What Is The BEST Way To Stretch Fence Wire? | Chain Strainer VS Come Along 

Very interested in farm fencing on any continent. I'm from Australia, What impressed me most was the attitude that everyone had in the video, An open minded, let's see if we can learn something and improve what we do mind set. I'd be happy with any of you fellows putting up fences for me.

I use a chain strainer. It was make around 1900 and used by three generations of my family. Still does the job on the farm.

My father was a fencer in the 70's and used that chain walker style then, had 9 sets with most at least on their third set of jaws.

You cannot beat the good old fashioned Hayes Wire Strainer. A great Kiwi invention. I use 2.4 metre long leaders off the strainer so they clear the strainer stay and use permanent wire tensioners. At a few dollars each it makes life so much easier.

I been a fence guy for over 20 years and have never try a chain walker after seen this video I want to buy one and try it my self if it’s a tool that makes my job easier I want it in my truck. Great videos guys very educational specially for beginners keep up the good job greetings from California

In New Zealand it is common practice to tie wires off at both ends and use the chain strainer in the middle of the fence line so it pulls equally from both directions and set up chain strainers on all wires at once and tension all of the wires (8 wires for a boundary fence here in NZ) at the same time before tying off so if end posts or corner post creep loose wires can be tightened before tying off/joining wires permanently I use tex brown knot or a speed knot

Interesting how everyone seems to be different. We always strain the bottom wire first as the top is more likely to loosen if you start at the top. Best of all is enough strainers to do all wires at once.

Watched my dad hang a fence something close to thirty years ago now. He'd never done such before or talked to anyone about how to hang fencing. Never consulted a hunting acquaintance that installed fences for a living on how to do it. The whole thing had so many waves and ripples I wouldn't trust it to hold back blown dry grass much less the dogs he was attempting to build a pen for. When I got older and after one of the (newer) dogs escaped but a girl that lived six houses down from us. I was tasked with the job of fixing the pen. It started with taking the dogs out the pen and hemming them into a transport box. After that all the U-nails were pulled save for one corner post. Made a spreader bar with hooks to get more than one pull point. Took about five feet of slack out of the vertical fencing. Took more time to dig down on the inside of the pen. Unrolled more fence on the ground, bent and fitted the ground fence to the upright. Secured with lots of sturdy wire and about 200' of chain woven between the ground fence and upright fence. Reburied the ground fence. Added to the top of the fence a short back leaning section to be sure dogs couldn't get wise to try and climb out (made sense to me). Better door finished it off and two latches that required both hands to operate and had an automatic lock with a sturdy spring closer. Dogs never got out again but somehow I still got cussed and fussed at for "wasting money by putting fencing in the ground." That's all I could think about when I came across this video.

In Alberta Canada, the majority of the agricultural fences are 4 strands of barbwire. I run the bottom wire to get my line, build my brace, and start pounding line posts while I spool out the other 3 wires behind me. At the other end, I build my brace and stretch all 3 wires, using come alongs, at the same time. I use 3 come alongs, tightening the top wire first, then the second and then the third. My helper goes down the fence and shakes the wires into fence and to even the tension out on wire, down it’s whole length. I don’t tie off each wire after it’s tight, but tighten the one below, (hence the three come alongs). That way, my man down the fence can start tacking the tightened wire up as he goes along and shakes in the wire I’m tightening. When all wire are tight, he can go to town stapling while I tie the wires of, pick up the tools, and spool wire back up. One important thing is wire spacings: fences here are 4’ high. A lot of people think that means wires spaced every 12”. Wrong. Cattle don’t go under or over fences, they go through. Therefore I space my wires 16”,26”,36”,&46” from the ground. In a 5 wire fence, I go 16”,24”,32”,40” and 47”. The 16” allows deer and moose calves to crawl underneath. I do own a pair of chain walkers, but only use them on hi-tensile. They are unknown up here, so hard to get ahold of, and it’s hard to get my help to understand and use them.

Great video start to finish guys!

I'm from Australia and it's interesting reading the comments, especially the Australian ones, to see the differences between techniques. No standard way for anyone, while there's general rules and the same outcome, there's many ways to get to the same outcome. Love all yours and your brothers videos, get Luke to do more please. FYI your way of doing the figure 8 confused me but we both get the same outcome. Until next time, you have a good dang day.

Really good video, thanks!

I use my father-in-law’s old come along with the rope and pulley’s. It works perfectly.

I been wanting to see this one!

that was an awesome splice knot for sure. I have actually seen something like that but didn't know it was a splice!

Awesome comparison👍I use Waratah wire strainers n do figure 8 to join wires, I been fencing since I kid , now I 40+ LOL. I usually carry double of everything n have kangaroo pouch for tire off wires with homemade flat key. Don’t forget wear gloves n safety glasses as my neighbour nearly lost his eye👍

As was pointed out by one viewer, In the video I miss spoke and the device I am demonstrating is actually called a chain strainer which has grips on both ends. A boundary strainer is technically for stretching woven wire and has hooks on both ends working on the same chain walking principles.

Thanks for this video. I have been thinking about getting a chain strainer. I currently use a Golden Rod and come along. I am definitely going to purchase a couple chain strainers after watching this.

