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Barb Wire Fence Installation

Barb wire fences are often associated with farms and ranches. Farmers and ranchers use barb wire to keep livestock from roaming too far and keep predators such as wolves and coyotes out. Barb wire is a steel-iron wire that incorporates barbs about every 12 inches. Erecting a barb wire fence is not unlike erecting a wood or vinyl fence, in that the support posts must be anchored in the ground.

Things You'll Need

  • Work gloves
  • Post-hole diggers
  • Wheelbarrow
  • Mortar
  • Sand
  • Hoe
  • 4-by-4-inch lumber beams, 7 feet long
  • Barb wire
  • Staple gun
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Instructions

    • 1

      Put on gloves and dig into the ground with post-hole diggers. Make the hole about 36 inches deep and 8 inches across to sink the support posts into. Repeat this for as many support beams as you'll need --about every 6 to 8 feet.

    • 2

      Mix 3 parts sand with 1 part mortar in a wheelbarrow. Mix the dry contents together with a hoe and mist the mortar/sand mix with water and mix with a hoe until the mud becomes a pancake batter-like consistency.

    • 3

      Place a 4-by-4-inch, 7-foot-long post into the hole and pour mortar mix into the hole to anchor the support beam. About 4 feet of the beam should be exposed from the ground up. Let it dry for at least 24 hours before proceeding to installing the barb wire.

    • 4

      Set one end of the barb wire against the first support post about 2 feet from the ground and fasten to the post with a staple gun. Stretch the barb wire around to the next support beam and fasten it with staples. Repeat until you've fastened the barb wire to each post.

    • 5

      Set another end of a roll of barb wire against the first post approximately 2 feet up from the barb wire already fastened to it and staple it to the support beam. Go around to the other beams, stretching the barb wire taut and fastening it to each post with staples.