpoint, but from a endurance standpoint, it sounds like the best option.

I liked it better than I thought I would, What we did was use 5 strands of Cattleman's, then used a regular strand for the top wire. I was worried about it "blending in" and me inadvertently hitting while mowing or whatever. Turned out that wasn't really needed.

Looked real good with the red'ish T-post. I think it looks "richer". IMO

I haven't used it at the place I'm at now, all the fence was pretty much done when I bought it:thumbsup:

I never found rust on it either, but it would take a LONG time here , even for regular wire. I have seen rust on the standard 15g thought, especially at the post twist.

 

[MMagis]

30 years after installing 15 gauge high tensile wire on T-posts to keep in my herd of Highland Cattle, I am now taking it all down. No animals anymore. Never stretched, seldom broke (except where a herd of elk hit it hard). The cattle never got out. And it certainly didn't rust away. I have a little bit of 12 gauge barb wire I am also taking down that was installed 31 years ago before I wised up and got the cheaper and and stronger 15 gauge. After about 4 years the latter sags and bends and starts to rust. By fifteen years it is almost shot. The former is a little dulled, had no sags and now sits salvaged in the barn in case 's needed again for fencing. The 12 gauge could never be reused. If you want your fences working and looking sharp ten years from now with no particular effort at maintenance (and who wouldn't) go with the high tensile. I would suspect the 14 vs 15 is an effort to make a little money on on folks' apprehensions. Buy the cheapest high tensile you can find. Mine from 30 years ago came from either Brazil or Korea. I couldn't ever tell the difference. Both lasted just fine. :thumbsup:
Mf

Those are exactly my experiences. After using both 12 gauge and 15.5 HT, I致e decided that 15.5 HT is the best choice, for me. I recently moved a section of fence I put up over 20 years ago. I coiled up the 15.5 HT wire and rolled it back out where I wanted it. The only rust was in places where it had been lying on the ground for 10 years in the woods (it痴 been out of use). It stretches tighter and the barbs are a lot sharper. They stay sharper as well. After a few years, 12 gauge barbs aren稚 too intimidating. At the end of the day, cows stay in because they want to, not because they have to. The heavier wire won稚 hold them back any better. For me, the 15.5 HT lasts longer and is half the price of the heavier 12 gauge.

 

[rrb1981]

I was curious how well the green polymer paint coating held up. It seems to look good, especially with galvanized t posts or cedar posts. Of course, my primary interest was putting up a wire that would stay strong and tight and would resist against all forms of abuse (cattle rubbing against it, tree limbs falling on it and damaging the coating etc).

When I spoke with one of the Bekaert reps, he made it sound like originally they came out with the Class III galvanized on the 15.5 HT wire, then they came out with a slightly cheaper coating of zinc and aluminum that wasn't quite as good as Class III. Then that evolved into a zinc/aluminum with a top coat of polymer based paint (aka Bezinal) that they claim now gives the wire a corrosion resistance that far exceeds the Class III galvanized.

I'll definately be going with the 14 gauge, just haven't decided if I want to go with the Class III or the Bezinal coated.