How to Tighten Fence Wire
9 Jan 2020 Farm Fencing
If you have wire fencing on your property, it is very likely that you have encountered an issue with the fence starting to sag in some areas. This can happen as the wire expands and contracts with heat and cold, as animals and people lean on it or as posts shift. At Edge Wholesale Direct, we provide a variety of wire farm fencing products and we know a variety of tricks and solutions on how to tighten fence wire.
Tightening a Wire Fence
There are many different types of wire fences and it is important to know what kind of wire fence you have before finding a tactic for tightening off the fence. If you have wire strand fencing, the method to tighten the wires can be different from those used to tighten a field fence, no climb fence, or another type of wire mesh fence.
How to Tighten Wire Field Fence
As long as your wire mesh fence is not sagging too much, you can tighten it off with only a pair of plyers. Grab the top strand of the horizontal wire between two of the vertical links and twist it 90 degrees to make a “Z” shape. Moving down the fence towards the ground, continue to do this with each horizontal wire. Do this at multiple points along the fence until the fence is tightened to your liking.
Alternatively, you can use a fence stretcher. These can be purchased, or you can make your own using 2×4 boards, bolts, and hooks. You may be able to operate your fence stretcher using only elbow grease, but you will get better results if you use a ratcheting system such as a come-along or a tractor. Detach the fence from the posts up to the point at which it is sagging and attach the fence stretcher to the end of the fence.
How to Tighten Wire Strand Fencing
Tightening barbed wire, double, or single-strand wire fences can be done using pliers in the same way as a mesh fence, but a more effective option is to create a hitch or twist-tie by looping the wire around itself and using a lever to twist it tight. In most cases, a long bolt will be perfect as a lever. This tactic of tightening wire requires that you have some extra wire to work with. The steps to complete this are as follows:
- Fold the wire fencing back over itself to create a loop that extends past the post
- Twist the end of the wire together with the rest of the strand
- Pull the loop around the post and fold it over the strand of wire
- Push your bolt through the loop
- Use the lever to twist the loop around the strand of wire and continue twisting until the fence is tight.
- Pull the bolt out of the loop and cut off the ends of the wire
If you have more questions about how to tighten fence wire, or if you would like to learn more about the equipment that we offer, please contact us at 604-857-2436.
