Protecting your farm and securing your animals and your equipment is next to impossible if your land is entirely open. Not only can wild animals, the neighbor’s dog or the neighbors themselves enter your farm without your knowledge – especially if you have a vast expanse of land – but your animals can roam around unchecked. A fence is an integral part of any farm. But you can’t build just any wall or leave it alone once it’s up.
First, get the right equipment and tools. Power equipment sales in New Zealand offer some of the best in the field. Here is a list of things you are likely to need if you are to build a fence around your farm:
Leather Gloves
Protect your hands. Use heavy leather gloves. Wood splinters, wire ends, sharp edges and many other hazardous objects present a serious threat to your hands, so make sure to choose sturdy leather gloves that also offer ease of movement. You might also want to invest in a high-quality pair of protective goggles.
Claw Hammer
No self-respecting farmer is without a good claw hammer or two. The little hammer is one of the tools most often used in any construction work, and building and fixing a fence is no exception. Hammers are inexpensive. Make sure to choose one from a known manufacturer.
Shovels
Shovels of different sizes are a good idea, but having at least one reliable shovel is very important. Like hammers, shovels are essential and affordable tools you can find in any farming supply store. Choose a shovel from a known brand so it will last a long time. You will need a shovel for essential clearing and digging as you build or fix your fence.
Auger
Using a drill can save plenty of time, especially if you have to fence around a large area. You can find a one-person drill if you’re doing the work by yourself, but if you have help, think about getting a two-person professional drill. You can also buy or rent an auger with a tractor attachment for even easier work.
Gas Chainsaw
On a big farm, it might not be easy to get power for a chainsaw, so buy a small one that runs on petrol. It can make easy work of trimming posts and braces, and you’ll save plenty of time.
Fence Tensioner and Come-Along
You want a tight fence around your farm. You can achieve it with a quality fence tensioner. There are several types, so you’ll surely find one for your needs. A tensioner clamps onto the wires and ensures a nice and tight fence. Use the come-along to tension the wall.
Tamping Tool
Tensioning a fence without tamping the soil around the posts will make the posts come out of the ground. Get a tamping tool with a chisel point on one end to help you break hard soil first, then tamp it around the posts with the flat tamping end.
Post Pounder
With a woven wire fence, you’ll likely use T-bar posts. Use a post pounder to sink the posts into the ground. Use your tamping tool to prep the hole before pounding in the T-bar posts.
Fence Pliers, Wire Cutters, and Crimping Tool
You can’t work on a wire fence without wire cutters. They should slice quickly and cleanly through high-tensile wires. Your crimping tool will come in handy when you have to splice wires together using swage sleeves. Fence pliers are also invaluable tools when building or repairing your fence. Get the right sizes for your needs.
You might need more tools that are not on this list. To make sure you have all the tools and equipment you need, ask other farmers who have more experience in building a fence. As with anything related to farming, what you need vary depending on the type of fence and the terrain you’re working on.
