Problems with wedge clamp strainer boards

It has been our experience that most contractors share the same issues - Very few are satisfied with wedge clamp boards as they often slip or break prefabricated netting wire, such as hinged lock, STIFF STAY or X fence. You knock one wedge in and the others bounce out or they wear from repeated hammering. These problems are only made worse if poor quality wire is provided. 

Wireman boards only put as much force on the wire as you put into tensioning it, and unlike wedge clamps, you can work from just one side of the fence. So one half of a strainer board getting sandwiched between the wire and an end assembly stay is nev a problem.

There is also virtually no bending of the wire which results in a less tension being lost when you release the grippers. And you don't need different boards to do different mesh heights. So you get more done, in less time with less gear.

West Ender Strainer Boards

The West Ender strainer board design is a result of several years of making individual wire strainer boards and listening to the feedback from fencing contractors, who are looking for reliable tools that get the job done fast.

The great benefit to the contractor of the West Ender System is the ability to change gripper positioning fast to suit different line wire spacings. They are quick to use because you don't need tools to put them on the wire or assemble and adjust them. So no time is wasted looking for hammers or wedges lost in the grass.

Made from 4mm thick 40mm square hollow section, they are tough as nails and quick to set up. West Enders use a pull pin system for assembly and adjustment. You can turn a one metre high strainer board into a two metre board for in seconds. And with a 2 Metre kit you can do everything from gut straining 8 line to pulling up 16 line exclusion, without needing another board.

East Ender Strainer Boards

Provide all the benefits of individual wire gripping capability on an easy to use versatile setup. They are perfect if you are always using the same type of wire on your own property. 

Manufactured from High Tensile steel, multiple boards are simply bolted together to create boards up to 2 Metres in height. 

A big focus on time saving

Few fencing contractors have room on the back of the truck for tools that are not in regular use, and they know full well going back to a job or having to get spare parts for a tool when your miles from town is a complete waste of time and money.

At Wireman and we do all we can to produce the best tools available, because most of the money in a fence is time. Our products may have a higher price point than other products on the market, but when that results in a user saving an hour a day in time, Wireman strainer boards pay for themselves very quickly.

Fence Faster, Earn more with Wireman tools.

The simple fact is, most people over tension, it is the single biggest reason for wires breaks in cold weather. Tension gauges are important, especially when using StraineX hoists, it’s just so easy to over tension the wire.

For everyday use, Die spring tension gauges are the best tool, as they have – “throw in the in ute“ reliability. They are designed for repeated use, and used correctly, they’re accurate to within 5 kilos.

For the fencing contractor, A digital tension gauge provides certainty that the tension on the wire is within manufacturer specifications, the proof of which can be provided with pictures.

If you have any questions about wire tensioners or any of the products in our range please give us a call on 02 9955 2264 or send us an email to sales@wireman.com.au.

Animals getting over your fences?

If you have animals getting over a fence and you need to stop them, then you either build a new taller fence or raise the height of the one you have.

No matter whether you are trying to stop deer or roos getting on to your property or trying to stop sheep, goats or chickens getting out, there is a PickeX solution to suit your fence extension idea.

If you can slow down or greatly reduce the movement of animals getting onto your land or your stock getting out, it can have a big impact on profitability. The quicker you deal with the problem, the sooner a solution will provide a return on your investment.

* Most of the ideas in this article relate to agricultural fences however, the POLESTAR system is so versatile (when used in combination with the PS45 and PSTY Brackets) it can be used to achieve practical solutions to residential and industrial fencing problems without the use of STAR pickets or T posts. They are both easy to install and unobtrusive to look at - If you would like to know more about how to use the PickeX POLESTAR range of products in a residential or commercial setting please give us a call or send us an email to sales@wireman.com

The standard solutions

Up till now, most land owners raised their fences by either putting in taller posts, using bolt on brackets, or welding on an extension of some description.

Putting in taller posts is expensive and bolt on brackets mean having to remove the wire from the posts then tying it back on, which is time consuming. Welding is not always possible because the poor quality steel found in many newly manufactured pickets is often not weldable. There is also the obvious fire risk of welding over dry grass and the problem of getting a welder to the posts.

Some will say, pull out the fence and start from scratch. But you are not going to be keen on doing that if you have spent thousands of dollars on a not so old fence.

What can be done?

PICKEX POLE STARs are made in 300, 450, 600 and 900mm lengths. Best described as a post extension sleeve, they can be used in a variety of ways or in conjunction with a standard STAR picket or part STAR picket, to raise the height of the fence to virtually any height you may need without removing the existing wire.

