Wrap old fence wire

[Farmwithjunk]

I've taken down and re-used barbed wire on numerous occasions. At one point, I owned one of those "power-winders". Mine got "borrowed" and never returned. There's been no need to get another one yet. Most of the wire I wound was reasonably new. Some was older, but not brittle with rust. Not sure how that would work out.

Anyway, The way I liked to use my power winder was to COMPLETLY remove the wire from the posts, one end to the other. Then I'd weight the far end (from the tractor) with something heavy enough to keep resistance while winding. I usually used a log or a couple fence posts. (100lbs or so)

 

[RonR]

As a pup, we used two different implements to wrap barbed wire.

One was a bolt on rim for a pickup. You jack up one rear tire, bolt on the rim that stuck out a foot or so. Attach wire, put truck in low at idle, and let it wind.

Other one was a differential and wheels mounted to a 3PH. Same principle. PTO powered the wheel. The differential had a hand brake on the opposite wheel, so only the right wheel turned. When you filled one rim, you removed the full one and installed a new empty.

To string the wire with the 2nd implement, you tied of the wire at the end post, and drop the tractor to the other end, letting the wire freewheel out. We could release the brake and string two wires at once.

I'm sure we broke wire, but I don't recall any devasting injuries.

Ron

 

[AlanB]

Man, I figured someone else would say it.

My thought was that my bush hog seemed to do a great job at it................. Just I never want it too.

 

[n8wrl]

Man, I figured someone else would say it.

My thought was that my bush hog seemed to do a great job at it................. Just I never want it too.

Hoo man, I had a close call with this. I ran over some dangling electric before i realized it. I shoved the PTO lever back and it stopped. Nothing wrapped too tight - I don't know how I lucked out so much but a couple of snips and it was free. I do NOT want to use that to gether barbed wire

Thanks for ALL the comments - very educational.

-Brian

 

[diggerman]

The safest and fastest way I found was to use a small angle grinder with a metal cutting disk. I use a small generator for power.

Would it not be simpler ,and safer to use bolt cutters to do this ?

 

[Robert_in_NY]

A good pair of linesmans pliers would do this also and is a one handed tool so the other hand can be pulling wire at the same time you are cutting. I have removed a lot of wire this way, cut at every post and pull the wire out of the weeds and ground if it is old. Set it out in the open to pick up after I am done cutting out the line.

 

[turnkey4099]

Man, I figured someone else would say it.

My thought was that my bush hog seemed to do a great job at it................. Just I never want it too.

A walk behind mower is great tool to pick up used bailer twine. Note, good to pick it up, not to get rid of it!. I used to let my neighbor pasture a cow on my small 1 acre...up to the point he left bailer twine laying. His own barn lot had that stuff laying everywhere. I don't think he ever picked up a piece.

Harry K

 

[N80]

Yep, a good heavy set of linesman's 'dikes' work like a charm. And at the end of the day your right forearm will look like Popeye's too. I've used bolt cutters and dikes, but prefer dikes for the one-handed aspect and easier to lug around.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

... I used to let my neighbor pasture a cow on my small 1 acre...up to the point he left bailer twine laying. His own barn lot had that stuff laying everywhere. I don't think he ever picked up a piece.

It's the poor farmer's pavement.