Fencing land with an uneven terrain of hills and valleys presents challenges for the farmer. Fences placed on level land require braced corner posts only at gates or where the fence changes direction. Rolling land might require many more of these posts to take the additional strain on the wire. In addition, planning and laying out the fence might be more difficult if parts of the fence line are obscured by hills and valleys. The project requires more time and materials but falls within the capabilities of farmers, ranchers and do-it-yourselfers who have worked on fence projects in the past.
Instructions
1. Mark the planned fence line. The normal process includes sighting from one corner to the next and having someone mark with stakes the fence line between. If hills and valleys obscure the other corner, the process becomes one of sighting from hilltop to hilltop and marking the fence line at each of these points. Then go back and mark the post locations between each hill.
2. Build a braced line post assembly at the top of each hill and the bottom of each valley as well as at the corners of the pasture. Dig three fence posts about 3 feet deep and 8 feet apart. Set 8-foot-long, 8-inch-diameter posts in the hole. Hold the post straight upright while packing soil around it with a tamping bar. Place a wood post or beam brace between the posts about 4 feet above the ground, and fasten in place with 6-inch pole barn spikes. Wrap smooth wire between the top of the end post and the bottom of the middle post. Make five or six passes of the wire before twisting the ends together. Stick a scrap of lumber between the wire groups. Rotate the scrap of lumber to twist the wires, creating tension. Repeat on the other side of the assembly.
3. Place fence posts along the fence line between each of the braced line post assemblies. Use a post driver to install steel posts or dig post holes and set wood posts in the same manner as Step 2.
4. Attach the end of the wire to the end post of the corner assembly. Roll the wire along the ground to the first braced line post assembly. Use a fence stretcher, a ratcheting tool used to pull wire tight, to tighten the wire. Fasten the wires to the line posts using fencing staples in wood posts and wire ties on steel posts. Fasten the wire to the center post of the brace assembly by wrapping it around the post and stapling it in place.
5. Fasten the wire to the same center post, and continue to the next braced line post assembly. Complete the entire first run of wire, thereby putting strain on both sides of each braced line post assembly, before returning to the starting point and adding the next strand of wire.
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