| |
WHY HI-TENSILE WIRE
Why consider hi-tensile wire in the first place ?
-
Cost effectiveness. It's pretty basic math when comparing 12.5 gauge hi-tensile wire to 12.5 gauge 2 or 4 point barbed wire. Current prices are (Nov 2007):
-
Our #WSA2 12.5 gauge hi-tensile wire in 4000’ roll is $79.00, which is 0.01975 cents per foot. Let's call it 2 cents per foot.
-
Ordinary 2 point 12.5 gauge barbed wire sells for approximately $55.00 for a 1320’ roll, which is 0.0416 per foot. Let's call it 4 cents per foot in round numbers.
-
Summary; Hi-tensile wire is less than half the cost per foot.
-
Much less material needed to build a substantial fence.
-
The added distance in post spacing will save you a LOT of money in line post costs. With barbed or conventional woven wire, you will need to put your line posts from 10 to 12 feet apart to maintain its effectiveness. With hi-tensile wire you can enjoy line post spacings of 40 to 50 feet. What that equates to is, with a 4 or 5 strand barbed wire fence you will need 110 line posts in a quarter mile (1320’). For a similar fence using hi-tensile wire you would only need 33 line posts. That’s a major cost savings, not to mention the labor savings!
-
With electrified hi-tensile wire you can get by with less strands of wire for your cross fences. For example, for cattle a cross fence of barbed wire would need to have a minimum of 4 strands. With hi-tensile electric you can use 1 strand about 34” off the ground, and it's effective.
-
Much less labor to erect fence.
-
Hi-tensile wire is much easier to work with than barbed wire. And, actually there is less equipment and / or handling requirement needs.
-
Hi- tensile wire is much easier to work with. There are no barbs to deal with.
-
Stronger and lasts longer.
-
Hi-tensile wire is by far stronger. It has 3 to 4 times more breaking strength.
-
The class III galvanized coating on hi-tensile wire will last 3 to 4 times longer than the class I coating of most barbed wire.
-
Less Maintenance:
-
Class I soft wire, such as most barbed and field fence will stretch approximately 10 to 12 % of its initial tension. Once it stretches it does not return to its original tension. Therefore, when it does get pressure or damage from wildlife, tree limbs or whatever – you must physically make the repairs and retention the fence. If you do not, then it will not be a physical barrier anymore. Barbed wire must be kept tensioned or it looses its effectiveness – plain & simple!
-
Hi-tensile wire will stretch to about 2% of its initial tension. AND, it will then return to its initial tension. Now 2% doesn’t sound like much, but that equates to 27 feet in a quarter mile. Our #WSA2 wire has a breaking strength of 1358 pounds. That means that in a quarter of a mile, you would need to apply that much pulling pressure to break it. And, that is after it stretches to its 2% threshold. Most generally, when a tree falls on a hi-tensile fence all that is required to repair it is to cut the tree off the fence. The wire will most likely pop back up unbroken and unscathed.
Click Here To Return to Archives Index
|
