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Pig Tails and Electric Fence

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  • 03-04-2021 11:02pm
    #1
    Tomjim
    Registered Users Posts: 1,350 ✭✭✭


    I pounded stakes about 15 years ago for an electric fence and over the last number of years, I have replaced the rotten stakes with the pigtails, I find that they are a good job and cheaper than a stake, I replace the straining posts ok with a timber stake

    How many years would the pig tails last for?


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    #2
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users Posts: 18,150 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    Tomjim wrote: »
    I pounded stakes about 15 years ago for an electric fence and over the last number of years, I have replaced the rotten stakes with the pigtails, I find that they are a good job and cheaper than a stake, I replace the straining posts ok with a timber stake

    How many years would the pig tails last for?

    2-4, the insulation cracks on them. I do much the same it allows me to get a lad with a postdriver in ever 2-3 years and replace anything is needed

    Slava Ukrainii



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    #3
    memorystick
    Registered Users Posts: 1,577 ✭✭✭memorystick


    Buy a pounder for around €80 and replace your stakes. Pigtails are only for strip grazing and loading cattle


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    #4
    cute geoge
    Registered Users Posts: 2,848 ✭✭✭cute geoge


    I say the gallagher pig tail orange top would outlast most timber stakes ,there grand for internal fencing along ditches .What do lads find the best polywire to use .The gallagher turbo 9 grain wire seems long enough lasting but then again only a patch on what it was 4 /5 years ago


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    #5
    Tomjim
    Registered Users Posts: 1,350 ✭✭✭Tomjim


    cute geoge wrote: »
    I say the gallagher pig tail orange top would outlast most timber stakes ,there grand for internal fencing along ditches .What do lads find the best polywire to use .The gallagher turbo 9 grain wire seems long enough lasting but then again only a patch on what it was 4 /5 years ago

    Is the Gallagher the best on the market?


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    #6
    CHOPS01
    Registered Users Posts: 758 ✭✭✭CHOPS01


    It's funny I'd say it's unknown how many pigtails are out there ! Most lads probably buy a bundle or two every year.
    Have a contractor coming this week to do permanent electric fence on bounds ditches and a few internal also. Gathered up almost 70 Friday evening and there is probably as many still around the place to be gathered.
    Once done I reckon I should need no more than 25/30 pigtails.


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    #7
    aphextwit
    Registered Users Posts: 26 ✭aphextwit


    Bass Reeves wrote: »
    2-4, the insulation cracks on them. I do much the same it allows me to get a lad with a postdriver in ever 2-3 years and replace anything is needed

    Pigtail Posts that crack like that are cheap clones and not fit for purpose as the tape and poly wire damaged must be discarded. They can be repaired by the use of screw on insulators.
    Agri retailers stock these bad products because they say farmers won't pay the price of branded pigtails such as those from Pel.

    I have Pel posts that are 10 years plus old without any sign of photo degradation.


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    #8
    mr.stonewall
    Registered Users Posts: 1,611 ✭✭✭mr.stonewall


    Took a batch of the ones that had cracked insulation last year and did 2 jobs with them
    Half of them I replaced the insulation with some 1/2 inch yellow hose. Broke off the plastic around the top., Cut a bit of hose, soften it with a bit of boiling water and slid it on. Might get a few more years out of them.
    Other half, I make hot stakes as a few bullock we knocking strip wires,. Bit of nylon bar, about 4 inchs long, filled hole in centre, cut the stake a bit above the foot, threaded both ends of the rod and screwed it into the nylon with some epoxy. Break off the insulation of the top of the stake. Quietened them bullocks


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    #9
    Bass Reeves
    Registered Users Posts: 18,150 ✭✭✭✭Bass Reeves


    aphextwit wrote: »
    Pigtail Posts that crack like that are cheap clones and not fit for purpose as the tape and poly wire damaged must be discarded. They can be repaired by the use of screw on insulators.
    Agri retailers stock these bad products because they say farmers won't pay the price of branded pigtails such as those from Pel.

    I have Pel posts that are 10 years plus old without any sign of photo degradation.

    I am talking about ones that are left outside all year around. Believe it or not frost and cold weather damage's plastic as well. It where you replace a timber post with an electric pigtail to hold the wire in position for a period as OP asked. I have seen Gallagher's and PEL fence post break down as well. The other issue you find is the L welded on breaks off or the straight bar on the post bends as well.