I think you're right on the time that it takes to reset the come-a-long, it makes the chain-walker more efficient, along with some other details there on the stretching. great comparison!

awesome video like always

I've never seen or be able to do that with standard hi tensile fencing wire in my area, but the knots are still relevant, just keep a good pair of heavy pilers handy to get those tight wraps.

Really appreciate ya’ll taking the time to put this information out there. I have to fence and cross-fence 40 acres in a few months. I’m down near Denver, CO. Any information you could pass along on how I could get my hands on some of those octoposts would be greatly appreciated.

Awesome knowledge figure 8 more useful handy.

Great channel. Glad I found it

My dad has my grandfather chain walker he had in the UK back in the 60s. Its old but works, great for barb wire but crimps high tensile wire bit.

40 years of fencing,8' hi tensile deer fencing all over Napa valley to central coast Calif,we only use chain grabs,hundreds of pulls at ground level,some of my grabs are 40 yrs old,I use one strand of 11.5 ga all around my perimeter 4" off the ground,use like a snap string,lay out T's,hog ring it to fence,so much time saved it's worth the cost,2k ft roll on a reel,grabs are probably the best fence tool there is,the other tool is the single wire post strainer.

Thanks mark We only use come alongs, but now I’m interested in checking out the boundary strainers, (chain walker) 💪🏻

You guys are good! I do wonder why everyone isn’t wearing eye protection. I have had several close calls with high tensile wire. Keep up the good work.

I just stretched new barbwire last week with a heavy duty 20 ft ratchet strap cause i couldn't find my come along, and it actually worked really well.

Always use masdaam come alongs. But what I see with the chain walker is a much simpler more robust mechanism that would be far less prone to damage. I end up replacing alot of cables and cable jacks that get damaged from overuse. Might need to get some chain walkers.

I'd be real interested in those Octo posts!

I am from Zambia , very interested I like it too.

The bigger the belt buckle the more experience. Lol. Great vid 👍

Nice 👍

I used to put up chain link fence for Sears and Roebuck back when you could order it installed from there mail order catalogs the 1960s

I’m from North Dakota and generally the come along is the tool of choice. I know the Tessier clan quite well. There’s an old saying the guy is driving like a Tesher on the way to a fist fight. lol They’re a tough lot , but good people.

so, is there something new with these techniques?? - in Australia - for ever, chain strainers and fencing pliers are all the tools an old fencer needs.

Leave it to a Kewi to come up with the Chain Walker ,I've never seen such a thing until today , Absolutely Genius for wire work , I want one to pretension the chains on my flatbed truck so that the chain binders are more easily used . Spinning ratchet binders is a royal pain the less the better

Thanks swi crew

It’s a very interesting trade you could work along side a different fencing contractor every day and you will always learn something new

Hey bud, I really enjoy your videos and I'm not trying to be a hater but I do have a couple counter points. Minor point but that's not a boundary strainer its a chain strainer. One is for woven wire, one is for smooth or barbed wire. Regardless, the day our boundary strainer chain snapped under tension was the day I threw them all away. It's much weaker than a come along. Boundary strainers are only rated for 600kg. Come along is rated for 2 tons, 4 tons, etc. As an employer I cannot condone such an unsafe tool.

OK, you make a really big deal about how much extra time it takes to stretch out the cable on a come-along, but once you have the end tied off to the fencepost, all it takes to stretch out the cable is to release the pawl on the drum, and walk down the fence line holding the come-along. You're going to have to walk the same distance holding your chain walker to re-set it on the end of you chain. In the video, it takes literally 3 seconds (7:44 to 7:47 )for Jordan to stretch the cable out on the come-along for the next pull. (not including setting the grips, which is going to be about the same for either tool)

Hi, thanks, clear video. I usually using crimp sleeves hayes, but is good to know this metod too. Do you using end knot in fixed knot fence instalation at ending posts? I'm looking for video with test of end knot versus ordinary knot, f.ex. when using wire twister.

Man i need to come to this next year and show yous some techniques

Try get hold of Waratah Wizard Contractor strainers made by GV Donald South Africa. Sold in Australia.

My only issue is all the talk about the wraps and ties. But do all they with Bob wire.

I think that the old "Western Union " splice might be better? Certainly quicker. I was watching some of the old fence splices to see how well they had held up of the ?/ 50 yrs. Were pretty good. I think where he showed one what it was to look like is where I would have built it to then.

I live i Australia do fencing in Australia . The wire grabber no good puts cut in the wire . Reminds me of the old Donaldson strainers they don’t use them for that reason . The way these blokes have done it . It is to hard to get right tension on your wire especially on short strains . I have never seen any fence in Australia done this any in 30 years of fencing .

nice impartial test

Interesting but does the chain walker works as a mesh stretcher like a come along? (Not considering using the fence hog) but just those two simple tools.

As far as wire breaking under tension or unwrapping have you tried circling the end post about three times to lessen tension on knot.

it all depends on how you like to do it. I have been using a come along since 1991, never had an issue with them

Those chain walkers are cool and new too me. I wonder when they started makin a name for themselves. That figure 8’s cool

I'd like to know more about the galvanized poles back in the day versus the new galvanized polls. Do u paint over the galvanizing?

