New farm, let's build some stuff

That’s not the way the fence ones go though, they go to the ground at the end. The horizontal post changes how the force actually acts.

Only without the horizontal part does it only make sense to have it go top hinge side to bottom adjacent post.

I’m finding a total mish mash of information/pictures on this, I’m just going to do Xs to be safe. That’s what I’m seeing the most of, second to the wire going to the ground. I don’t want saggy gates (though I will always have them supported at the foot end somehow).

hq720

Those both look to me like they are braced to resist the pulling force of the fence, not the weight of the gate. Is that where the confusion is? A wire can only resist tension, so the diagonal that is braced via wire is the one that you expect to lengthen as the rectangle racks out of square. You can brace the opposite diagonal with wood, which is stronger in compression.

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I don’t know. The wire braces the corner post, not the first line post. So even in a corner with no gate, they go to ground.

I’ll do Xs. Easier for my lizard brain to understand.

Well, with Xs, you know it is going to stay square whichever direction it is pulled toward! :rofl:

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Got some of the horizontal posts up. They go up super easy with the brackets.

Black posts are 9’, normal color is 8’. Anything that’s going to take a huge pull is 9’. Vertical posts are 6" diameter, horizontal are 5".

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Yep, totally.

Guess it depends on what, exactly, you’re bracing–against the pull of the fence, or against the pull of the gate.

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Ohhh that is shaping up to a nice fence!!

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It needs to do both in multiple places! :slight_smile:

Then you’re right–you’ll need it going in different directions! :wink:

What helps me on this stuff is thinking about:

Wire is using tension to brace. It’s pulling against another force.

A solid pole is using rigidity to brace. It’s pushing against another force.

I spent a good half day trying to figure out how to build some doors and brace them properly, so I feel your frustration!

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I have to look at it and imagine it sagging, visualize the way it will deform. If I can’t do that in my head, I only have to go outside and look at one of several old screen/storm doors on this old house!

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It’s really fun to remember when you first posted this property and your plans and seeing it all come into reality. I don’t envy you exactly but I do like watching you work! ha ha

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What really screwed me up is that the door to my chicken coop was set up with the wire in the wrong spot! That plus a lot of incorrect info online just had me confused for awhile :joy:

Also @endlessclimb, if there’s enough tension in your fence, that’ll brace the gate post against the gate. It’s already being pulled away.

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That will work on the side pictured, but the other side is a full size brace, followed by a gap for a 3’ mail-getter gate. Fingers crossed that one doesn’t sag!

It’s fun seeing it all come together! I’ll be glad when the big projects are done though.

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Few more up. The front is ready for brace wire.

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Stupid question:

Were these the posts pounded by the post pounding folks? Or did you place these corners yourself?

I need to redo a few corner braces. I started last summer and was quickly discouraged with the process. Story of my life. :rofl:

The wood posts were pounded by the contractor. Thank goodness, because my plan was to rent the equipment and it’s been ages since I’ve operated a skid steer.

I should add - I specified the distances and provided the posts. We spent hours on day one going over the layout and I was there every step of the way to make sure they ended up where I wanted them.

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Ah, thanks! A post hole digger for the tractor has been on the wish list, which would definitely increase my motivation to finish the task.

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You can rent one of those little dingos with a post hole attachment for next to nothing, and they’re honestly easier to get the hole right because you can see the auger better.

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