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How to properly tension barbed wire?

20 May.,2024

 

How to Tighten Barbed Wire Fencing - The Red Brand Post

Barbed wire is a popular material on today’s farms. Typically, it’s used for fencing cattle enclosures, because it is durable, cost-effective, and an excellent barrier for both your animals and any predators that may want to cross the fence line.

For more information, please visit our website.

While barbed wire is considered a low maintenance option for cattle fencing, it does require regular attention (like all fencing) to keep it in good shape. It’s important to continually clear debris or overgrowth from the fence line, and every once in a while — when a segment of the fence starts to sag — you’ll need to tighten the wires.

How do you tighten barbed wire fencing? We have a few helpful tips right here for you.

The Importance of Keeping Your Fence Tightened

First, let’s discuss why you need to tighten your barbed wire fencing.

A fence wire can become loose for many reasons. An animal could lean on the wire and push it over, a post could shift due to the animals or extreme weather, and sometimes the wires shift as they expand and contract with the temperature. But no matter the reason, the result is the same: a fence with an open section where anyone can wander in and out.

Your fence is the key to keeping your animals safely inside their enclosure and keeping other pests away from them. If any part of the fence is loose or sagging, the fence will become much less effective, which can result in trouble for your cattle. Tightening the fence is the best way to ensure your animals are safe and secure.

Types of Tools for Tightening Your Fence

If you notice that a portion of your barbed wire fence is loose, it’s wise to tighten it as soon as possible. But don’t simply grab onto the wire and start pulling. You won’t be able to tighten the wire effectively if you don’t have the right tools.

For tightening a barbed wire fence, be sure you have a sturdy pair of pliers, a wire grip, or a come-a-long on hand. You can use one of these tools to get a tight grip on the wire to pull it taught more effectively and safely than with your hands alone.

Another tool you might need to tighten your wire fence is a wire stretcher. This tool is ideal for severely sagging or broken wires because it can help you stretch your wires to their limits and give you a tight fence line that stays put for quite some time.

How to Tighten a Barbed Wire Fence

Once you have your tools in hand, it’s time to head over to your sagging fence. The first thing you should do is make sure that the area is clear for you to work, without any debris or vegetation in your way.

If you’re using pliers to tighten your fence, simply grab a section of the loose fencing (between the barbs) and twist the wire 90 degrees. This should make a “z”-shaped dent in your wire, which will add tension to your wire. Continue this process along the length of the wire until it is taught once again. Finally, use a staple to secure the newly tightened wire to the fence post.

If you’re using your fence stretcher, clip two sides of the wire to either end of the stretcher. This is easiest to do if the wire is broken (you can cut the wire if it’s not already severed). Then, use the ratchet to pull the two-wire sections taught. Wrap any overlapping sections around each other and cut the excess wire. Secure your wire to the fence post with a staple and you’re done!

Tightening barbed wire is a relatively simple process, no matter which tool you use. However, it is important not to make the wire too tight. This can cause the wire to snap, which can injure you or one of your animals. Your fence line should be taught, but not ‘banjo tight’. This will ensure that your fence is tight enough to be effective, but not so tight that it becomes a danger.

Barbed wire fencing is a safe and economical way to protect your livestock. Check out our selection of barbed wire and other agricultural fence products at your local Red Brand dealer or on our website. And, for advice on proper installation techniques, visit our ‘how to’ video library here.

Viewing a thread - How to tighten barb wire fence?

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nmiller

Posted 9/15/2008 11:26 (#461071)
Subject: How to tighten barb wire fence?




NE Ohio

NE Ohio

Sounds simple and I am a little embarrassed to ask but how do you tighten five strand barb wire? We have high tinsel barb wire and have solid double "H" end structures. We will use metal "T" posts in between the end braces. All of other fences are smooth high-tinsel so we are at a loss here.
1. How do you pull tight?
2. How do you hold tight?
3. Do you ever do yearly adjustment?

