Handling Hardware Cloth. I can tell you how NOT to do it.

[furbabymum]

Making edges as smooth as possible was easier with the wire cutters I have, since one side is flat-- I'd position the cutters so the flat side was flush with the horizonal, and snip the vertical as close as possible. My tin snips are rounded on both sides, so they were leaving a sharp little 1/8" wire... just small enough not to be seen, but just long enough to gouge my knuckle or ankle every time I got near. If you want the edges really smooth you could use a metal file, but that's a lot of work.

And yeah, it's tough being a woman! Wanting to be all DIY with the coop, but not wanting to sacrifice our manis in the process!

Or clothes. I cemented my duck pond naked cuz I didn't want to ruin my clothes.

 

[smilingcat]

LOL... Heavy work glove is a must. Use offset tin snips. Keeps your hand away from the edges of the Hardware cloth. Or you can be lazy and use a actylene cutting torch. Just watch out for the Zinc fume. BAD for your health.

What to do with the sharp cut edges, I guess you could use an angle grinder and gently grind away the sharp points. Haven't tried it myself. Maybe I should go try it first and let you know how it went.

 

[gardendufus]

Same here. My least favorite is chicken wire. Hardware cloth might cut you but chicken wire is just so hard to mess with in general!

I totally agree. I'd rather cut HC all day than mess with that flimsy uncontrollable chicken wire.

 

[jrsckn]

DH uses a dremel to cut the hardware cloth; quick and easy!

 

[cadeschicks]

I used a pair of surgical scissors (they kind they used to sell on infomercials that showed them cutting a penny in half). The handles are at an angle to the blades so your hands are out of the way of the sharp edges. Although, I never thought to try the dremel.

 

[Back2MyRoots]

Or clothes. I cemented my duck pond naked cuz I didn't want to ruin my clothes.

Laugh! I live in the middle of no-where, so it wouldn't matter if I did! But I really have thought about spraying the chickens for mites and ticks without a shirt on because I have 4 very skittish chickens that always get so scared that they poop on me! I have ruined a couple of shirts that way. I hose off easily, no so much with the shirts.

 

[Back2MyRoots]

DH uses a dremel to cut the hardware cloth; quick and easy!

Genius! And it's one of the "power" tools I am allowed to use without supervision! *giggle fit*

 

[galanie]

I have a metal cutting blade on my circular saw.

DOH! Of course! I have an 18volt cordless circular saw. Getting a metal blade for that puppy! Genius!

 

[furbabymum]

Laugh! I live in the middle of no-where, so it wouldn't matter if I did! But I really have thought about spraying the chickens for mites and ticks without a shirt on because I have 4 very skittish chickens that always get so scared that they poop on me! I have ruined a couple of shirts that way. I hose off easily, no so much with the shirts.

We live in the middle of nowhere as well. Still, my husband is convinced the neighbors have a telescope so they can see me naked. I figure if they went through all the effort just to see my naked they deserve it!

 

[Poetical Peeps]

I am getting a whiff of an excuse to replace my Dremel. Is there a special cutting wheel you prefer for wire?