How to Install Barbed Wire on Galvanized Posts
How to Install Barbed Wire on Galvanized Posts
Barbed wire is used in animal husbandry on farms and ranches for preventing escape of animals from a defined boundary. When building a barbed wire fence around the boundaries of the property, the decision of permanency must be taken into account. Wooden posts wear down over time due to the moisture of the soil in which they are installed, and are used in less permanent fence installations. If a more weather-resistant fence is desired, the barbed wire can be installed against galvanized fence posts, also called "T" Posts.
Instructions
1 Roll out the first run of barbed wire fence around the entire perimeter of the property to be fenced in. Wear leather gloves during the entire installation process to prevent injury to your hands from the barbs. Roll the large spool along the galvanized posts and continue until you arrive back at the beginning where you began rolling out the barbed wire.
2 Determine how many runs of wire you desire to be installed onto the galvanized posts. Some fences have two runs, one about six inches from the top, and another run right in the middle of the post height. Use a measuring tape in the following steps so you position the insulators in the same locations on all of the posts.
3 Snap on T-post plastic insulators on each of the galvanized posts. When orienting the insulators, note that there are three prongs on one side, and two grooved "rails" on the backside. Orient each insulator so that when snapped onto the edges of the galvanized post, the two prongs face downward toward the ground and one prong is facing upward. Slide one of the rails over one of the edges of the galvanized post, then press the other firmly until it snaps into place on the post. Perform this on all of the galvanized posts.
4 Install the barbed wire onto the insulators, starting at the beginning of the wire run. Lift the barbed wire to the top, center, or bottom insulator on the first post. Note the two twisted wires that run between each of the barbs, and snap the twisted wire between the two lower prongs and the upper prong on the insulator.
5 Move to the next galvanized post and pick up the barbed wire from the ground. Lift it to the insulator at the same height as you did on the first post. Pull the barbed wire until there is no sag between the first and the second posts. While pulling, snap the twisted wire between the prongs on the insulator.
6 Walk to each subsequent galvanized post and snap the barbed wire into each until arriving back at the first post where you began. Unroll a second, third and fourth run of wire around the perimeter if more than one run is being installed. Then repeat the wire snap-in process on the next insulator down on every post.
Tips & Warnings
The tips of the barbs on barbed wire can rip large wounds into human flesh, possibly requiring stitches. Always use caution when handling the wire, and make contact with your hands only when wearing heavy leather gloves. Avoid barb contact with any other area of the body.
