How to Tighten Barbed Wire With a Come-A-Long

Find the nearest fence post or nearby support pole such as a tree or light post close to the area where you need to tighten the barbed wire. Attach the back end of the come-a-long to the support post by wrapping the back looping wire of the tool around the support and then attaching the clip to the metal ring that is on the back of the come-a-long.

Locate the barbed wire clamp section on the come-a-long and push it downward to open up the pinchers. Once the pinchers are open, insert the barbed wire, but be sure to leave plenty of excess wire to secure to the post after the fact. A minimum of 2 feet is ideal. Push the clamp back into place to hold the wire, and slot the metal loop on the end of the clamp into the metal hook on the forward end of the come-a-long.

Crank the lever of the come-a-long until the wire becomes tight. Ideally, you want the come-a-long positioned so that once the wire becomes tight, the come-a-long itself is past the fence post which you are using as the anchoring point for the end of the barbed wire fence, otherwise known as a corner post. Some trial and error may be required if this is your first time. Once the wire is tight, give the machine one or two final cranks.

Staple the wire to the corner post with a hammer and staples. Secure it with at least two staples, and then release tension on the wire by using the release mechanism on the come-a-long. Detach the barbed wire from the device. Wrap it around the corner post twice, then use the fencing pliers to pull the wire as tight as possible. Wrap the remaining section of the barbed wire around the tightened strand, looping it until you have no more wire left. Place additional staples for a more secure installation.