    Mine are used and a used a lot. I never worry I replace a bunch ever 2-3 years. There used to be offers of maybe 30 posts for 50 euro and there used to be a hundred euro offer as well.

    Slava Ukrainii



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    #10
    Gillespy
    Registered Users Posts: 2,215 ✭✭✭Gillespy


    Have a few dozen out there. One handy feature of using them is you can move the wire out easily to allow the topper at the weeds. Quickly drop the wire too if needed.


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    #11
    patsy_mccabe
    Registered Users Posts: 10,681 ✭✭✭✭patsy_mccabe


    I make up posts for wet land with 1/2" rebar. Small bend at top for handling and safety with cattle. You can get screw on insulators that suit them. They're great along the water trench edge in straight lines with tensioned hi-tensile wire. Cattle just wont go tru them. They go down about 18" by hand in wet weather.

    'The Bishops blessed the Blueshirts in Galway, As they sailed beneath the Swastika to Spain'



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    #12
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    I only use these

    https://www.agridirect.ie/product/strainrite-pigtail-posts-10-pack

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



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    #13
    Tomjim
    Registered Users Posts: 1,350 ✭✭✭Tomjim


    blue5000 wrote: »
    I only use these

    https://www.agridirect.ie/product/strainrite-pigtail-posts-10-pack


    At that price how long would they last?


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    #14
    Dunedin
    Registered Users Posts: 2,225 ✭✭✭Dunedin


    blue5000 wrote: »
    I only use these

    https://www.agridirect.ie/product/strainrite-pigtail-posts-10-pack

    I use these a lot but find the installated part at top cracks on a lot of them. Wouldn’t have a clue how long that takes as would be buying a few every year so wouldn’t know which was which.

    How do they compare price wise with the Gallagher or pel ones and are they better or worse than them?


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    #15
    amacca
    Registered Users Posts: 6,754 ✭✭✭amacca


    I fill the cracks on a bunch of them with hot glue every year....messy until you get good at it. Have hundreds of them...hot glue the cracks about 20/30 A year

    Manage to destroy 1 or 2 every year by accidentally topping them along with the grass:D


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    #16
    blue5000
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 12,616 Mod ✭✭✭✭blue5000


    Tomjim wrote: »
    At that price how long would they last?

    The foot of them does go rusty after 10 years in the bog. Insulation doesn't crack, but if polywire gets dragged through the eye it will saw through it. Sometimes they have a special offer on them for 20.

    If the seat's wet, sit on yer hat, a cool head is better than a wet ar5e.



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    #17
    satstheway
    Registered Users Posts: 831 ✭✭✭satstheway


    blue5000 wrote: »
    The foot of them does go rusty after 10 years in the bog. Insulation doesn't crack, but if polywire gets dragged through the eye it will saw through it. Sometimes they have a special offer on them for 20.

    These are the best out there.. have some I'd say 20 yrs old. Uv light eventually gets to some of them and the gold foot will rust and bend after 10 or 12 yrs. Its a spring steel shaft do it stays quite good.


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    #18
    thetiredfarmer
    Registered Users Posts: 151 ✭✭thetiredfarmer


    I paid €17 for 10 pigtails (white) in Glanbia last Friday!


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    #19
    Tomjim
    Registered Users Posts: 1,350 ✭✭✭Tomjim


    thetiredfarmer wrote: »
    I paid €17 for 10 pigtails (white) in Glanbia last Friday!


    I wonder what make were they?


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    #20
    thetiredfarmer
    Registered Users Posts: 151 ✭✭thetiredfarmer


    Tomjim wrote: »
    I wonder what make were they?
    I think they are standard Gallagher, They are the same as I have been using for years. Galvanised with a steel foot,


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    #21
    patsy_mccabe
    Registered Users Posts: 10,681 ✭✭✭✭patsy_mccabe


    Gallagher standard pigtails.
    €20 for qty 10 at the moment

    https://www.coopsuperstores.ie/Farming/Farm-Hardware--Equipment/Fencing/Fence-Posts/Gallagher-Steel-Pigtail-Posts-Bundle-Of-10-0761038

    'The Bishops blessed the Blueshirts in Galway, As they sailed beneath the Swastika to Spain'



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    #22
    [Deleted User]
    Posts: 0 ✭ [Deleted User]


    Tomjim wrote: »
    I pounded stakes about 15 years ago for an electric fence and over the last number of years, I have replaced the rotten stakes with the pigtails, I find that they are a good job and cheaper than a stake, I replace the straining posts ok with a timber stake

    How many years would the pig tails last for?

