Building a Fence

[CharlieTR]

Well I guess it is time I get started on a fence for some cattle.
I am not sure how to place fence posts in the correct place and straigt.
My land is a little hilly and very long and narrow, only one small section of woods. The hills are just enough so that you can only see the sky and not the other end. The are only a few survey stakes and they are too far apart to see. Any tricks out there on how to get the first posts in the correct spots?

Thanks

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I start with putting in corner posts, and then you can run string between to keep the middle straight. If too far between corners, line up with a transit. you can also put grade stakes in every so often for lining it up.

 

[KevinFoshee]

Do you have a transit available?

Old surveyors use to use a procedure called "wiggling in". You set up the transit at a point that allows you to see both end posts (as close to being on-line as possible). Backsight one endpost, then plunge the scope and determine how much you missed the other post by. Then move over the appropriate distance and direction. Just keep "wiggling in" until you are sighting both posts from the same location.

I hope that makes sense.

 

[tessiers]

I set 3 wood posts (1 at corner and one each direction 8 feet away) at all corners along with angle braces from top of corner down to base of each side post. Then about every 50' or so between the corners. Closer if you have major elevation changes. I use porcelain insulators on the wood posts and I take an extra wrap around the insulator so if a wire breaks it keeps tension on the rest of the fence.

I use the top strand of wire to keep the fence line straight. Pull it tight with a tightener then mark post locations with marking paint then drop line on the ground while you dig the holes. When finished with the middle posts I simply tighten the wire again.

I then put #4 rebar posts 1' in ground every 10 feet or so with plastic insulators. I use rebar because I work for a large construction company and I take the drops home for nothing (as cheep as it gets). These posts really only keep the wire from sagging.