Thanks!
-Nick
WYDave

Posted 9/15/2008 12:26 (#461092 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



Wyoming

There are a couple of ways. You could get one of these new-fangled wire winders with a ratchet action. You put it on the fence wire, wind it up and pull the wire tight.

You could use a fence stretcher, cut and splice the slack out of the wires.

The wire should be held tight by the clips onto the T posts.

Yearly adjustment shouldn't be needed. If it is, I'd be wondering which fencepost is coming out of the ground.

 

Ben

Posted 9/15/2008 13:23 (#461128 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



North Mo.

Is this a new fence, do you have any wire tighners like the haynes chain units? If you do use them or pull tight by hand tie arround post wrap wire then use some of you daisy or other tensioners to finish the job. Thats assuming you have the tensioners for smooth hitensil. After working with the barb you might be like us never want to see it again. Ben Skipper

Posted 9/15/2008 13:44 (#461145 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?




For long life little maintenance springs and ratchets. Might want splice a piece of smooth in for the ratchet. guypatrick

Posted 9/15/2008 15:00 (#461182 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: These things work



North central, IA

Shitai are exported all over the world and different industries with quality first. Our belief is to provide our customers with more and better high value-added products. Let's create a better future together.

They are designed to re-tighten existing stretches.

http://www.enasco.com/product/C08840N

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?PGGUID=30E0756B-7B6A-11D5-A... Iowadad

Posted 9/16/2008 00:09 (#461665 - in reply to #461182)
Subject: RE: These things work



Them reel ties work wanderfull, I thought they quit making them, thanks for the info!! nmiller

Posted 9/16/2008 08:28 (#461777 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?




NE Ohio

NE Ohio

Thanks everyone for the comments.
It is a new fence installation. It sounds like there is no "universal" best method. Perhaps the "reel-tite" tensioners suggested by Guypatrick are the key for tightening up any sag later. However, for initial installation it sounds like the method is to install the wire end to end (wrap at the end braces) and hand tighten as much as possible. It sounds like the only way to get tighter than this is to cut the wire and pull both ends with a fence repair tool. Is this correct?
Thanks again,
-Nick chadincolo

Posted 9/16/2008 09:29 (#461838 - in reply to #461777)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



Lander, WY

String a wire, (can have a splice or a single wire depending on how long the run is) anchor on one end, pull tight with a fence stretcher, wrap the end post twice and secure. That's what we always do on new fences, and stays tight for quite a few years unless you have cows that like to test it or a deep snow year. Ben

Posted 9/16/2008 09:35 (#461842 - in reply to #461777)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



North Mo.

Like said in my earlier post if you have a chain tighter use it at one end to tighten wire if not pull tight by hand then use the wire tensioners. I would not cut the wire unless have too. Ben Ben D, N CA

Posted 9/16/2008 09:36 (#461844 - in reply to #461777)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?




Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot

No, no need to cut the wire. Just wrap and staple to a post on one end and pull tight at the other end.

For long runs you can use a come-along and buy a little gripper that will hook onto it and grip the wire. Warning-You can pull even good wire apart with these. Cheap wire will break so easy its not even funny. Red Brand will take work, but you can pull it apart as well if your pulling on it with a pickup or something.

Put good corner braces and barbed wire will last as well as anything. As long as the ends don't pull out you shouldn't have to tighten it. No insulators to fool with. Another bonus with barbed wire is anyone can generally work with it. Many of the amigos around here understand how to build fence. Hi Tensile is neat, but you'll be building it all yourself, at least here.

