Need Help Stretching Hardware cloth

[CoopCrazy]

Any tips I am going to try to make some Quail cages soon and also a tractor for my garden.. Any ideas on the best way to stretch out hardwaer cloth for making free standing cages...

 

[Penturner]

I have never tried this with hardware cloth, but a chain link fence stretcher comes to mind basically this is two 2X4s you bolt the 2X4s together with the wire sandwiched in between. you than add a cable to the 2X4s so that you can attach a come along and wench the tension into the fencing. works real good until you reach the last post. if you have a gate in there somewhere you can just work from each end to the gate. For the most part you always need something that is further down the line to connect the come along to though. i have at times had to use my vehicle or temporarily plant a post or whatever when putting up chain link fences. be careful because the come along can apply so much pull to the wire that it will either damage it or even stretch it and a 4 foot tall piece of cloth will become 3 foot 8 inches in a hurry DAMHIKT.

 

[flakey chick]

I used nails in a 2X2, spaced a few inches apart. I would attach one end to the frame, then use the board with nails to stretch it. I had about 3 or 4 nails in it spaced to fit with-in the openings. I could stretch it tight by hand.

 

[CoopCrazy]

Cool thanks for the tips folks... We are looking at more snow monday so i am planning to lock myself in the barn and get some of this stuff done..

 

[Ridgerunner]

For freestanding cages, I just bent the hardware cloth over the edge of a board or work bench to form the corners and used J-clips for the connections and hinges. I made a 3' x 5' brooder 2' tall with a top opening and a side door, using no wood. It held its shape very well although the top opening could use a little reinforcement. I have treated it pretty rough moving it around.

For a tractor, I'd be surprised if it needs any real stretching. I envision you building a frame with wood and then covering that with the hardware cloth. I'm pretty sure you will get it tight enough just fitting it and attaching it. I covered my window and the vents to the coop that way and it was no problem at all.

To attach it, I cut a piece of 2x4 so it was 1/2" thick and made a sandwich with the hardware cloth. I used a very few staples to hold it into position on the frame around the windows or vents, then screwed the 1/2" piece of wood over it. I find this makes the connection a whole lot stronger than just using staples.

Now chain link or welded wire can be different as far as needing to be stretched.