*****Installing Tension Wire - Fence*****

[Fred]

I have an 8 or 9 foot chain link fence between a parking lot and a tennis court. There was no tension wire installed at the bottom and I think kids are pulling the fence up and going underneath. If the fence was installed over grass the grass would eventually grab the fence but it is installed over asphalt. The fence is now out of shape at the bottom. I'm going to install a tension wire at the bottom and attach the chain link fence to it. I'll wrap it around the first post and run it down the fence. When I get to the last post how do I get it tight and then wrap it around the last post? We are talking about 80 to 100 foot.

[sleepdog]

Go to a fence place and ask them, they probably have a tool or technique for that kind of fence. Years ago I worked installing electric fence, they require lots of tension across acres of land. We used special round fittings that sat on the wire with which you could attach a handle too, to twist it to the correct tension and lock it in place.

[Duane Bozarth]

Get a Maasdam gripper clamp and attach it to your comealong to make an homemade wirepuller is the easiest way. If you're pulling a #10 or heavier wire as I suppose you will be, you'll need that rather than simply a pair of fencing pliers to get enough tension to do any good. You'll also need a good pair of pliers to handle the wire to tie it off.

Hook the comealong around the second post, grap the wire and pull hand tight, then w/ the clamp a couple feet away then tighten adequately. Use the fencing pliers around the post to gain the tension around the second post.

You could buy one of the little end fittings the commercial fencing outfits use that clamp around the post but wrapping around it will work just fine, same way we do barb wire. If you want fancy, get a long double-eye-bolt and you could then retension later if needed.

The "Power Pull" is the best (bar none) wire stretcher design there is imo. A good farm supply should have them and spare clamps, etc., which are cheaper than the full puller if you have a comealong already.

W/O something similar, you're force to jury rig some other technique which is doable but a pita....