Barbed wire fence

[Howboutthemdawgs]

I’m no cattleman so this would be a new experience for me. Need to run about 2800’ of I assume three strand wire. It’s broken into roughly 4 runs with the longest 1400’. Open ground so I can drive a vehicle the whole way. This is just a security measure and not for livestock. How difficult of a job is it from posts to stretching wire?

 

[Prairie Acres]

If you are going to do it right it's a lot of work and expensive. If you are handy it's not that difficult, plenty of guides and tips online to help. Mark where your post are going to go and than rent a auger. That will save you a lot of work and time over digging the holes by hand. Fence stretchers are fairly easy to use. A hitch mounted barbed wire unroller for a utv/atv/truck would be really helpful.

 

[SwampCat]

You can do it, but folks who do a lot of it can do it a lot quicker and probably better. What kind of ground is it, can you push T posts in with the bucket of a tractor?

 

[Catscratch]

Set your corner posts. They need set well, buried deep, and cross braced.

 

[Catscratch]

Brushhog or mow the path between them. The shorter the better.

Run a wire from corner to corner. I like to work from the top down. Use this top wire as your straight line for putting in posts.

Use a pipe or rod as an axle for unspooling the wire. If you don't have a UTV or tractor set up to run the wire it will be to your benefit to have a couple of strong 18yr olds on your payrole.

 

[Catscratch]

You'll need a come-a-long, wire grippers, a couple of pairs of leather gloves, a post pounder (I made my own as store bought ones are too light), and wire pliers.

NEVER cut a wire that isn't secure on both sides of the pliers. It will come back and take out an eye.

 

[Catscratch]

If the fence isn't really functional you can save a few dollars with wire stays. You can run a longer gap between posts with them, so you don't have to buy as many t-posts.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Cat sounds like you are somewhat of an expert! I appreciate your insight. This is along a road but it was row cropped to damn the shoulder so the ground should be good to work with. How far do your t posts generally need to be? The run is just fencing along the road so no true corners per se, just termination post. Are those the only ones that would need to be big wooden posts?

 

[Turkish]

I’m no cattleman so this would be a new experience for me. Need to run about 2800’ of I assume three strand wire. It’s broken into roughly 4 runs with the longest 1400’. Open ground so I can drive a vehicle the whole way. This is just a security measure and not for livestock. How difficult of a job is it from posts to stretching wire?

Only doing it once, I’d hire it done. If you have a genuine need to learn how, do it yourself. While perfectly doable, it takes a newby 5 times longer.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Only doing it once, I’d hire it done. If you have a genuine need to learn how, do it yourself. While perfectly doable, it takes a newby 5 times longer.

Somewhat what I was thinking. I would like to learn but honestly outside of this and maybe a random spot, it’s not a skill I will use. Any idea what people charge generally per foot for running fence?

 

[Catscratch]

At 2800 you are looking at over half a mile. Your wire will come in 1/4 mile spools. I'd have a termination setup like I posted earlier (what I called a "corner") at each end and one in the middle. I like a single big post every 100yds or so.

Don't think I'd try to go over 20' post spacing.

Not an expert by any means, but have build plenty of it. My oldest boy decided college was a great idea after building a half mile of fence by himself as a 9th grader.

 

[Catscratch]

I'd guess you'll have close to $2k in materials if you build it yourself. Might be a good deal if you can hire it done for double that? Depends on how much time and blood you personally want to dedicate to it.

 

[SwampCat]

We built a mile of fence ten years ago - so prices have for sure increased. materials was $4000 - I think that price has only increased about 25%. We paid $600 labor per quarter mile - American citizens who have lived here all their life. Actual fencing crews were a LOT more. Was built by an NRCS employee who actually inspected fences. He could only build fences outside his district. We probably have the best fence in the county. One guy working pretty much full time and another half time - and me on the tractor augering the post holes and hauling and fetching some of the material - took five days. I bought all material and delivered them to site. Five strand red brand

 

[buckdeer1]

If not for live stock do you have to have barbed or can you use twisted smooth?I have also built quite a bit but if nothing else I would have someone set the T post and supports then you could string wire.

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

If not for live stock do you have to have barbed or can you use twisted smooth?I have also built quite a bit but if nothing else I would have someone set the T post and supports then you could string wire.

No need for barbed wire. Honestly I just want a deterrent for people pulling off the road. Eventually I will have cedars and what not grown up. Taking all of that out of row crops. My anxiety will not allow me to have row crops wide open along a road!

 

[Mortenson]

No need for barbed wire. Honestly I just want a deterrent for people pulling off the road. Eventually I will have cedars and what not grown up. Taking all of that out of row crops. My anxiety will not allow me to have row crops wide open along a road!

Who made that meme of Bill's miscanthus? Need it here

 

[Howboutthemdawgs]

Who made that meme of Bill's miscanthus? Need it here

On my run today I was daydreaming about that haha

 

[Catscratch]

I get that completely! We have that scenario and it leads to poaching.

 

[Turkish]

Somewhat what I was thinking. I would like to learn but honestly outside of this and maybe a random spot, it’s not a skill I will use. Any idea what people charge generally per foot for running fence?

Hell, I don’t know. If I had your deep pockets, I wouldn’t be messing around with wire. Go for a 4 panel wood fence.

 

[T-Max]

Cat nailed it pretty well. I think you may end up with some wire sag at 20’. Furthest we see is 16’ and it stays tight. We use this on the come along and I don’t think the wire can slip out. Good corners make it or break it. Set em deep and if you concrete them, let em cure good before moving on with the rest.

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