Different Wires Require Different Repair Tactics.

 Article and photos courtesy of Bekaert Fencing.

 Fence repair is not a one-size-fits-all situation. Different wire types require different repair tools and techniques. Steven Sarson, Technical Support Manager for Bekaert Fencing, explains how to repair three common types of fence – barbed wire, smooth wire, and woven wire, and the tools you need to do so.
 

Safety First

Before you begin any installation or repair, be sure to think about safety. Have a good pair of safety glasses, leather gloves and a sturdy pair of boots or shoes. Small precautions like these can prevent significant injuries.

Barbed Wire Repair

There are two options for repairing a barbed wire fence, one using the existing wire and one using a piece of repair wire. 

Option 1 The first option uses just one Gripple joiner to connect the two existing pieces of wire.
    •    Place a chain grab on each side of the break.
    •    Use the chain grab to pull the two existing broken pieces of wire together until they overlap approximately three inches.
    •    Slide the Gripple joiner onto one of the broken wires.
    •    When using a Gripple joiner, don’t push it in too far, because you will need to push the other wire in through the other side of it.
    •    Take the other broken wire and slide it into the other side of the Gripple joiner.
    •    Release the chain grab and the repair is complete.
Option 2 A second option is to splice in a new strand of barbed wire using two Gripple joiners. However, if you happen to have smooth wire on hand, Sarson says it’s okay to use that to repair the fence. In fact, he says, “It's much easier to repair barbed wire with a piece of smooth because it's easier to work with.”
    •    Place a Gripple joiner on one end of the broken wire.
    •    Take the repair wire and push it through the other side of the Gripple joiner.
    •    Keep your repair wire long enough so that when you push it through the Gripple joiner, you have enough for your Gripple Torq tool to grab to be able to put tension back into the wire.
    •    Go to the other end of the broken wire and repeat the process.
    •    Once the pieces are in place, use the Gripple Torq tool to re-tension the wire.

Smooth Wire Repair

Repairing a smooth wire is similar to repairing barbed wire. However, repairs can be made using either Gripple joiners or crimping sleeves to connect the existing wires or to splice in a repair wire.
Option 1 The first option connects the existing pieces of wire using one Gripple joiner or crimping sleeve.
    •    Place a chain grab near the point of the break.
    •    Use the chain grab to pull the two existing broken pieces of wire together until they overlap about two to three inches.
    •    Slide the Gripple joiner or crimping sleeve onto one of the broken wires.
    •    If using a Gripple joiner, simply push the other end of the broken wire into the other side of the joiner.
    •    If using a crimping sleeve, put one of the broken wires into the top barrel of the crimping sleeve. Place the other side of the broken wire in the bottom barrel. Then use your crimp tool to squeeze the sleeve. Begin on one end of the sleeve, working the length of it, with crimps slightly overlapping until the entire sleeve is crimped into place.
    •    Release the chain grab and the repair is complete.
Option 2 A second option is to splice in a new strand of smooth wire using two Gripple joiners or two crimping sleeves.
    •    Slide one Gripple joiner or crimping sleeve onto one side of the broken wire.
    •    Push the end of the repair wire through the other side of the Gripple joiner or barrel of the crimping sleeve.
    •    If using a crimping sleeve, use the crimping tool to squeeze it down. Begin on one end of the sleeve, working the length of it, with crimps slightly overlapping until the entire sleeve is crimped into place.
    •    If using a Gripple joiner, keep your repair wire long enough so that when you push through the Gripple, you have enough to grab with your Gripple Torq tool to be able to put tension back into the wire.
    •    Go to the other end of the broken wire and repeat the process using either a Gripple joiner or crimping sleeve.
    •    If using a Gripple joiner, use the Gripple Torq tool to tension the wire at this point.
    •    If using a crimp sleeve, go to the nearest in-line strainer and re-tension the wire.

Woven Wire - Simple Fix

Quite often, when a repair is needed on a woven wire, it is just one or two wires that need to be fixed. When that is the case:
    •    Splice in a piece of smooth wire by putting a Gripple joiner or crimping sleeve on to the broken wire.
    •    Push the end of the repair piece through either side of the Gripple joiner or the other crimping sleeve barrel.
    •    Use the crimping tool to squeeze it into place, slightly overlapping until the entire sleeve is crimped into place.
    •    Repeat on the other side of the break.

Woven Wire - Extensive Damage

If your fence has a major break with multiple broken wires, you’ll need to take a different approach, one that requires two stretcher bars and two stretcher bar pullers.
    •    Splice a piece of matching woven wire to one side of the damaged fence.
    •    Attach a stretcher bar to this new piece.
    •    Attach a second stretcher bar to the existing fence on the other side of the break.
    •    Attach two stretcher bar pullers to the bars.
    •    Using the pullers, tension the fence until the repair wires overlap and the fence is properly tensioned.
    •    Join each wire using a Gripple joiner or a crimp sleeve.
    •    Be sure to connect the corresponding wires from each side together with either a Gripple joiner or crimping sleeve.
    •    Cut the excess wire from the end of the Gripple joiner or crimp sleeve.
    •    Loosen the bar pullers and remove them from the bars.
    •    Remove the stretcher bars from the fence and your repair is complete.

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Fixing fence is an unfortunate part of everyday rural life. That’s why the Bekaert YouTube channel offers tips and tricks and how-to videos to make the process as quick and simple as possible. Bekaert is also proud to have a dedicated Fence Pro team ready to quickly answer any questions you might have on the Ask a Fence Pro section of the Bekaert Website.

To learn more about Bekaerts products visit their website at https://fencing.bekaert.com/