Screw/washer alternative for hardware cloth ideas

[Ruralhideaway]

If the kids were smaller I'd do better. But they see the tools suddenly they need to have their tires rotated or go to college, you know, things they usually have to reminded repeatedly about!

 

[DwayneNLiz]

i dont see where the wood-type would matter

 

[Birdinhand]

I've done my share of HWC installing and I don't know where I learned this trick but it helps so much! I use a large washer and one 3" decking screw and heavy gauge galvanized "U" nails. You hammer in your first U nail and then go out several feed and put the screw and washer in at a sharp and as you screw it in, it acts as a "come-along" and makes the fencing taught so you don't have bulges and slack in it. if you put too much tension on it the welds in the fencing will break, so it takes a little getting used to. Once you have the length of fencing at the right tension, so it's nice and taught, you go back and add more U nails about every 4". I like to criss cross the weld with the U nail to make it nice and secure. the U nails hold the HW cloth nice and taught. Wen I get to the screw and Washer, I back it out and move further along to do the next section, screwing it back in at a sharp angle. you just keep using the screw and washer over and over, so not so much fiddling with threading washers and screws.

 

[Ruralhideaway]

U nails are fence staples?

 

[Birdinhand]

U nails are fence staples?

probably more accurately and commonly called fence staples but my family always called them "U" nails. I use the larger galvanized version, I have no idea if they fit into a nail gun. if you have the right nail gun and can go with a smaller size, but still adequate to keep out the coons, then great. I went with the big gauge because they are so much easier to hold and hammer without smashing one's fingers. these can go into the wide side of a 2x4 or a 4x4 but not so good for the narrow side of a 2x4 because they can cause splitting.

 

[TheOgdensmenagerie]

i dont see where the wood-type would matter

From my understanding in wood they don't hokd as well due to the back half not having threads. They are great for metal to wood or metal to metal but just into wood they are less effective.
(Father in law is a carpenter that was his take on them.)

I could see where fencing nails could work Definetly sturdy compared to basic staples.
We also use the cumalong technique for our HWC and any fencing really. Works great.

 

[Birdinhand]

one other thing I do for fastening HWC is that I rip boards made of trex into sections of trim. Once I use a screw and washer on each side to get the tension right, I use decking screws to attach the trim along the line I'd put the fencing staples. it's easier for me.

 

[lazy gardener]

When working with fencing staples, I find it easiest to use a pair of needle nosed pliers to hold them in position. You'll also note that one leg of the staple is longer than the other. If you start that leg first, the staple goes in easier.

 

[Robonuggets]

They make staples specifically for chicken wire and hardware cloth

 

[Ruralhideaway]

@Robonuggets Do you have a link?