[TheForge] Setting up shop (more or less)

[Bruce Freeman]

Well, you may be right about splitting rails, but you wouldn't do that
with a froe in any event.  It's done with a sledge and wedges.  Drive
in a wedge (in a check, if any), then propagate the resulting crack
using additional wedges.  Or simple cut smaller trees and use them
without splitting.

Bruce
NJ

On Fri, May 30, 2008 at 9:16 AM, Andrew Vida <osan at netlabs.net> wrote:
>
>
> Bruce Freeman wrote:
>>
>> Andy,
>>
>> How do the locals construct fences - any great ideas?
>
>        All kinds.  Most seem to be barbed wire and come-alongs on locust
> posts.
>>
>> I think you're working too hard.  You started with a fixed idea
>> -digging for posts- and aren't budging.  You can build a perfectly
>> fine fence without digging a single hole.
>>
>> Three examples:
>>
>> 1) Snake fence. Small trees or split rails.  Lay extreme ends on rocks
>> in a "\ \ \ \ \ \ " pattern, but more stretched out.  Place additional
>> rails across the ends of the first set, giving "WWWWW" pattern.
>> Continue with alternating layers of rails till as high as you want.
>> Can add dummy pieces between successive layers to space the layers
>> greater. To clarify:  No posts. Rails cross at ends, fence zig-cags a
>> bit (maybe 120* angles).  No digging at all.  Some rock moving.
>
>        That would turn out to be a hell of a lot more work than digging the
> posts.  I'd have to split lots of posts.  I have the wood but no reasonable
> means of splitting.  I don't even have a froe... not that that would be a
> good way to go with 8' logs mind you.
>>
>> 2) Snake&Cross fence.  I'm not quite clear on this one, but uses a
>> cross of two posts (dug in little if at all) as a support for three
>> rails.
>>
>> 3) Hurdles.  Weave hurdles out of 1" saplings and withies - usually
>> willow cut off and allowed to grow up one season.  These are portable
>> (especially if a hole is left in the middle to run a carry-rod
>> through).  The end two saplings are left longer and are pointed to jab
>> into the ground.  Allows a movable pasture.  Weave using a log with
>> bored holes to receive the saplings.  Weave like a basket.
>>
>> Meanwhile, dig a bunch of saplings and transplant them along the
>> fence.  Next year, start a hedge from these.  The fence will rot away,
>> but the hedge is forever.  Hedges are woven living brush & trees, so
>> expect a little work.
>
>        These would interfere with the fruit trees.  I have cherry, apple and
> pears growing right where the fence is going to be.
>
>        I could spend the money on steel posts and drive them in with a
> sledge but I'm trying to be good with the cash... at least until I find
> another income source.  These may work some time down the road, but for now
> I think I am somewhat stuck.
>>
>> Bruce
>> NJ
>>
>>
>> On Thu, May 29, 2008 at 7:27 AM, Andrew Vida <osan at netlabs.net> wrote:
>>>
>>> Peter Fels & Phoebe Palmer wrote:
>>>>
>>>> Bob:
>>>> I don't know how much slack social pressures offer you, but;
>>>> the place that sell garage doors usually have old ones to give away. A
>>>> truck load of those could  be cobbled into a cheap, quick shop...pf
>>>
>>>       Not a bad idea.  Here's another: if you live anywhere near a
>>> sawmill,
>>> go visit and see what they will sell their drops for.  I get mine for $12
>>> a
>>> truckload - all I can pile on or until the tires  blow or the springs
>>> pop.
>>>  OK they are flat on one side only, but that should be no problem.  There
>>> are construction methods that will let you make a nice enough wall with
>>> them.  Mine come anywhere up to 20' long.  I am just starting on my goat
>>> fencing and pen.  The compensating factor in this case is that I have to
>>> dig
>>> about 100 x 2' deep post holes in this wonderful West Virginia red shale
>>> clay, which is like concrete.  And of course Mom had to throw in the
>>> glacial
>>> till factor, so huge boulders are everywhere.  Digging here == misery and
>>> lots of sore parts.
>>>
>>>       Anyhow, if you have a mill nearby, give them a holler and see what
>>> they want for the drops.  Most of the outbuildings around here are made
>>> from
>>> those and locust posts.  Not the purdiest, but they seem to work really
>>> well.
>>>
>>>       -Andy
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>>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> --
>
>        -Andy V.
>
> no .sig
> go .fig
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>



-- 
Bruce
NJ