Lots of 40-50 yr old barbed wire fences here. Still keep cows in. Skipper

Posted 9/16/2008 21:16 (#462159 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?(pics)




This is the way we've been building lately. We electrify some the the wires on ours as they are smooth and the smooth will not turn everything. The same thing can be used for barbed but if you try putting it in the middle of a stretch you will have to cut the wire. Some we put the spring on one end and the ratchet on the other. If its a long stretch in the middle might be the best place but we're using this on a 1/4 mile stretch with it on the end and it works good. Not that you will have anything on it but the other day cleaning up storm damage we released the tension enough that we could lay the wire on the ground and work both sides of the fence then put it back as good as new with just the tensioner handle and a pair of pliers(for the line post fasteners)



OK Wouldn't let me post pics of tensioner and spring on the same end and that the combo we are using now. In the pic of the tensioner the spring is on the other end. This pic is one that we didn't put springs and tensioners in the barb strand but we do on all strands now.

Edited by Skipper 9/16/2008 21:37






(IM000952.JPG)





(IM000953.JPG)





Attachments
----------------
IM000952.JPG (110KB - 1101 downloads)
IM000953.JPG (112KB - 992 downloads)
KDD

Posted 9/16/2008 23:25 (#462357 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: Re: How to tighten barb wire fence?




Leesburg, Ohio

Leesburg, Ohio

The high-tensile ratchet-type tensioners work well, but they are actually more work to use...at least three ties to make vs. only two doing it the old way:

One two wraps and twist one end, use wire grip & come-a-long to pull other end tight, use long-handled stretcher to pull tight around post on that end, two staples to hold it, then twist off and remove come-a-long.

Oh, and Please put the wire on the side of the posts toward the livestock! farmdude

Posted 9/18/2008 01:33 (#463278 - in reply to #461128)
Subject: Re: How to tighten barb wire fence?



My Dad was an old pro at barb wire fences. He was a firm believer in a tight barb fence 3,4,or 5 wire whatever the situation called for. We use 2 stretchers the mechanical type an rope type. If you have a long stretch off barb nothing beats a rope stretcher for sure. The mechanical type will work on most applications though. Around here fencing is a lost art. People are taking more out then there putting in. Ben

Posted 9/18/2008 08:24 (#463378 - in reply to #463278)
Subject: Re: How to tighten barb wire fence?



North Mo.

We still have a couple sets of the rope type. When I was a kid we were streching a 1/8th mile with them and the wire broke but no one got hurt. I'll take my Hitensil elect. Jim

Posted 9/19/2008 00:58 (#464134 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



Driftless SW Wisconsin

I've been using a "gripple" to tighten some old loose barb wire fences. If the ends and braces are tight, I cut about a 2-3 ft section of barb wire out of the middle of the slack area and use 2 gripples to insert a piece of smooth 9 or 11 gauge brace wire and pull the smooth wire tight with the gripple tool. By tightening it in the middle you have to pull a minimum number of barbs thru the clips. The roll type tighteners don't seem to work to well for me on heavy Red Brand barb wire. Old wire tends to break there.

If the ends are the problem, I use a new piece of 9 or 11 ga brace wire wrapped around the post, stapled and twisted with about 3 ft of and end loose. Then use a large gripple to attach the end of the new 9 or 11 ga to the barb wire and tighten by pulling the smooth wire thru the gripple with their tool.
To me this is easier than using the older type fence puller.

Here's a link to the Gripple website with some interesting little animations showing how to use them with barb wire. click on the American flag, Fencing and Barb wire.

Jim at Dawn



Edited by Jim 9/19/2008 00:59


myfarm

Posted 9/19/2008 06:43 (#464169 - in reply to #464134)
Subject: Re: How to tighten barb wire fence?




On new installations, I like to leave enough wire past the H structure to allow backing up to it with a pickup, wrap the wire around the shank of the trailer ball, get everyone a safe distance away, and pull with the pickup until the wire breaks at the wrap around the ball, then re-stretch with the mechanical stretcher and double wrap the corner post. It will stay tight for many years. moorefencing

Posted 10/20/2008 01:24 (#486279 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



forsyth montana

How to Tighten Barbed WireBarbed Wire Fencing - The Red Brand Post

Barbed wire is a popular material on today’s farms. Typically, it’s used for fencing cattle enclosures, because it is durable, cost-effective, and an excellent barrier for both your animals and any predators that may want to cross the fence line.

