Guide to Installing a Barbed Wire Fence
Guide to Installing a Barbed Wire Fence
Barbed wire consists of galvanized strands of steel wire twisted together with the barbs spaced every 2 to 4 inches. Barbed wire fencing can be more economical than an electric fence as it won't increase the electric bill. Barbed wire will contain animals more reliably than electric, since even a fallen branch will disrupt electricity and put the fence out of service. Consider the animal you plan to fence before making a decision. Barbed wire is good for cows and pigs, but other animals like horses can get hurt on the wire.
Fence posts
For a permanent installation choose good quality fence posts. Treated posts make a durable choice and will last 20 to 30 years; black locust or red cedar will last 15 to 25 years. Other woods such as pine, oak and poplar will only last a few years unless you pressure treat them. Without sturdy corner posts, the fence won't last. Your corner posts should measure at least 8 inches in diameter. To purchase the correct length post, figure 2 feet in the ground plus the height of the top wire plus 6 inches -- 6 foot posts are standard. Barbed wire posts will get placed 12 to 14 feet apart, so purchase enough for the job plus some extra to have on hand for repairs.
Wire
The rust resistance of the wire depends upon the thickness of the zinc coating. The ASTM classes go from 1 to 3, with 1 being the lightest coating. A rule of thumb to follow says 1 to 3 years after the first rust appears all the wire will have rusted.
Installing Posts
Choose your fenceline carefully and try to avoid steep or rocky areas. The strongest arrangement is a driven post. You can use a manual post hole driver or use a tractor driven post hole driver. The other option involves using a post hole digger and tamping the earth around the post. Set the corner posts first and check them for sturdiness. For best results, brace the corner posts. The brace wire should pull in the opposite direction from the fence. Make the brace wire 1.5 times as long as the above ground height of the post.
Stringing Wire
Wear thick gloves when handling barbed wire. Lay out the wire and start with the bottom layer. Staple the wire to the inside of the fence post on straight areas and for curves and corners put the wire around the outside. Drive the staples in the post at an angle to the grain. Leave enough room for the wire to slide through the staples.
Tightening
Install a ratchet in-line strainer or tightener and tighten each wire to 200 pounds. Use a tension indicator spring to judge tightness. If you tighten the wire too much it will pull the posts out of the ground in low areas. Wear safety glasses when tightening wire.
