How difficult is it to install chain link fence?

[JDgreen227]

Someone I know decided to fill in their swimming pool, they had someone come in and take down the 5 foot height, 160 feet of chain link fence and top rails, then the backhoe that filled in their pool pulled up the fence posts. They wanted to get rid of the materials, so all I had to do was haul everything away with my trailer. The fencing is about 45 years old, but heavy gage, was very well galvanized when new and is in really good shape. I am thinking about using it to replace the cheapo, lightweight fencing around my garden plot, but having never worked with chain link fence before, I have no idea how hard it would be to stretch the fence to get it tight. I would be using the existing fence posts, which are treated 3X5 landscape timbers 5 feet high, and those are buried in three feet of concrete.

Any advice would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[KTurner]

Earlier this year, I picked up some 4' chain link fence off craigslist for a section maybe 35' x 20'. I put six 4x4 posts in, three on each 35' length. Unrolled enough for the first length, put it in place against the posts and stapled it to the posts. Repeat until the last corner, where I put in a metal pole a few feet before the corner post so that I could use the proper hardware for the gate. One end of the gate attached to the metal pole, the other end hits the 4x4 corner post and a peice of aluminum wire acts as the catch. But for the chain link, I just pulled it as tight as I could get it with one hand while stapling with the other. Perfect? Not even close. Does it lean in the middles? Yes. Has it stayed in place? Yep, but I need to throw a few more staples at it as a few have popped loose.

It's mainly a deterrent for wildlife that could get over a perfect 6' fence if they desired.

Keith

 

[Western]

They make a cheap tool, for stretching (hand stretcher) that is simple enough. But whatever you use you will want it to stretch the whole length of the fence on the end from top to bottom. I use a 1" pipe usually with chain link, I thread it through the links about 2-3 spaces from the end.

Link below has some descriptions and photos of the hand stretcher and other stretching tools.

Fence Tools

 

[JDgreen227]

Earlier this year, I picked up some 4' chain link fence off craigslist for a section maybe 35' x 20'. I put six 4x4 posts in, three on each 35' length. Unrolled enough for the first length, put it in place against the posts and stapled it to the posts. Repeat until the last corner, where I put in a metal pole a few feet before the corner post so that I could use the proper hardware for the gate. One end of the gate attached to the metal pole, the other end hits the 4x4 corner post and a peice of aluminum wire acts as the catch. But for the chain link, I just pulled it as tight as I could get it with one hand while stapling with the other. Perfect? Not even close. Does it lean in the middles? Yes. Has it stayed in place? Yep, but I need to throw a few more staples at it as a few have popped loose.

It's mainly a deterrent for wildlife that could get over a perfect 6' fence if they desired.

Keith

Thanks for your input...I currently have five foot high, welded wire mesh that comes in a roll from a big box home center. Galvanizing is very thin, and the mesh is only about 14 gage, trying to pry the wire tight against the post using a 1X4 as a lever snaps the welds easily. I would think that for chain link you could easily make a length of 2X4 the same height as the fence and bolt carrage bolts thru it with nuts on both sides of the wood, then hook the chain link loops over the bolt heads and lever away.

 

[JDgreen227]

They make a cheap tool, for stretching (hand stretcher) that is simple enough. But whatever you use you will want it to stretch the whole length of the fence on the end from top to bottom. I use a 1" pipe usually with chain link, I thread it through the links about 2-3 spaces from the end.

Link below has some descriptions and photos of the hand stretcher and other stretching tools.

Fence Tools

THANK YOU for the "link" (pun intended) I have a Masdam Power-Pull which they refer to in their information. Have a better idea now what is involved...:thumbsup:

 

[lockhaven]

A little thing that nice about chainlink is that you can attach each roll to make a continuous length. The individual wires will unwind just like turning a screw. Just unscrew the end wire then place the next roll beside the first then screw the wire back in connecting both rolls.

 

[bcp]

Try this page, especially the links at the bottom.

Chain Link Fence Index

Bruce

 

[Western]

2- 2x4's , bolted together, work good on almost any fence and I have used that allot when I needed the added aggravation (bolts). Sometimes that's the best method in a "tricky" situation. Chain like is generally easy to work with since it is usually in a lawn setting.

 

[Western]

2- 2x4's , bolted together, work good on almost any fence and I have used that allot when I needed the added aggravation (bolts). Sometimes that's the best method in a "tricky" situation. Chain link is generally easy to work with since it is usually in a lawn setting.

