How do I connect hardware cloth to hardware cloth?

[raingarden]

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I7PCF3K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you all! I ended up getting these hog ring pliers (which came with 1,000 rings).

I don't think that will reach into the 1/2 inch mesh of hardware cloth. You need hog ring pliers with pointed ends.

 

[Ted Brown]

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I7PCF3K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you all! I ended up getting these hog ring pliers (which came with 1,000 rings).

I used the same pliers to do my run with, worked well BUT:

1. If you want to have the stitch job be secure you will need to put them much closer together than 6", I did mine every 2"; longer than that and you risk having smaller predators (mink, weasels, etc) able to pry apart the seams and slip in.
2. You need to lay the lengths of HC together and install the hog rings along the edge; can be done on the ground OR by installing the first row, laying the second row even with the top and then installing the hog rings (the second method is easier than the first). Once you have the seams attached you "unfold" the two rows to get the 6' height you need. One person can do this but a second person makes the job much easier.
3. Start by doing a foot on one end and then go to the opposite end and do the same - make sure that you do not allow any excess length on either side or you will end up with an gap that you cannot close. This will avoid having your helper stand holding the HC while you install the rings.
4. Depending on the length you need to do you can go through 1000 hog rings quickly, do your calculation before you start and order additional rings BEFORE you start.

The pliers above will not go through 1/2" HC with two rows side by side. You can prove this by trying to install any where other than along the edge.

It is a tedious job if you have much length to do but it works.

FWIW Using wire is a HUGE pain in the butt! You are constantly pulling the entire length of wire you need through every point of attachment. Gets old very quickly.

 

[perkolator]

I happened to be weaving fencing together earlier this afternoon with wire - putting overhead protection on the extra run. Yes I’m using chicken wire, since I’ve had this roll laying around for a decade waiting to be used on something.

I find it easier with the fence panels on top one another, weaving the edge like book binding, then open it up. I curl the wire as it’s being threaded through and help it along with “corkscrew” action - I can do about 6ft at a time this way. Secure the start point, then pull it all tight with pliers and finish up the last foot or so you gain from the slack.

 

[aart]

How far apart are the posts for your run? We ran the 48" hardware cloth vertically with verticals 4 feet apart.

The best solution.

 

[ragingowl77]

I used the same pliers to do my run with, worked well BUT:

1. If you want to have the stitch job be secure you will need to put them much closer together than 6", I did mine every 2"; longer than that and you risk having smaller predators (mink, weasels, etc) able to pry apart the seams and slip in.
2. You need to lay the lengths of HC together and install the hog rings along the edge; can be done on the ground OR by installing the first row, laying the second row even with the top and then installing the hog rings (the second method is easier than the first). Once you have the seams attached you "unfold" the two rows to get the 6' height you need. One person can do this but a second person makes the job much easier.
3. Start by doing a foot on one end and then go to the opposite end and do the same - make sure that you do not allow any excess length on either side or you will end up with an gap that you cannot close. This will avoid having your helper stand holding the HC while you install the rings.
4. Depending on the length you need to do you can go through 1000 hog rings quickly, do your calculation before you start and order additional rings BEFORE you start.

The pliers above will not go through 1/2" HC with two rows side by side. You can prove this by trying to install any where other than along the edge.

It is a tedious job if you have much length to do but it works.

FWIW Using wire is a HUGE pain in the butt! You are constantly pulling the entire length of wire you need through every point of attachment. Gets old very quickly.

I actually have 1/4" HC. Would it still work?

 

[21hens-incharge]

My local feed store told me to use rabbit cage clips. Those hog rings look like they might be tougher than these...

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/lixit-rabbit-cage-clips-1263802

I used cage clips too. They work well with 1/2 wire but are to wide for 1/4" wire.

With 1/4" wire I would either sandwich it between wood or weave it together with wire.
I found the wire for hot wire fence to be easy to work with for that.

 

[Brooks_]

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00I7PCF3K/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Thank you all! I ended up getting these hog ring pliers (which came with 1,000 rings).

I had a really hard time, gave up with them hard, but was trying to attach cloth to cattle panel. Might work better for cloth to cloth. 1/4 inch you say? I don't think they'll work at all. I have no 1/4 inch to check it with tho.

 

[Randol]

How do I "seal the seam" between 2 sheets of hard cloth? I was using wood on the few places I needed to do this when I was building the coop, but now I'm going to start building the run. The hardware cloth is 4 ft. high, the run is going to be 6 ft. high. So, there's going to be 2 layers of the cloth and a lot of seams, which would mean a lot of wood just to seal those seams. Is there a different way to do it, or someplace to get the hardware cloth in 6 ft. high rolls (I bought my old hardware cloth from ebay, so if there's a better place in general please let me know).

I use 2 washers and a nut and bolt to put it together. Zip ties have the characteristic of getting brittle over time and breaking.

 

[SandyRiverChick]

You're right that was dumb of me I'll delete my post. Thanks for making me realize how stupid that was. Take care

Not dumb, totally true! My lifetime supply from 20years ago has to have it's own big metal drawer in my garage due to the number of times I couldn't find the end so I just cut into the middle of it. It looks like wire spaghetti and I'm going to die long before I use the whole thing

 

[ragingowl77]

I used cage clips too. They work well with 1/2 wire but are to wide for 1/4" wire.

With 1/4" wire I would either sandwich it between wood or weave it together with wire.
I found the wire for hot wire fence to be easy to work with for that.

I'm starting to think about getting pressure treated 1x2's and connecting the cloth with that. Its cheap (less than $3 for 8 ft.) and will last a while. The wire would probably make more sense but I'm using the hardware cloth as a a "roof" for the run as well... I don't want to do all that threading.