Tell Me All Your Hardware Cloth Secrets

[fowltemptress]

Question about connecting two sections of hardware cloth (when the edges don't meet at a board): in another thread someone mentioned using hog clips. I'd been weaving wire, like "sewing" the two pieces together. For those who use clips: how far apart do you space the clips?

I don't use hog clips; I use J clips. I eyeball the spacing so wasn't sure, but I just went out to count and I average about 5 or 6 squares between each J clip.

 

[21hens-incharge]

I also used wood strips and J clips. The J clips take special pliers and don't work on anything smaller than 1/2" hardware cloth but are so very worth it.
I used zip ties to hold things together while I went back with the clips.

 

[The Moonshiner]

To keep it from bubbling up you just have to stretch it really tight. Ya I know that's not much help.
Cutting it and sharp edges cutting you. Definitely no help. I'm all about quick and easy. I use a circular saw with a cut off blade. It's fast but does nothing to eliminate sharp edges.
I just deal with it so ya when I'm done my arms looks like I've been stacking bobcats.

 

[Anon112]

I also used wood strips and J clips. The J clips take special pliers and don't work on anything smaller than 1/2" hardware cloth but are so very worth it.
I used zip ties to hold things together while I went back with the clips.

Sounds like I'm going on an odyssey of discovery in the hardware aisle this weekend!

 

[tlcmurphy]

This is a great thread!

I really have nothing to add except you shouldn’t say things like “I think the hwc should be tighter” or “You should be unrolling it the other way” or “You should be using screws and washers” to your hubby unless you’re proficient at dodging a staple gun aimed at your head.

 

[Evadig]

Hardware cloth! It keeps our beloved chickens safe from predators, but in my experience it is such a frustrating material to work with. I never seem to learn my lesson that once you cut it, the cut edge will spring up.

So tell me your tips and tricks for working with hardware cloth.

Aside from wearing gloves, tips on not getting scratched?

When stapling it along boards, how do you prevent those little pockets where it warps and won't lay flat?

I unroll the roll with the curved side facing the grass so that my weight straightens it out while I slid along unrolling it.

When I'm cutting, I bend the excess at an angle so my hand isn't hitting the sharp edges. I've handled and cut a lot of hardware cloth but rarely get scratched.

I use an electric stapler to attach it every couple inches, then reinforce with screws and washers.

I am usually working alone, so hanging it is the hardest part. I've supported it with everything from my baseball cap to a chair!

I'm half asleep so hopefully everything in this post makes sense...

 

[21hens-incharge]

Be sure to check amazon for the clips and pliers. I have found quite a price difference between stores here and many don't even have any.

 

[Mother of Chaos]

@Anon112 We avoided having to join adjacent pieces of HWC.

My wonderful son-in-law built the run, and I designed it on the run. It’s 8x15, and so there are three 4’ wide sections front to back (total of 12’) and one 3’ wide section, where the door is (to add up to 15’.) I bought 48” (4’) wide HWC, and we started one end in the back, rolled it up over the frame for the “ceiling”, stapling to the 2x4, and down the front. We did this on the three 4’ sections and used a 36” (3’) roll over the 3’ section (not including the front, which became the door.) The run is 7’ high, so back + top + front was 7’ + 8’ + 7’ = 22’, most of a 25’ roll.

* I’m waving my hands in the air, trying to describe this. I hope it works. *

So that was the 15’ back, top, and front. Since it was 8’ deep, that meant two sections of 48” (4’) HWC down each side.

Since the width of each roll matched up with a 2x4 bit of framing, the edges were just stapled onto a 2x4, and there was no need to join or weave, etc.

A minor exception: after we wrapped the sides and top in HWC, we added 36” (3’) HWC along the ground and side bottom (this is where we switched to fender washers). When we ran out of one piece, or needed to turn a corner, we just overlapped the pieces by 6” or so, anchoring with the landscape staples, which we were doing on the straight runs anyway.

The name of the game is to design as much as possible in multiples of 4’ and 8’ for maximum efficiency in lumber purchased and ease of assembly.

 

[Sally PB]

I used zip ties to hold things together while I went back with the clips.

Half of my run is held together with zipties. They also function as extra hands as you work. I'll ziptie something together with little cheap ones while I finish getting it in place. I'll waste a little ziptie to make my job easier!

 

[RoseHawke]

Something I told myself I’d do, and then never did. Added to The List

Ditto. I've got a 2x4x10 that's going begging so to speak. After I get done with the #@%#!! New Coop maybe I'll have time to rip it into strips to go over the washers. Of course, then it'll need painting. It never ends.