Amazing One-Pass Machine Puts Up 5-Strand Fence Fast

2015 - Volume #39, Issue #6, Page #11

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The automated One Pass Fencemaker from Greenedge Precision Fencing sets posts, drills holes for wires, and pulls wires through to the next post.
    “I was managing a large ranch, and we needed a lot of labor to put up fence,” explains Lloyd Quantz, Greenedge Precision Fencing. “Our electric fences were good, but staples were either shorting out the wire or kinking it so it broke. Staples popping out was also a problem, and insulators were the weakest part of the system.”
    With more powerful fencers on the market, Quantz started putting wires through the posts for electric and non-electric fences. After doing it manually for a while, he began working on an automated system. The Fencemaker was the result - a tracked vehicle with a post carrier in the front and the automated fencing system attached to its side.
    “It had to be a big enough tracked carrier to allow the fencing unit to move 18 in. laterally and 30 degrees in and out. ASV had a heavy-duty undercarriage that worked,” says Quantz.
    Unlike other systems, the Fencemaker neither drills holes for posts, nor does it drive posts into the ground. A unique vibration system does the job, setting 4 to 5-in. posts in less than 5 sec. or up to 10 sec. in rocky ground.
    “We wanted to avoid the dangers of a driver. I've seen too many workers lose fingers and, in one case, a friend lost a hand,” explains Quantz. “The Fencemaker has a cap that sets on top of the post to be set, putting 5,000 lbs. pressure on it. While this doesn’t drive it in, it does shorten the wood fibers. This allows the vibrations to be transmitted to the tip of the post, and it moves into the ground.”
    “Drilling blocks were also a challenge,” says Quantz. “It took several years of work, but we now can drill seven holes through a post in 3 to 5 sec.
    The Fencemaker then guides the wires through and grabs them on the other side. As the carrier moves ahead to the next post, wires are drawn through the holes from a multi-spool carrier at the beginning of the fence line. Quantz says the time to set a post, drill holes for wires, and pull them through averages 2 min.
    “We couldn’t spend much time on any one part of the operation,” says Quantz. “The spacing of posts determines how many miles you can fence in a day.”
    The Fencemaker can be set to do up to seven strands of wire in different combinations and spacings to match different needs. It uses hardened tip drill bits. Quantz says one set of bits has lasted through 3,000 posts.
    While under development, the Fencemaker has only been available by lease. Quantz is now looking for a company to license and manufacture it.
    “We expect it to be priced in the $60,000 to $70,000 range,” says Quantz.
    Greenedge Fences has also developed proprietary steel ground anchors and spring-loaded braces that adjust to changing temperatures and loads. Other fencing aids include skid steer attachments for removing old wire and posts as well as for laying conduit under gate areas.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Greenedge Precision Fencing, Inc., Box 4281, Olds, Alberta, Canada T4H 1P8 (ph 403-556-0994; www.greenedges.com).

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Amazing One-Pass Machine Puts Up 5-Strand Fence Fast FENCING Miscellaneous The automated One Pass Fencemaker from Greenedge Precision Fencing sets posts drills holes for wires and pulls wires through to the next post “I was managing a large ranch and we needed a lot of labor to put up fence ” explains Lloyd Quantz Greenedge Precision Fencing “Our electric fences were good but staples were either shorting out the wire or kinking it so it broke Staples popping out was also a problem and insulators were the weakest part of the system ” With more powerful fencers on the market Quantz started putting wires through the posts for both electric and non-electric fences After doing it manually for a while he began working on an automated system The Fencemaker was the result - a tracked vehicle with a post carrier in the front and the automated fencing system attached to its side “It had to be a big enough tracked carrier to allow the fencing unit to move 18 in laterally and 30 degrees in and out ASV had a heavy-duty undercarriage that worked ” says Quantz Unlike other systems the Fencemaker neither drills holes for posts nor does it drive posts into the ground A unique vibration system does the job setting 4 to 5-in posts in less than 5 sec or up to 10 sec in rocky ground “We wanted to avoid the dangers of a driver I have seen too many workers lose fingers and in one case a friend lost a hand ” explains Quantz “The Fencemaker has a cap that sets on top of the post to be set putting 5 000 lbs pressure on it While this doesn’t drive it in it does shorten the wood fibers This allows the vibrations to be transmitted to the tip of the post and it moves into the ground ” “Drilling blocks were also a challenge ” says Quantz “It took several years of work but we now can drill 7 holes through a post in 3 to 5 sec The Fencemaker then guides the wires through and grabs them on the other side As the carrier moves ahead to the next post wires are drawn through the holes from a multi spool carrier at the beginning of the fence line Quantz says the time to set a post drill holes for wires and pull them through averages 2 min “We couldn’t spend much time on any one part of the operation ” says Quantz “The spacing of posts determines how many miles you can fence in a day ” The Fencemaker can be set to do up to 7 strands of wire in different combinations and spacings to match different needs It uses hardened tip drill bits Quantz says one set of bits has lasted through 3 000 posts While under development the Fencemaker has only been available by lease Quantz is now looking for a company to license and manufacture it “We expect it to be priced in the $60 000 to $70 000 range ” says Quantz Greenedge Fences has also developed proprietary steel ground anchors and spring-loaded braces that adjust to changing temperatures and loads Other fencing aids include skid steer attachments for removing old wire and posts as well as for laying conduit under gate areas You can see a video of the One Pass Fencemaker in action at www farmshow com Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Greenedge Precision Fencing Inc Box 4281 Olds Alberta Canada T4H 1P8 ph 403 556-0994; www greenedges com

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