While barbed wire is considered a low maintenance option for cattle fencing, it does require regular attention (like all fencing) to keep it in good shape. It’s important to continually clear debris or overgrowth from the fence line, and every once in a while — when a segment of the fence starts to sag — you’ll need to tighten the wires.

How do you tighten barbed wire fencing? We have a few helpful tips right here for you.

The Importance of Keeping Your Fence Tightened

First, let’s discuss why you need to tighten your barbed wire fencing.

A fence wire can become loose for many reasons. An animal could lean on the wire and push it over, a post could shift due to the animals or extreme weather, and sometimes the wires shift as they expand and contract with the temperature. But no matter the reason, the result is the same: a fence with an open section where anyone can wander in and out.

Your fence is the key to keeping your animals safely inside their enclosure and keeping other pests away from them. If any part of the fence is loose or sagging, the fence will become much less effective, which can result in trouble for your cattle. Tightening the fence is the best way to ensure your animals are safe and secure.

Types of Tools for Tightening Your Fence

If you notice that a portion of your barbed wire fence is loose, it’s wise to tighten it as soon as possible. But don’t simply grab onto the wire and start pulling. You won’t be able to tighten the wire effectively if you don’t have the right tools.

For tightening a barbed wire fence, be sure you have a sturdy pair of pliers, a wire grip, or a come-a-long on hand. You can use one of these tools to get a tight grip on the wire to pull it taught more effectively and safely than with your hands alone.

Another tool you might need to tighten your wire fence is a wire stretcher. This tool is ideal for severely sagging or broken wires because it can help you stretch your wires to their limits and give you a tight fence line that stays put for quite some time.

How to Tighten a Barbed Wire Fence

Once you have your tools in hand, it’s time to head over to your sagging fence. The first thing you should do is make sure that the area is clear for you to work, without any debris or vegetation in your way.

If you’re using pliers to tighten your fence, simply grab a section of the loose fencing (between the barbs) and twist the wire 90 degrees. This should make a “z”-shaped dent in your wire, which will add tension to your wire. Continue this process along the length of the wire until it is taught once again. Finally, use a staple to secure the newly tightened wire to the fence post.

If you’re using your fence stretcher, clip two sides of the wire to either end of the stretcher. This is easiest to do if the wire is broken (you can cut the wire if it’s not already severed). Then, use the ratchet to pull the two-wire sections taught. Wrap any overlapping sections around each other and cut the excess wire. Secure your wire to the fence post with a staple and you’re done!

Tightening barbed wire is a relatively simple process, no matter which tool you use. However, it is important not to make the wire too tight. This can cause the wire to snap, which can injure you or one of your animals. Your fence line should be taught, but not ‘banjo tight’. This will ensure that your fence is tight enough to be effective, but not so tight that it becomes a danger.

Barbed wire fencing is a safe and economical way to protect your livestock. Check out our selection of barbed wire and other agricultural fence products at your local Red Brand dealer or on our website. And, for advice on proper installation techniques, visit our ‘how to’ video library here.

Viewing a thread - How to tighten barb wire fence?

You are logged in as a guest. ( logon

nmiller

Posted 9/15/2008 11:26 (#461071)
Subject: How to tighten barb wire fence?




NE Ohio

NE Ohio

Sounds simple and I am a little embarrassed to ask but how do you tighten five strand barb wire? We have high tinsel barb wire and have solid double "H" end structures. We will use metal "T" posts in between the end braces. All of other fences are smooth high-tinsel so we are at a loss here.
1. How do you pull tight?
2. How do you hold tight?
3. Do you ever do yearly adjustment?

Thanks!
-Nick
WYDave

Posted 9/15/2008 12:26 (#461092 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



Wyoming

There are a couple of ways. You could get one of these new-fangled wire winders with a ratchet action. You put it on the fence wire, wind it up and pull the wire tight.

