CntryBoy777 - The Lazy A** Acres Adventures

[Mike CHS]

Our COOP carries a bracket plate that screws on to the cross brace ends and you then screw it into the post. I've used them quite a bit because of the simplicity. Those are nice when you are working by yourself since you can just use a couple of clamps on the posts to lay the cross brace on.

 

[Mike CHS]

It seems that I can just check what you have for weather to know what we are getting some hours later.

 

[Bruce]

High yesterday - 63F
Low tomorrow morning 8F.
It should go above freezing again on Monday.

 

[NH homesteader]

Yeah... I don't want to talk about the fact that our forecast says 0 tonight and -2 tomorrow night....

At least the mud froze and we don't need 4wd to get out of the driveway!

 

[greybeard]

Guess I'll have to keep looking around for them then. If I can't find them, I'll just notch them. I do have to get some rebar to twist the brace wire with too...along with the xlong shaft bore bits, for hinge bolts....it seems to be never ending...LOL

Check with McCoys Builders (Greenville, Laurel, Vicksburg).
They should have the long threaded hinge bolts. I only used them once, on a gate at my sister's place that someone had mis-measured and the opening between the posts was too wide to use the lag threaded hinge pins.

I never use the pins for the cross braces. I can have the 2 posts notched in less time than boring one pin hole, and I've never seen anyone around here that did use the pins.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

0 tonight and -2 tomorrow night

That's crazy....crazy I tell ya!

 

[CntryBoy777]

@greybeard most I have talked to here either toenail them, or notch the post, and use a piece of branch to wind the wires. So, I just thought about notching and using 1/2" galvanized conduit to wind the wires. I could only get barbless wire locally, and not sure if strainers will work for it, and @$3-4/stick it would be cheaper than strainers anyway. Don't ya think that would work?

 

[greybeard]

I've never used it but I suppose 1/2"conduit will work--depending how tight you twist the wire, and whether that thinwall conduit rusts thru very quickly. Conduit isn't designed to be open to the atmosphere.

I never used strainers for brace wire, partly because most of mine were done with larger diameter cable than would go thru an opening in a strainer, and because for most of my life, strainers weren't available--and like you say--added expense.

It's just a matter of personal preference I guess but I can't see myself going to the trouble of drilling all those holes for pins. It would require ~20 holes, just to secure the braces in the fence that separates my 1 acre yard from the pastures.

 

[Bruce]

That's crazy....crazy I tell ya!

Yes it is and I live ~ 90 miles NW of @NH homesteader as the crow flies. Just checked the weather again, we are also expecting -2F on Saturday morning.

The strainers are $3.29 at TSC, sounds like the same price or less than you would be paying for the conduit. Don't see how that is cheaper and certainly not better. The strainers are super easy to use, shall I come by and demonstrate? Plus, common though it is, I don't really like the concept of twisting the wire, fine adjustments don't happen. With the strainer you just go one more click. And if you think it is maybe too tight? You can lift the restraining wire on the ratchet and back it off one click.

Also, bare wire works fine in the strainers, that is what they are made for. Not sure one really wants to use barbed for brace wire since as you tighten it, it needs to slip around the posts. I would think the barbs would make that darn near impossible.

 

[greybeard]

1/2" galv conduit comes in 10' sticks. 10' stick at Lowes is $2.38. A 10' stick will make 5 twist rods.
$.48 per twist rod.

https://www.lowes.com/pl/Conduit-Conduit-conduit-fittings-Electrical/4294653947