Made from high tensile galvanised steel PICKEX POLE STARs are a strong and robust item. They fit both the STAR pickets used in Australia and all Tee posts commonly sold in the USA. With the addition of a POLE STAR MAX, they can also be used to extend BEEFY or MAXY posts. Raise your fences quickly, easily and cost effectively with fully Australian-made PICKEX POLE STARs.

The Versatile Solution

The real beauty of the POLE STAR system is versatility. They can be used as a stand alone item or in conjunction with the PS45 brackets to create the right barrier for your situation. No matter whether it is deer, goats, kangaroos, chickens, pigs, wild dogs or cats that you are trying to stop getting over the fence.

If you are trying to stop animals like roos simply jumping the fence, then pairs of two wires close together are better than one wire by itself as the animals can see the pair better, especially when moving at speed.

The key point is that you do not need to have a lot of tension on the wire up high as there is not going to be any stock pressure high on the fence. You simply need to add a strong riser to the end assembly to secure the wire and apply light tension. The main aim is to provide a visual deterrent.

Different picket and post sizes

You may have differing types of posts on your property, and there are many varieties of posts on the market so, it would be virtually impossible to have a perfect fit for all of them. If you want a really tight fit or you are having trouble getting a POLE STAR to slide over the particular posts that you have, a great feature of the POLE STAR shape is that it can easily be adjusted to suit the post size. Details of how to do this can be seen in the PICKEX instruction manual.

These are just some of the ways PICKEX and POLE STAR can be used. If you have any questions or problems, please get in touch and let us know your thoughts at; sales@wireman.com.au

Raising Electric Fences

One of the best ways to prevent animals getting over a fence or keep them apart and stop them fighting is to use an electric fence, as animals can sense the fence is there without contacting it.

If you are looking to raise a fence and add an electric hot wire, a variety of insulators and offsets can be used with PICKEX POLE STARs to achieve the right solution for your needs.

CERAMIC INSULATORS are the most long lasting and versatile solution for both direct to post or offset hot wire setups.

PLASTIC INSULATORS are made from UV and heat resistant PVC. They offer the most cost effective and easy to install electric fence solution.

There are several well known companies (including DATAMARS and GALLAGHER) who supply plastic insulators that can easily and quickly be fixed to PICKEX using self drilling screws.

Davo’s Fencing Clips have wire saddles that allow you to fix either ceramic insulators, plain wire or plastic tubular insulators to PICKEX with a single screw. Find their products at davosfencingclip.com

Animals going under the fence

The reality is that most animals will try to go under a fence before they try to go over it. This is especially true of Deer and Kangaroos. As a result you will need to plug holes and tie down the bottom wire of the fence to make it an effective barrier. To do this Wireman has developed the HOLDFAST HARPOON Ground anchor system which can be seen by clicking the link.

Got a fence with everything going under it!

The reality is that most animals will try to go under a fence before they try to go over it. This is especially true of Deer and Kangaroos. 

As a result Wireman developed HOLDFAST HARPOON that allows you to tie down the bottom wire of a fence to plug up holes and make it an effective barrier. With over 100kgs of pull out force required to pull them out, (even on soft ground) its the perfect tool to hold down wire at the bottom of a dip or gully.

• Easy to install.
• Won’t pull out.
• Increased hold, over time.
• Multiple size harpoons
• Can be used with hammer alone.

Attach a lanyard to a harpoon by holding the lanyard with the ends of the wire pointing toward you. Slide the harpoon onto the wire with the tip pointing upward and the curve facing away from you.

When the two wires are in the holes between the first bends, push the tip forward so the wires slide into the slots on the side of the harpoon then bend the lanyard backward away from the tip. then slide the applicator head through the hole with the curve of the harpoon facing away from the hump of the applicator head and position it in the slot. Drive the harpoon into the ground beside the bottom wire, then hammer backward to release the harpoon and remove the applicator.

Pull the lanyard to set the harpoon in the ground then twist the lanyard around the bottom wire to hold it down.

Make a fence effective, with Holdfast Harpoon by Wireman.

Animals getting over a fence

If you have animals getting over a fence and you need to stop them, then you either build a new taller fence or raise the height of the one you have. Building a new fence can be an expensive proposition so, Wireman developed PICKEX fence height extensions that can be seen by clicking the link.

No matter whether you are trying to stop deer or roos getting on to your property or trying to stop sheep, goats or chickens getting out, there is a PickeX solution to suit your fence extension idea.