You could use a fence stretcher, cut and splice the slack out of the wires.

The wire should be held tight by the clips onto the T posts.

Yearly adjustment shouldn't be needed. If it is, I'd be wondering which fencepost is coming out of the ground.

 

Ben

Posted 9/15/2008 13:23 (#461128 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



North Mo.

Is this a new fence, do you have any wire tighners like the haynes chain units? If you do use them or pull tight by hand tie arround post wrap wire then use some of you daisy or other tensioners to finish the job. Thats assuming you have the tensioners for smooth hitensil. After working with the barb you might be like us never want to see it again. Ben Skipper

Posted 9/15/2008 13:44 (#461145 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?




For long life little maintenance springs and ratchets. Might want splice a piece of smooth in for the ratchet. guypatrick

Posted 9/15/2008 15:00 (#461182 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: These things work



North central, IA

They are designed to re-tighten existing stretches.

http://www.enasco.com/product/C08840N

http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?PGGUID=30E0756B-7B6A-11D5-A... Iowadad

Posted 9/16/2008 00:09 (#461665 - in reply to #461182)
Subject: RE: These things work



Them reel ties work wanderfull, I thought they quit making them, thanks for the info!! nmiller

Posted 9/16/2008 08:28 (#461777 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?




NE Ohio

NE Ohio

Thanks everyone for the comments.
It is a new fence installation. It sounds like there is no "universal" best method. Perhaps the "reel-tite" tensioners suggested by Guypatrick are the key for tightening up any sag later. However, for initial installation it sounds like the method is to install the wire end to end (wrap at the end braces) and hand tighten as much as possible. It sounds like the only way to get tighter than this is to cut the wire and pull both ends with a fence repair tool. Is this correct?
Thanks again,
-Nick chadincolo

Posted 9/16/2008 09:29 (#461838 - in reply to #461777)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



Lander, WY

String a wire, (can have a splice or a single wire depending on how long the run is) anchor on one end, pull tight with a fence stretcher, wrap the end post twice and secure. That's what we always do on new fences, and stays tight for quite a few years unless you have cows that like to test it or a deep snow year. Ben

Posted 9/16/2008 09:35 (#461842 - in reply to #461777)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



North Mo.

Like said in my earlier post if you have a chain tighter use it at one end to tighten wire if not pull tight by hand then use the wire tensioners. I would not cut the wire unless have too. Ben Ben D, N CA

Posted 9/16/2008 09:36 (#461844 - in reply to #461777)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?




Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot

Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot

No, no need to cut the wire. Just wrap and staple to a post on one end and pull tight at the other end.

For long runs you can use a come-along and buy a little gripper that will hook onto it and grip the wire. Warning-You can pull even good wire apart with these. Cheap wire will break so easy its not even funny. Red Brand will take work, but you can pull it apart as well if your pulling on it with a pickup or something.

Put good corner braces and barbed wire will last as well as anything. As long as the ends don't pull out you shouldn't have to tighten it. No insulators to fool with. Another bonus with barbed wire is anyone can generally work with it. Many of the amigos around here understand how to build fence. Hi Tensile is neat, but you'll be building it all yourself, at least here.

Lots of 40-50 yr old barbed wire fences here. Still keep cows in. Skipper

Posted 9/16/2008 21:16 (#462159 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?(pics)




This is the way we've been building lately. We electrify some the the wires on ours as they are smooth and the smooth will not turn everything. The same thing can be used for barbed but if you try putting it in the middle of a stretch you will have to cut the wire. Some we put the spring on one end and the ratchet on the other. If its a long stretch in the middle might be the best place but we're using this on a 1/4 mile stretch with it on the end and it works good. Not that you will have anything on it but the other day cleaning up storm damage we released the tension enough that we could lay the wire on the ground and work both sides of the fence then put it back as good as new with just the tensioner handle and a pair of pliers(for the line post fasteners)



OK Wouldn't let me post pics of tensioner and spring on the same end and that the combo we are using now. In the pic of the tensioner the spring is on the other end. This pic is one that we didn't put springs and tensioners in the barb strand but we do on all strands now.

