Stretched Fence

[MikeFLA]

Occasionally I allow my horses to graze an area not enclosed by an electric fence. The other day "the brat" looking for greener pastures leaned over the top of my field fence. I ran two strands of wire across the top when I built it. Naturally he leaned on it so hard it stretched the wire. I came up with a quick fix but was looking for your input on how to repair stretched fencing.

Attached is a picture of the quick fix. I simply loosened the staples, grabbed the wire with a pair of linemen’s pliers and gave it a twist. I then stapled the top and bottom of the twist.

Are there any better ideas without re-tightening the entire 330’ run of wire.

 

[Hillbilly]

I would put a strand of electric on the top.

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Mike,

Oddly enough use a <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.northerntool.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=120530&prmenbr=6970&cm_catid=000088&cm_partner=tl&cm_pid=120530&cm_ref>fence stretcher</A> They work great.
Al

 

[cowboydoc]

Ditto with twinkle toes use the fence stretcher.

 

[bky]

do you use spring tensioners?

 

[Harv]

Al -

So that's what that is!

Along with the myriad of tools I inherited from my father, I have one of these hanging on the wall of the shop. I figured it was for pulling sumpin', but was never sure exactly what.

The things you learn on TBN. /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Harv,

Can I drop by and just nose around your place for a bit./w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif The one pictured is the el-deluxo model mine doesn't have the extra "dog". The <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=38871>economy model </A> is $20. I inherited mine also. Lost it and found it a half dozen times.
Al

 

[MikeFLA]

Okay, forgive me for being naïve. I get the stretching part, but what do you do with the slack. Remember I am not pulling from one end, I am in the middle of the fence.

I’m really not as dumb as I sound, I just never had to repair my fences.

 

[MikePA]

Could you cut the wire and splice the two ends with one of <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.kencove.com/crimp.htm>these</A>?

 

[TWINKLE_TOES]

Mike,
Thats a good question, not dumb at all. You don't necessarily have to be in the middle. One of the "dogs" at the end can be placed around a post. You can then wrap or staple to the post. If you have to be in the middle then you need to splice the two ends togather. This allows a stronger splicing technique than twisting the wires with the fence pliers. I work with barbed wire and splicing techniques vary with the wire type. If I can't get enough wire slack to make a decent splice then I add more wire and splice twice.
Al