Home made tools for V Mesh fence installation

[wroughtn_harv]

V Mesh installation is hard work if you do it right. Trick tools help. But the rule of thumb is that it's pure hard work.

When I'm terminating the fabric I carry a five gallon bucket for wire clippings. With V Mesh there's a ton of wire clippings.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

V Mesh installation is hard work if you do it right. Trick tools help. But the rule of thumb is that it's pure hard work.

When I'm terminating the fabric I carry a five gallon bucket for wire clippings. With V Mesh there's a ton of wire clippings.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I've found end nippers (side cutters with the blades turned ninety degrees) best for cutting the vertical wires. I cut the wire as close to the twist as possible for the part that's staying and in the middle of the vertical space for the rest of the cut.

I don't wear gloves unless I'm welding or it's cold. The vertical wire ends are like working with needles who've got an attitude. If you're not used to a little blood I strongly suggest gloves. However, letting a little blood is supposedly good for you healthwise I've heard. It also silences the critics. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The object is to remove the vertical wires from the horizontal ones for the wrapping of the end post.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I've found end nippers (side cutters with the blades turned ninety degrees) best for cutting the vertical wires. I cut the wire as close to the twist as possible for the part that's staying and in the middle of the vertical space for the rest of the cut.

I don't wear gloves unless I'm welding or it's cold. The vertical wire ends are like working with needles who've got an attitude. If you're not used to a little blood I strongly suggest gloves. However, letting a little blood is supposedly good for you healthwise I've heard. It also silences the critics. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The object is to remove the vertical wires from the horizontal ones for the wrapping of the end post.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I modify my fence pliers for V Mesh. These are my Uticas. I also have ten and eight inch Crescents, a Maasdon ten inch and when I grab a pair for V Mesh I modify them.


What I do is taper the nose with a grinder. This allows me to wrap wire tighter easier.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

I modify my fence pliers for V Mesh. These are my Uticas. I also have ten and eight inch Crescents, a Maasdon ten inch and when I grab a pair for V Mesh I modify them.


What I do is taper the nose with a grinder. This allows me to wrap wire tighter easier.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

One of the things that one has to keep in mind with fence pliers is you never ever use them for pulling. I can say that and you will still grab a fence tie or strand of wire and pull. The pliers will slip and if you're lucky like I was you'll end up seeing bells and hearing stars and only almost break your nose. When I did it I was young and working with my father and another older fella.

I bent over to hide the tears. It hurt. But not near as bad as it did about five posts later when I did the same exact thing the same way hitting the same place. That time I didn't have the testosterone content required to not cry out loud. Dad and his bud just ducked their heads to hide their grins and never said a word.

But then you might get unlucky like my father did some years later. When he screwed up he took out two front teeth.

Fence pliers are wonderful tools. Nothing is better than they are at what they do. A lot of engineering has went into their design. But they're not worth a flip at pulling. That's because they're designed to be effective with rolling of the pliers, twisting if you will.

With the tapered nose I can get an extra bit that makes a difference in the first roll terminating a strand.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

One of the things that one has to keep in mind with fence pliers is you never ever use them for pulling. I can say that and you will still grab a fence tie or strand of wire and pull. The pliers will slip and if you're lucky like I was you'll end up seeing bells and hearing stars and only almost break your nose. When I did it I was young and working with my father and another older fella.

I bent over to hide the tears. It hurt. But not near as bad as it did about five posts later when I did the same exact thing the same way hitting the same place. That time I didn't have the testosterone content required to not cry out loud. Dad and his bud just ducked their heads to hide their grins and never said a word.

But then you might get unlucky like my father did some years later. When he screwed up he took out two front teeth.

Fence pliers are wonderful tools. Nothing is better than they are at what they do. A lot of engineering has went into their design. But they're not worth a flip at pulling. That's because they're designed to be effective with rolling of the pliers, twisting if you will.

With the tapered nose I can get an extra bit that makes a difference in the first roll terminating a strand.

 

[wroughtn_harv]

On that last picture I hope you noticed the finished ends. That's important. The same sharp ends of wire that tear your hands up do the same thing to the noses of horses and other livestock.

Bloody noses aren't cute. No matter how you get them.

I've found a digging bar works great to help me pull the fabric down to grade. Here I didn't have the butt (dead weight) required to pull it down. But my tractor had that much and more. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[wroughtn_harv]

On that last picture I hope you noticed the finished ends. That's important. The same sharp ends of wire that tear your hands up do the same thing to the noses of horses and other livestock.

Bloody noses aren't cute. No matter how you get them.

I've found a digging bar works great to help me pull the fabric down to grade. Here I didn't have the butt (dead weight) required to pull it down. But my tractor had that much and more. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif