Pulling a 100-Foot Run of 4-Foot Woven Field Fence to 250 Pounds: Straining Boards, Half the Crimp, and a 40-Inch Nail-Board Tension Test

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Bolt two straining boards across the wire at one end, anchor a ratcheting stretcher to a braced post, and pull until the crimps are about half their relaxed size. That lands near 250 pounds per line wire, which you can check with a 42-inch nail board.

How tight should woven wire fence be pulled?

About 250 pounds on each line wire, according to the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, with the tension curves flattened by roughly half. The Ohio NRCS specification gives 200 to 250 pounds and the same half-size crimp. Pull in the upright position and tie off at a braced post.

The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture's fence wire fact sheet says approximately 250 pounds applies to nonelectric wire fences. It describes a homemade straining clamp of two hardwood boards and steel reinforcing bar.

The USDA NRCS Ohio woven wire specification sets fence tension at 200 to 250 pounds, with the crimp half the size of an untensioned crimp when stretched.

Tension Targets and Checks

Check Target Source
Tension per line wire 200-250 lb. NRCS Ohio, BC Ministry
Crimp size when stretched About half of relaxed NRCS Ohio
Nail-board length 42 in., nails 40 in. apart BC Ministry
Scale reading for 250 lb. 12.5 lb. BC: multiply reading by 20
Electric fence wire 125 lb., about hand tight BC Ministry

Materials and Tools

  • Ratcheting stretcher with a chain or strap long enough to reach the anchor post
  • Two 48-inch straining boards, 2x4 or heavier hardwood, with steel bars across them
  • A braced end post and a braced pull post at the other end
  • A small spring scale, a 42-inch board, and three nails for the tension test
  • Leather gloves, safety glasses, and a helper

Pulling Steps

  1. Tie off one end. Wrap the line wires around the end post, remove a few vertical stays to free enough wire, and fasten the ends.
  2. Unroll the fence. Lay the 100-foot roll along the line on the field side of the posts and stand it upright.
  3. Attach the clamp. Bolt the boards across all line wires near the far post.
  4. Hook the stretcher. Anchor it to the braced post and keep everyone out of the line of the wire.
  5. Ratchet in small steps. Watch the crimps flatten as the tension rises.
  6. Stop at half crimp. The curves should be about half their relaxed size.
  7. Test one wire. Hook the spring scale to the nail-board and read it.
  8. Tie off the far end. Wrap, fasten, and then release the stretcher slowly.
  9. Staple the posts. Fasten after the wire is tight, not before.

If the scale reads 12.5 pounds, the wire is near 250 pounds.

Why Not Pull Harder?

  • The fact sheet says enough tension curve must remain for the fence to absorb loads, so do not pull the crimps flat
  • A broken wire under load can whip, so keep your face and body clear
  • Cold weather tightens the wire, so pull at a moderate temperature
  • Weak or unbraced end posts will lean under the pull

Metal posts take a different attachment, covered in attaching hardware cloth to metal T-posts and pipe frames. A garden version of this fence is shown in setting an 8-foot T-post deer fence around a vegetable garden. The hardware cloth mesh size and gauge guide explains when a bottom skirt of mesh is needed.

Posts that move under tension are reset as in pulling and resetting frost-heaved T-posts.

FAQ

Do I need a stretcher for a small garden?

A short run can be pulled by hand, but a stretcher keeps tension even.

What if I have no scale?

Pull until the crimps are half size, then check that the wire does not sag by hand pressure.

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