Fence Building Equipment

Digging Equipment

• You can dig fence post holes with a clamshell digger, which has two handles and requires strength and stamina to complete the heavy physical labor. If you have many holes to dig or if the ground is particularly hard, you may find a power-driven auger more efficient. Single-operator and two-person augers have the motors mounted on top and dig the hole by rotating an oversize screw-like metal shaft into the ground. For very long fences, rent an auger accessory if you have a tractor; some homeowners find that hiring a contractor with tractor-mounted auger equipment is a cost-effective solution for the first stage of fence building.

Mixing Equipment

• Use a mortar tub and a mortar hoe that has holes in its blade to mix the concrete that holds fence posts upright and level in the fence post holes. A mortar tub and hoe are also appropriate to mix the binding material when you build a brick or mortar-set stone fence. For a long fence line with many posts, an electric or gas-driven motorized cement mixer allows you to mix larger volumes to get the job done more quickly. Make sure you have a wheelbarrow to transport the mixed concrete or use a portable-design mixer so you can move it closer to your work area between batches.

Cutting Equipment

• Set up a table saw outdoors, close to your work area, for cutting rails, top posts and pickets for a wood fence. The table saw should have a large platform to support the board when you are cutting at an angle for fence corners, or use a circular saw with a blade that can be angled instead of the wood. Use a masonry blade, without teeth, in a circular saw to etch the break point in stone when you are building a stone fence. For a chain link fence, a pipe cutter is essential equipment, allowing you to get a tight fit when you build the frame.

Hand-Held Equipment and Tools

• A professional-grade carpenter's level is essential for aligning any type of fence you build. Other carpenter's tools, like screwdrivers and hammers are adequate for a small wood fencing project, but for larger projects, a power drill and pneumatic nail-driving equipment ease the task. Some fence styles, like a prefabricated vinyl picket fence, are designed to snap together, requiring minimal tools. Other styles, like chain-link fences, require metal-cutting equipment, a tension-bar fence stretcher, pliers and several sizes of wrenches.