Electric fence posts - all on the wonk

Auslander

Auslander

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 November 2010
Messages
12,806
Location
Berkshire
Visit site
Has anyone had any success straightening out the spikes on the bottom of electric fence posts, after a herd of thoughtless, pig ignorant barstewards has taken it upon themselves to plough through all my fencing, and bend pretty much every stake I own. Not because they are hungry, or lonely, or panic stricken. Just because they are barstewards. Barstewards who like to fieldhop, but don't have the talent/intelligence to do the "hop" bit.

I'd cheerfully harpoon the lot of them with the posts. But I can't even do that because all the spikes are bent into "Health and Safety Officers wet dream" formation. The only thing I could stab effectively with them is my own leg. I probably will as well - just to add injury to insult.

So. Back to my question. Can they be straightened? Hitting them repeatedly with a mallet/hammer has done nothing. Other than make me even crosser than I already was.
 
I have an ancient very heavy metal garden parasol base that stands about 2 foot tall, and 2" internal diameter...,works a treat for this job, as strong enough to provide the leverage required......insert metal spike to required depth and lever in direction required

If you don't have similar.....how about a bit of scaffold pipe.....preferably set vertically into the ground.
 
quizzie said:
I have an ancient very heavy metal garden parasol base that stands about 2 foot tall, and 2" internal diameter...,works a treat for this job, as strong enough to provide the leverage required......insert metal spike to required depth and lever in direction required

If you don't have similar.....how about a bit of scaffold pipe.....preferably set vertically into the ground.
Click to expand...

You have sparked an idea! Don't have either of the above, but do have plentiful cast iron drain covers dotted around the farm, with spike sized holes in them!
 
For this type of thing i use a clamp. Its bolted to the table (which is bolted to the ground lol) and i just put the bendy bit in and clamp! Less likely to snap the pole.
 
Sounds possible.....cast iron definitely strong enough....but it may depend on the depth of the hole, as with mine the spike point hitting the other side of the cylinder seems to be part of the process. I share your pain of 4 legged wanna-be Uri Gellars!
 
I am considering starting up a nonsense box, and getting all the liveries to put £10 a month in it. If the horses break stuff by doing idiotic things, the funds in the nonsense box can be used to replace said items. If they don't, we can spend the proceeds on Prosecco and chocolate.
 
my yo has the best method ever - sticks the metal bit down between the gap between two areas of concrete and then pulls the plastic. The odd one breaks but for the most part it's effective :-)
 
I feel your pain! Mine are all slightly bent (the very bent ones got chucked) however even worse dilemma with the new packs of replacement posts.... when shitland pony trashes the fence the damn things snap off at the bottom, leaving me hunting for the spikes left in the ground and having nightmares when I can't.
Countrywide have had a suitable email fired at them today. :(
 
Auslander said:
Has anyone had any success straightening out the spikes on the bottom of electric fence posts, after a herd of thoughtless, pig ignorant barstewards has taken it upon themselves to plough through all my fencing, and bend pretty much every stake I own. Not because they are hungry, or lonely, or panic stricken. Just because they are barstewards. Barstewards who like to fieldhop, but don't have the talent/intelligence to do the "hop" bit.

I'd cheerfully harpoon the lot of them with the posts. But I can't even do that because all the spikes are bent into "Health and Safety Officers wet dream" formation. The only thing I could stab effectively with them is my own leg. I probably will as well - just to add injury to insult.

So. Back to my question. Can they be straightened? Hitting them repeatedly with a mallet/hammer has done nothing. Other than make me even crosser than I already was.
Click to expand...
If you have a vice you maybe able too or wedge the point in a door way and someone push door and someone push point.
 
You need my mare. She just pulls them out the ground and tosses them on the floor.

Changing yards tomorrow. Her fencing is being plugged into the mains. Hah!
 
I unbend mine by putting them inbetween the field gate and gatepost. It is strangely satisfying to unbend them....altho harpooning the culprits may be more so......
 
monkeymad said:
I unbend mine by putting them inbetween the field gate and gatepost. It is strangely satisfying to unbend them....altho harpooning the culprits may be more so......
Click to expand...

yes i do this too but hold it very near the spike or the plastic snaps :)
 
monkeymad said:
I unbend mine by putting them inbetween the field gate and gatepost. It is strangely satisfying to unbend them....altho harpooning the culprits may be more so......
Click to expand...

That's how we do it too. Needs to be at the hinge not opening side of the gate.

I'm quite keen on the harpooning option and have the YO's geriatric delinquent pony firmly in my sights.
 
Throw them all away. Can't stand those damn spiky things with nasty breaky plastic. I have been using fibreglass stakes from Fieldguard recently; eye-wateringly expensive but soooooo much nicer, and none have broken yet... supplemented with cheaper plastic coated metal stakes from the garden centre, which can break but when they do, just bend in half with no sharp edges.
 
Ooh some good ideas. I might try putting spike down the hole where my whirly washing line slots into a metal sleeve. That should do it,
(await post on how to replace washing line as metal sleeve now bu*****ed !)
 
I don't have the answer for your question but I want to let you know you are not alone! Arrogant welsh ponies do this often for us. Also, I like the sound of the nonsense box!
 
so easy, there is a knack to it, put spikey on hard surface, with the bent part upwards like a hill, stand on bent part near to where it joins white plastic and press hard with foot,hold the plastic near the metal spike with the hand, i`ve unbent loads in the past like this, however if very bent other heating suggestions sound good, but those posts are hopeless if they are even a bit more than slightly bent, as they twizzle round.

don`t forget to give the earth rod a good dose of water once a week, and i have two fence testers kept handy.

best thing i do in the face of such catastrofic (can`t spell) sights as fence all over the place is have a cup of tea, then calm down and i find its never so bad as it looks at first glance

i have mainly wood posts, they look much better, and stay upright, usually, in the event of a major assault
 
I used to open my stable door, insert metal spike between hinged end of door and door frame, shut door as tight as possible and then pull post straight. Worked every time and I never broke a single one!
 
During the hot dry spell many of my plastic posts were bent at horrific angles & were of no use at all. We have heavy 'permanent' posts on the ground with holes drilled through them for the electric tape to pass through. To straighten to spikes I put the spike into the hole & then just lever on it until it straightens. It works a treat.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top