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<blockquote data-quote="ToddFarmsInc" data-source="post: 546100" data-attributes="member: 8301"><p>lots of good reading on this thread. It interests me because lately I've been replacing a lot of fences where the wire is old, and it has just gotten so rusted, and brittle that if you lean against it, it just snaps. </p><p></p><p></p><p>My grandpa, and great grandpa put in a lot of the fences that I am replacing. It has lasted 70-100 years quite nicely. They just used hedge (osage orange) posts, of various sizes, and wire and staples. Back in the day, metal "T" posts cost money, so they were seldom used. They have held up really well, even with regular pasture burning, but you do have to be careful, because you can burn them off at ground level. What's interesing, is that the posts I'm pulling out, have suffered the most rot right at ground level. The constant composting of plant material, and the moisture at that level is what rots out the wood the fastest. You pull the post out, and it will be fine underground a couple feet, but right at the surface level, it will be rotted nearly in two. </p><p></p><p>As for just stapeling the fence to trees. That works great, but it's also true that the tree's natural sap will be corrosive on the wire, and if it breaks around the tree anywhere, it will be right against the tree and then you will have to cut the wire on the other side of the tree, and splice it around the tree and restaple it back to the tree. A process you will probably have to repete evey 15 years or so. (so if you are in your 70's what the heck, you probably won't have to mess with it again. ;-) )</p><p></p><p>My dad also put in a lot of fence some years ago. He used all "T" posts on some of his fences, he had the money to buy the posts, and they were quick and easy to pop into the ground. But,they currently are in about the worst shape. The reason why, is because the cows constantly lean on the fence in one direction, and they just lean over with time, far worse than wood posts. I find that one wooden post in about every 6 will hold the fence upright much better than just solid "T" posts. Also wood posts do a better job of holding the wire up or down over terreses, and washouts. Lastly, the solid "T" post fences that my dad had put in 30 years ago are much shorter than they were when he put them in. The years of the added weight of ice in the winter time, and the wind and the cattle has cause those "T" posts to continue to sink into the ground a good foot or so lower than they were organially set at. In fact some fences have sunk down to the point the bottom wire is sitting on the ground.</p><p></p><p>All new fences we are currently installing will have T posts, and wood posts too.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ToddFarmsInc, post: 546100, member: 8301"] lots of good reading on this thread. It interests me because lately I've been replacing a lot of fences where the wire is old, and it has just gotten so rusted, and brittle that if you lean against it, it just snaps. My grandpa, and great grandpa put in a lot of the fences that I am replacing. It has lasted 70-100 years quite nicely. They just used hedge (osage orange) posts, of various sizes, and wire and staples. Back in the day, metal "T" posts cost money, so they were seldom used. They have held up really well, even with regular pasture burning, but you do have to be careful, because you can burn them off at ground level. What's interesing, is that the posts I'm pulling out, have suffered the most rot right at ground level. The constant composting of plant material, and the moisture at that level is what rots out the wood the fastest. You pull the post out, and it will be fine underground a couple feet, but right at the surface level, it will be rotted nearly in two. As for just stapeling the fence to trees. That works great, but it's also true that the tree's natural sap will be corrosive on the wire, and if it breaks around the tree anywhere, it will be right against the tree and then you will have to cut the wire on the other side of the tree, and splice it around the tree and restaple it back to the tree. A process you will probably have to repete evey 15 years or so. (so if you are in your 70's what the heck, you probably won't have to mess with it again. ;-) ) My dad also put in a lot of fence some years ago. He used all "T" posts on some of his fences, he had the money to buy the posts, and they were quick and easy to pop into the ground. But,they currently are in about the worst shape. The reason why, is because the cows constantly lean on the fence in one direction, and they just lean over with time, far worse than wood posts. I find that one wooden post in about every 6 will hold the fence upright much better than just solid "T" posts. Also wood posts do a better job of holding the wire up or down over terreses, and washouts. Lastly, the solid "T" post fences that my dad had put in 30 years ago are much shorter than they were when he put them in. The years of the added weight of ice in the winter time, and the wind and the cattle has cause those "T" posts to continue to sink into the ground a good foot or so lower than they were organially set at. In fact some fences have sunk down to the point the bottom wire is sitting on the ground. All new fences we are currently installing will have T posts, and wood posts too. [/QUOTE]
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