 

[Mousefield]

2- 2x4's , bolted together, work good on almost any fence and I have used that allot when I needed the added aggravation (bolts). Sometimes that's the best method in a "tricky" situation. Chain link is generally easy to work with since it is usually in a lawn setting.

Every time I have put up a wire fence on my place that is what I have used. Belongs to the neighbors and I just borrow it when needed. Just put the wire between the two 2X4's and bolt the 2X4's together, makes a super clamp. I use a come along to then pull the 2X4's, works great.

 

[cgott42]

Every time I have put up a wire fence on my place that is what I have used. Belongs to the neighbors and I just borrow it when needed. Just put the wire between the two 2X4's and bolt the 2X4's together, makes a super clamp. I use a come along to then pull the 2X4's, works great.

cool - sjust so that I understand: Do you mean to use 2 - 2x4's as posts, and avoid the tension wires, other poles by putting the wire between the 2x4's? How long of a stretch between posts does it keep it taught?Also what is meant by "I use a come along" ?

thx

 

[aczlan]

cool - sjust so that I understand: Do you mean to use 2 - 2x4's as posts, and avoid the tension wires, other poles by putting the wire between the 2x4's? How long of a stretch between posts does it keep it taught?Also what is meant by "I use a come along" ?
thx

One board on each side of the fence wire at the end (making a sandwich), then the comealong goes on the boards. That way you can stretch the wire without bending the snot out of it.

Aaron Z

 

[cgott42]

One board on each side of the fence wire at the end (making a sandwich), then the comealong goes on the boards. That way you can stretch the wire without bending the snot out of it.

Aaron Z

thx - is this an example of what you mean
Amazon.com: Torin T32052 2 Ton Comealong with 2 Hooks: Home Improvement
and (to confirm) once I have the chain link between the 2x4's I attach the hooks from this (comealong) and use it to pull /stretch the chain link tight, then bolt the 2x4's together?
Do I attach the chain link to the 2x4's themselves - or just being sandwiched between the 2x4's is enough?

 

[aczlan]

thx - is this an example of what you mean
Amazon.com: Torin T32052 2 Ton Comealong with 2 Hooks: Home Improvement
and (to confirm) once I have the chain link between the 2x4's I attach the hooks from this (comealong) and use it to pull /stretch the chain link tight, then bolt the 2x4's together?

Not quite, you attach the 2x4s to the fence THEN attach the comealong to the 2x4s and tighten the comealong to stretch the fence. Once the fence is stretched, you remove the boards.
If you attach the comealong directly to the fence it will just pull in that one spot and will bend the fence all up.

Do I attach the chain link to the 2x4's themselves - or just being sandwiched between the 2x4's is enough?

I would use 8-10 3.5" deck screws evenly spaced along the boards to hold them together.

Aaron Z

 

[JDgreen227]

Not quite, you attach the 2x4s to the fence THEN attach the comealong to the 2x4s and tighten the comealong to stretch the fence. Once the fence is stretched, you remove the boards.
If you attach the comealong directly to the fence it will just pull in that one spot and will bend the fence all up.

I would use 8-10 3.5" deck screws evenly spaced along the boards to hold them together.

Aaron Z

I wondered if it would be possible to use maybe 3-4 6-inch C-clamps to hold the 2X4's together....and rather than use a fence post to attach the anchor end of the come-a-long maybe you could use the hitch of a truck or the 3-point drawbar of a tractor?

 

[aczlan]

I wondered if it would be possible to use maybe 3-4 6-inch C-clamps to hold the 2X4's together....and rather than use a fence post to attach the anchor end of the come-a-long maybe you could use the hitch of a truck or the 3-point drawbar of a tractor?

I would use a pair of 2x6s rather than 2x4s if using c-clamps, but that could work.

Aaron Z

 

[flyerdan]

When I worked for a fence company I made dozens of these out of scrap material. Much quicker than the 2x4 sandwich and you can use it in mid run with a tension bar to tie off to line posts.

 

[JDgreen227]

When I worked for a fence company I made dozens of these out of scrap material. Much quicker than the 2x4 sandwich and you can use it in mid run with a tension bar to tie off to line posts.

That is one heck of a good idea !!! Thanks for sharing the tip here !!! Even if you didn't have a welder to make something like that you could just use long threaded J-bolts and drill thru the post or angle iron to fasten them on.

 

[bcp]

I made mine with about 4ft of 1 1/4 pipe, 4 J bolts and one large eye bolt. Works fine and cost little. It hooks on a tension bar you slip into the mesh. Don't use it directly on the wire.

Bruce

 

[sodamo]

Thanks Bill

Overview of my project. Thinking I'm going with 5ft mesh