Making a fencing wire unroller

[ajmoore1]

Hi,

I am looking at fabricating a wire netting unroller/tensioning machine similar to the one in the pic. I havent seen one for real only pics. I am looking at making the majority out of 100mm box section and 3mm wall. Do you think that would be stong enough or go for thicker wall?

Also the clamp mechanism on the right requires one part of box to slide over another. If it was made out of 100mm box what size would be best to to get to be a good sliding fit, 110mm 4mm wall? (if they do it).

Any advise on the construction much appreciated.

Cheers

 

[bigegg]

100mm box is overkill.
the above looks like 50x50 or possibly 60x60 box SHS
60x60x4mm is a reasonably good sliding fit over 50x50

 

[RichardM]

Would I be correct that you clamp the end and then use the tractor to tension it?

 

[addjunkie]

All the fencing clamps I have ever seen for tensioning the wire are made from two pieces of angle to get a good grip on the wire.

I suggest that is a piece of angle stitch welded to the outer piece of box section to get a good grip on the wire when pulling.

Searching on google images for quick fencer there are drawings from a patent. Not suggesting you copy but worth a look.

 

[Migmac]

Would I be correct that you clamp the end and then use the tractor to tension it?

I would say so. Nice bit of kit, post knocker on the back and you've got one serious bit of equipment

 

[ajmoore1]

Would I be correct that you clamp the end and then use the tractor to tension it?

Yes thats the idea but one of the main reasons is to be able to use longer roles of wire. Currently unroll 100m rolls by hand but looking to use 250m or 500m rolls so less jointing.

 

[MCKDAVID]

i guess it boils down to how much you have to do, with the size of the rolls you're talking about you definitely will need some thing.

I will be making a very simplified version for me, as I only have another 1200metres to do, so can't justify a full on construction project. The first 300 metres, I did by hand and it is a pain, so will be looking at some form of rotating base with support pole and an upper clamp onto a (greased) wooden sleeve probably just hashed together from what I have, as it will be a one job shot for me... Then some sort of Heath robinson mount onto the tractor rear mount. Doesn't need to be super strong as it's only to run out the fencing to get it into position. For final tensioning, I'll do it the same as the other one, fix solidly at one end, then two wooden uprights clamped together with the fencing sandwiched between them at the other end, then wrap a couple of ratchet straps round them, and lash the ratchets to the tractor, take up the worst slack with the tractor, then the final tighten up and fix with the ratchets. Worked fine, mine is only for our dogs, so no major strength required, as no livestock.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Interesting looking device.
One thing I would say though is that no matter how long the roll you can't safely pull more than about 100 meters at a time in my experience. The wire at the puller end gives before it's anything like tight at the far end. The lay of the land can affect the exact length but too much doesn't work out well.

No doubt with the device shown you would roll out to the next strainer or the one after, pull tight and staple, then onto the next one/two and tension again and so on.

 

[ajmoore1]

I would say so. Nice bit of kit, post knocker on the back and you've got one serious bit of equipment

That's the current setup. Get the wire unroller in and we will be good to go. Next project after that will be to mount the knocker onto a 3 ton tracked dumper to allow to get to the more inaccessible places.

 

[ajmoore1]

Interesting looking device.
One thing I would say though is that no matter how long the roll you can't safely pull more than about 100 meters at a time in my experience. The wire at the puller end gives before it's anything like tight at the far end. The lay of the land can affect the exact length but too much doesn't work out well.

No doubt with the device shown you would roll out to the next strainer or the one after, pull tight and staple, then onto the next one/two and tension again and so on.

Using our current method we can tension 250m in one pull. We use high tensile wire so it stays tight unlike the mild steel were the yeild point is much lower and can go slack if cattle push against it.

We tie off on the strainer posts rather than staple.

 

[addjunkie]

I find fencing much easier, to get some one else to do it.............fortunatley my step daughters other half, has all the gear and is always skint.

That a fancy post knocker, you must do this for a living. Only observation having used a quick fencer last time, was it made the tractor wider so we had issues getting between a couple of trees. Longest run was 160 meters of high tensile in one run, no problems. Next bit next time hes skint will not be worth using the quick fencer as there is several direction changes and two streams, so will be easier with out.

His Post knocker is more basic than yours but I welded extra brackets on to it to go on the 6 ton digger arm or the tractor.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Using our current method we can tension 250m in one pull. We use high tensile wire so it stays tight unlike the mild steel were the yeild point is much lower and can go slack if cattle push against it.

We tie off on the strainer posts rather than staple.

Interesting. We use high tensile wire most of the time (farmers not fencing contractors) in 100m rolls (common stuff in many farmer shops is 50m, but at least they're liftable!) and unless I've got my numbers wrong if we try to do much more than a roll at a time there's no guarantee of getting the other end tight before the wire gives where it's being pulled.

 

[addjunkie]

The lay of the land makes a difference too.

 

[ojl]

Why dont you pull to the middle? Does a better job. All you need then is a set of clamps, a hand winch and ideally a grippler

 

[Bill Edwards]

We're farmers, not fencers...

Got to fit with where the telehandler will go and without a proper clamp (I am now in the process of making one) and of course no grippler! That generally means pulling to an end where we can get into a good position with the machine.

 

[ojl]

Dont bother making a tractor attachment. Roll your netting out and tie on both ends. Make up two clamps to clamp the netting then pull the clamp together to tension your wire. The slack wire between the clamps can then be cut and pulled tight with gripples. You can buy a hand winch cheap for pulling up with.

 

[Bill Edwards]

I don't think we'll ever change until the old folk involved either retire or die.
The clamp I'm making isn't a tractor one (unless you're talking to the OP?) just for clamping the wire so we can chain onto the telehandler. The current method makes a mess of the wire.

 

[addjunkie]

Two pieces of angle a few nuts and bolts and a piece of angle works a treat. Piece of chain and off you go!

 

[Bill Edwards]

I'm copying the more expensive type that can be bought which have two pieces of pipe parallel with a piece of angle which is tightened so the V presses onto the pipe. Four (captive) bolts and the nuts will have a handle welded on so there's no spanner to lose. Hopefully it'll work nicely.

 

[DsDevine]

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Hey just seen your post the forum there tonight? Did you ever build something for unrolling wire? I built one very similar to the one in the pic I used 80x80x5 box probably a I of an over kill to but 90x90x4 slid over it well, mines can carry two 300m rolls of HT but is currently still in development!