My thought is use which ever way is easiest for you 😊😊

here in Australia we mostly go around a steel post twice to take some of the strain off of the knot. and it is common to burn off in late winter and high tension wire ends up looking like shit sags and rust, more expense cheers

So the boundary strainer can be used for stretching barb wire, right? I'll be getting a chain strainer for sure after watching this video. Thank you for sharing this valuable information..

I must say that I have never pulled the top wire first. If you do by the time you get to the bottom your top is slack. But that Porkchop wire Graber is no good. We build a lot of barbed wire fence. We attach the come a long to a truck bumper and pull past the H brace.

I use the wireclamp that they have on that come along but then I hook it to the winch on my truck and use the wireless remote . Just have to go easy as you can get it waaaaaaay too tight really easy if you get stupid. Using the winch is stupidly fast tho.

Not professional I use comalong .I stopped using termination wrapping. I wrap around post 3 times put staple. Easier for me to repair later.😊

That covid part was gold hahaha

Too bad no one makes the old fashioned lever release come alongs. Interesting test though!

About to put up 2x4 Red brand woven fencing. I have fence stretcher bar. Any tips or tricks that you could give me on this? Or do you have any other suggestions on type of fence I should use. The plan is to put 4x4 post 7’ apart with a 1-1/4 x 6 top rail with the woven fencing. At least is my start. It is for horses. Any suggestions or tips would be appreciated.

Tell #2 west side is the best side

Bom dia, 22/8/23, sou do sul Brasil, PR. Muito top o vídeos de vcs, um show

Yeah, but I already own a few come-alongs and don’t feel like buying & learning how to use another tool. FUN FACT: We call them “PULL-PALS” where I come from.

someone needs some bullnose saddle plyers. built miles and miles of fence over the last 16 years and never seen someone use that type of come along.

Wats up yal. I like the vids. But you should always double wrap. When tension is pulled the wire will squeeze the post and not strain the knot. And a double wrap looks cleaner. Thats my opinion.

Used pork chop for years but we found an item even safer than the pork chop. It is a tapered shaft with an eyelet and forged ring around the shaft with a slot in it to put the wire. Simple and no moving parts.

Can you get the octoposts in CA? Or where are they coming from.

You can damage your strainers by feeding the chain through and choking it on the post. Get a set of fenceline solutions strainers from Australia best on the market.

Interesting. Use a shackle through the chain when straining off a post otherwise you run the risk of bending or twisting the metal clamp under load. The tool is too expensive to ruin and a shackle is quick and easy and cheap to use.

The come along was sqviking without any grease!

Where can I get some octoposts?

Gotta use what I got

i have chain one dont think it so slow ...i use quad and golden rod 25 seconds lol

Do you have a link for the "pork chop" device?

yeah,. i aint done that knot in so long that i cant remember how

Where can I get the "octo" posts?

A come along is better for me because I can use it on other jobs around the property.

first American I have seen using plain wire so plus for that but why over bend it to break it? leave the wire with less bends and leave the tails on so you can udo the knots if required.

Everybody wants to get badges with single make a runn with stay tuff goat wire two corners and a gate and tie all the wires and no gripple t clips

Like watching a late night info commercial pushing a product that will be used once and thrown away. Theres a reason hi tensile wire never took off and you wont find it in most fence lines but rather in piles near the scrap metal. Come alongs are generally used not only because of safety but because they can be used in various applications around the farm whereas that chain walker cant. Dont limit yourself by saying that you will only install hi tensile wire using a certain tool because potential clients might want a time tested product that has always stood up to their needs and is easy to repair using a pair of fence stretchers or a come along combination.

Why would you use a 20 foot chain? Just attach the chain section of a second pair and attach it further along the wire and walk from one chain to the other.

Bit different to the 1960s. We used to stretch the wires with the Land Rover.

The second guy walked what 6 maybe 7 links? The come-a-long guy pulled about 3 feet.

Going green save time and 💰

3 wrap around with 7 gage tension wire, that ain't gonna unravel.

I do not know.

come along all day

I think he might get more time by using a rope come-along. The HT only needs 250lbs & the rope can do 800 so the 1,500 capabilities of wire-rope might not be necessary. The rope-come-along can also be quickly pulled by hand for initial tension before cranking.

try that with 12.5 g wire

I use a 4 M long come along don't have to worry about forgetting chains in the paddock its a bit bulky but I can use to straighten gates as well , biggest problem is it's too powerful and you break high tensile wire with ease, I do use the chain strainer too. The Kiwi's always tell us Aussies that they invented everything, don't listen to them they also believe in hobbits ...

BETTER TO USE STEEL CABLE

No 8 cost significantly less

Email me for help! This is funny!

My first wife was a real chain strainer.....

I will not be stretching my fence super tight

Hook it to the tractor. Pull tight.. fastest

Look into the TEXAS Fence tool works the best, takes only 1 person to work it, and it only takes 15 seconds to set it up..BUT don't buy it on ebay or amazon, they come from china and its cheap