Handy Polywire Dispenser Reel Cart

2024 - Volume #48, Issue #2, Page #23

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Homesteader Tom Wylie came up with a quick and easy way to lay out polywire fence lines using salvaged materials.
“I used steel tubing from display racks discarded at the local Tractor Supply and other salvaged materials,” says Wylie. “I designed the dispenser to fit in the front side pockets of my 4-wheel Gorilla cart. I can pull it to the pasture with everything I need for a temporary fence.”
The dispenser consists of two 26-in. uprights made from 3/4-in. by 1 1/2-in. rectangular tubing. Wylie spot-welded a 5/16 steel rod to the top ends of the uprights. After hanging the reels in place to establish the desired spacing, he added a crossbar of 3/4-in. steel tubing. With the size reels he used, it ended up about 5 in. below the top of the uprights.
“I hang the reel hooks on the steel rod, and the reels ride against the crossbar,” says Wylie. “It acts as a slight brake as I’m pulling out the cable.”
To secure the reels in transit, Wylie lays a short length of angle iron over the reel hooks on the steel rod and secures them in place with spring clamps. When reels are not in use, the angle iron clamps to one of the uprights.
“The uprights tend to pull back when the cables are being dispensed,” notes Wylie. “To counter that, I attach a ratchet strap from the front pockets of the cart to the center of the rack.”
Once the polywires have been anchored at one end, dispensing is as easy as pulling the cart to the end post. Along the way, he can drop off step-in posts and attach the polywires as he makes his return trip.
Wylie notes that salvaging the Tractor Supply racks was key to the project. “I saw the racks lying behind the store and asked if I could have them,” he recalls. “They were perfect for this job. I just cut off the two lengths I needed and set aside the rest for other projects.”
Wylie developed a 3-page set of plans that can be downloaded free from his website. He also posted a how-to video to his YouTube channel.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Tom Wylie, The Handy Homesteader, (handyhomesteadertom@gmail.com; www.TheHandyHomesteader.com/polywire-rack)

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Handy Polywire Dispenser Reel Cart FARM SHOP Miscellaneous Homesteader Tom Wylie came up with a quick and easy way to lay out polywire fence lines using salvaged materials “I used steel tubing from display racks discarded at the local Tractor Supply and other salvaged materials ” says Wylie “I designed the dispenser to fit in the front side pockets of my 4-wheel Gorilla cart I can pull it to the pasture with everything I need for a temporary fence ” The dispenser consists of two 26-in uprights made from 3/4-in by 1 1/2-in rectangular tubing Wylie spot-welded a 5/16 steel rod to the top ends of the uprights After hanging the reels in place to establish the desired spacing he added a crossbar of 3/4-in steel tubing With the size reels he used it ended up about 5 in below the top of the uprights “I hang the reel hooks on the steel rod and the reels ride against the crossbar ” says Wylie “It acts as a slight brake as I’m pulling out the cable ” To secure the reels in transit Wylie lays a short length of angle iron over the reel hooks on the steel rod and secures them in place with spring clamps When reels are not in use the angle iron clamps to one of the uprights “The uprights tend to pull back when the cables are being dispensed ” notes Wylie “To counter that I attach a ratchet strap from the front pockets of the cart to the center of the rack ” Once the polywires have been anchored at one end dispensing is as easy as pulling the cart to the end post Along the way he can drop off step-in posts and attach the polywires as he makes his return trip Wylie notes that salvaging the Tractor Supply racks was key to the project “I saw the racks lying behind the store and asked if I could have them ” he recalls “They were perfect for this job I just cut off the two lengths I needed and set aside the rest for other projects ” Wylie developed a 3-page set of plans that can be downloaded free from his website He also posted a how-to video to his YouTube channel Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Tom Wylie The Handy Homesteader handyhomesteadertom@gmail com; www TheHandyHomesteader com/polywire-rack

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