Putting up hotwire with tractor

[Billc]

The last few days we've put up over a mile of hot wire. If anyone is about to do this, I sure you'll figure this out but just want to make sure. We bought 3 spools of 14 gauge hot wire in 1/2 mile lenghts. We connected the spool to the tractor using a broom handle as a shaft and the attachment holes in the lift arms. My wife drives the tractor, I connect the wire to the insulators. Goes fast. Wish planting all of those posts was this easy.

Bill Cook

 

[cowboydoc]

Hi Bill,
It is just as easy with the posts you just need a post pounder!!! Another tip if you're ever putting up woven wire is to take two 2x6's and bolt them together at the end where you need the wire stretched. Then take a tractor and chain to the 2x6's and pull it tight and nail it up. Works great!

 

[scruffy]

Using the same idea with the 2X6's or 2X4's and a come-a-long works great in the woods also....you know, the places you can't get the tractor into. Of course for 20 to 30 bucks, you can buy a steel unit from Harbor Freight, or take a piece of 2" pipe, flat iron, 1/2 rebar (bent in v), etc and make your own unbreakable, reusable, where in the heck did I put it, or always stumbling over it, clamp to stretch your field fencing with.

 

[Billc]

At my last place we used field fence with a strand of hot wire along the top. My step-dad gave me a fence stretcher. It's pretty old but works. I'm staying away from field fencing this time. Ran a two wire hot wire. It's to keep our horses in but still let the deer through. It's about time for the mamma deer to have their young.

Within the year I'll pull the hot wire and T posts up where it comes up the driveway and replace it with a nice 4 or 5 rail wood fence. Has a guy come out and quote the job. $7,000 for 1000 feet. Thanks, but I'll do it myself.

Bill Cook