Clipex Fence Posts

[Fruitcake]

Has anybody used these and, if so, what are your opinions?

I need to replace some wooden posts and am considering these - not necessarily as a whole system at the moment, but just to replace the dodgy posts in our external stock fence.

I like the idea that they should last longer, but I’m not too sure about how safe they’d be. Any experiences?
Thanks.

 

[Fruitcake]

Anyone?

 

[saalsk]

Yep - used them for the last 5 years or so. A mix of posts with stock fence and electric rope top line, and then just the posts with 2 or 3 lines of electric rope, on sections we either don't want, or need, to put stock fence on, and those lines that aren't definitely going to be permanent.

With the white top caps (holding the top strand of rope), and the black clips holding the lower strands, they were easy to put in, and to move if needed, and the height of the lower strands can be varied easily, depending on size of horses, and how pushy they are with fences.

Bashing in the posts was easy, and got rid of any hint of bingo wings, without knackering my back. I got help with putting in strainer posts and gate posts, which we did with dug hole and concrete for the gate posts, and then the strainer posts got pushed in with a post basher attachment on a mini digger. Hired the mini digger, plus person, to spend the morning putting them in ( it took a couple of hours for 2 gates, 6 strainers ) and we then did the posts, and added the rope.

Adding the stock fence took longer, but once we had done one lot, and got the hang of it, it is easy - put in strainer posts and gate posts, roll out stock fence flat on ground ( with the bottom of the stock fence next to the posts ! ) then lift, hook onto the posts and cut to size. No need to wrap all the wire, the t-bars just tighten with the tensioner. Cut the fence half way along, use the grippels to rejoin it, and again the tensioner makes the fence tight. Ta Da ! We split 2 large fields into 2, in one day. Did need a glass of wine after, but it is great. No rotting of posts, nothing for them to chew, no hammering of staples or stuff, can be removed and moved much more easily, doesn't stick out like wooden fencing can, but with the white tops, easy to see for the horses.

 

[saalsk]

adding - as my terrible internet only posted part of the reply... !

I also use single posts as reinforcement for loose/broken wooden posts, where I don't need to replace a whole line just yet. The basher sleeve is so neat and narrow, you can put a metal post in right next to a broken (but safe) wooden one, and cable tie them together for support - meaning that the metal post can be reused if/when the need arises. You can lift the metal posts up fairly easily using a big pokey pole type thing, which I can't remember the name of right now !

 

[Fruitcake]

Thanks for this. It’s really helpful. Which posts do you use? There seem to be different types. I understand the use of the “beefy” ones for strengthening at intervals, but am a bit confused over the difference between the Eco and the others.

 

[saalsk]

We have some external border fencing, that is on top of solid, rounded ( think Irish Bank at Hickstead type ) banks, which we used the eco for, as the animals (we have sheep and horses) can't even get up to it, let alone touch it or lean on it. For the stuff to split fields in the middle of the land, where norty chubby welsh ponies have to stay one side, with the nicer grass on the other, we use the standard poles, which are a little more expensive, but not scarily so. We use a ground wire line when putting in the stock fence, which stops the stock fence being pushed at ground level - it is quite thick and hefty, and clips onto the bottom hook of the posts, and can double up on its clip with the stock fence wire. I then add *strategic* cable ties to tie the wire line to the fence line, between the posts. It stops him shoving at the bottom of the fence to try to push the fence to get to a few more inches of grass. None of our lines of fence have been long enough to need an extra strengthening - we were lucky to be able to put in strainer posts at the ends of the line, and a gate in the middle for most of the fields, so extra straining wasn't needed, but when we do some more of the external border lines, we will do. The strainers can be strained in all 4 directions if needed, and the brace for them is similarly easy to put in, and makes a great pole to put water troughs against, to ensure the norty welsh boy doesn't use them as a toboggan in winter.