Edited by Skipper 9/16/2008 21:37






(IM000952.JPG)





(IM000953.JPG)





Attachments
----------------
IM000952.JPG (110KB - 1101 downloads)
IM000953.JPG (112KB - 992 downloads)
KDD

Posted 9/16/2008 23:25 (#462357 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: Re: How to tighten barb wire fence?




Leesburg, Ohio

Leesburg, Ohio

The high-tensile ratchet-type tensioners work well, but they are actually more work to use...at least three ties to make vs. only two doing it the old way:

One two wraps and twist one end, use wire grip & come-a-long to pull other end tight, use long-handled stretcher to pull tight around post on that end, two staples to hold it, then twist off and remove come-a-long.

Oh, and Please put the wire on the side of the posts toward the livestock! farmdude

Posted 9/18/2008 01:33 (#463278 - in reply to #461128)
Subject: Re: How to tighten barb wire fence?



My Dad was an old pro at barb wire fences. He was a firm believer in a tight barb fence 3,4,or 5 wire whatever the situation called for. We use 2 stretchers the mechanical type an rope type. If you have a long stretch off barb nothing beats a rope stretcher for sure. The mechanical type will work on most applications though. Around here fencing is a lost art. People are taking more out then there putting in. Ben

Posted 9/18/2008 08:24 (#463378 - in reply to #463278)
Subject: Re: How to tighten barb wire fence?



North Mo.

We still have a couple sets of the rope type. When I was a kid we were streching a 1/8th mile with them and the wire broke but no one got hurt. I'll take my Hitensil elect. Jim

Posted 9/19/2008 00:58 (#464134 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



Driftless SW Wisconsin

I've been using a "gripple" to tighten some old loose barb wire fences. If the ends and braces are tight, I cut about a 2-3 ft section of barb wire out of the middle of the slack area and use 2 gripples to insert a piece of smooth 9 or 11 gauge brace wire and pull the smooth wire tight with the gripple tool. By tightening it in the middle you have to pull a minimum number of barbs thru the clips. The roll type tighteners don't seem to work to well for me on heavy Red Brand barb wire. Old wire tends to break there.

If the ends are the problem, I use a new piece of 9 or 11 ga brace wire wrapped around the post, stapled and twisted with about 3 ft of and end loose. Then use a large gripple to attach the end of the new 9 or 11 ga to the barb wire and tighten by pulling the smooth wire thru the gripple with their tool.
To me this is easier than using the older type fence puller.

Here's a link to the Gripple website with some interesting little animations showing how to use them with barb wire. click on the American flag, Fencing and Barb wire.

Jim at Dawn



Edited by Jim 9/19/2008 00:59


myfarm

Posted 9/19/2008 06:43 (#464169 - in reply to #464134)
Subject: Re: How to tighten barb wire fence?




On new installations, I like to leave enough wire past the H structure to allow backing up to it with a pickup, wrap the wire around the shank of the trailer ball, get everyone a safe distance away, and pull with the pickup until the wire breaks at the wrap around the ball, then re-stretch with the mechanical stretcher and double wrap the corner post. It will stay tight for many years. moorefencing

Posted 10/20/2008 01:24 (#486279 - in reply to #461071)
Subject: RE: How to tighten barb wire fence?



forsyth montana

I have been a fence contractor since 1980 and I get a lot of questions about fencing. So a few years ago I published a book that covers all phases of farm and ranch fence and corrals and so on.

Now I'm not claiming to know it all but I've picked up on a lot of things that I'm sure most people will appreciate. I know that I wish I had a book like this when I started out it would have made things a lot easier.

So checkout my book and our tools at moorefencingonline.com
And if you have any questions email me at [email protected]

Thank you Vern Moore

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