    Not a hope, certain cattle (bucket reared typically) lick the bottom of them and pull them out of the ground.

    Id keep a few in a field as a back up for broken posts


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    #23
    Tomjim
    Registered Users Posts: 1,350 ✭✭✭Tomjim


    amacca wrote: »
    I fill the cracks on a bunch of them with hot glue every year....messy until you get good at it. Have hundreds of them...hot glue the cracks about 20/30 A year

    Manage to destroy 1 or 2 every year by accidentally topping them along with the grass:D


    Is there anything else that could be used instead of hot glue, could silicone be used instead?


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    #24
    amacca
    Registered Users Posts: 6,754 ✭✭✭amacca


    Tomjim wrote: »
    Is there anything else that could be used instead of hot glue, could silicone be used instead?

    Truthfully I don't know, never tried silicone, wouldn't be the first thing I'd think of, potential for even more mess Id think, hard enough to lay a straight bead of that down when you are trying to seal a shower for a poor diy tradesman like me ...never mind hit all the cracks in pigtails insulation

    I'll give it a go at some stage this summer though, I'd try most things once :D


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    #25
    grange mac
    Registered Users Posts: 864 ✭✭✭grange mac


    Tomjim wrote: »
    Is there anything else that could be used instead of hot glue, could silicone be used instead?

    I use the heat shrink tube, push it in over the pigtails and heat it... Works for me.


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    #26
    cute geoge
    Registered Users Posts: 2,848 ✭✭✭cute geoge


    grange mac wrote: »
    I use the heat shrink tube, push it in over the pigtails and heat it... Works for me.

    where can you get that


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    #27
    grange mac
    Registered Users Posts: 864 ✭✭✭grange mac


    cute geoge wrote: »
    where can you get that

    Not being smart but Google heat shrink tubing... I used get in aldi, but even Halfords have it. Local coop or DIY shop may not have it. Get 15mm diameter as it is tight going around the loop.


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    #28
    Zimmerframe
    Registered Users Posts: 1,659 ✭✭✭Zimmerframe


    Would have thought heat shrink far too soft, surely the wire cuts through it quickly ?

    Never tried the hot glue trick, will give that a go.

    Anyone know the approximate cost per metre for a contractor, all in to supply/install creosote stakes and two rows of high tensile wire ?


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    #29
    An Ri rua
    Registered Users Posts: 4,475 ✭✭✭An Ri rua


    memorystick wrote: »
    Buy a pounder for around €80 and replace your stakes. Pigtails are only for strip grazing and loading cattle

    Does anyone use the side of a sledge anymore or is it all gone to pounders?


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    #30
    Albert Johnson
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 1,870 Mod ✭✭✭✭Albert Johnson


    An Ri rua wrote: »
    Does anyone use the side of a sledge anymore or is it all gone to pounders?

    Buy an aluminium mallet and you'll never willing use a sledge again. The mallet is much better balanced, easier used and has a bigger striking face that doesn't damage the head of the post. I've both a mallet and a pounder and I'd much rather the mallet although the pounder is useful at times as you can prevent the post from moving when starting it off where to do the same with the mallet means only having one hand to swing it with. The pounder has a nickname of a "man killer" for a reason though and the mallet is nicer for repeated use.


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    #31
    minerleague
    Registered Users Posts: 1,028 ✭✭✭minerleague


    Albert Johnson wrote: »
    Buy an aluminium mallet and you'll never willing use a sledge again. The mallet is much better balanced, easier used and has a bigger striking face that doesn't damage the head of the post. I've both a mallet and a pounder and I'd much rather the mallet although the pounder is useful at times as you can prevent the post from moving when starting it off where to do the same with the mallet means only having one hand to swing it with. The pounder has a nickname of a "man killer" for a reason though and the mallet is nicer for repeated use.

    Tie a baling twine around the head of the post, still use the side of the sledge here and crowbar to start the hole #keep fit#:D


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