Simple Wire Splicer Makes Quick Work Of Breaks
"This tool makes it almost fun to splice wire," says Leon Sowers, farmer/inventor from Kingman County, Kansas. He says he can make a 14-gauge wire splice in 30 seconds using his lightweight tool.
The Kansas farmer says he invented the Wire Splicer after years of gouging his hands and ripping his clothing, only to end up with a poor splice. "It seems like we're constantly having to splice electric fences due to breaks caused by cattle and especially deer," Sowers says. "Hand-wound splices never have good electrical conductivity. I knew there had to be a better way, and I actually had this idea in my mind for a couple of years before making the first model."
Sowers built several prototypes in his farm shop, then eventually partnered with a machine shop to perfect the tool and build them in quantity. The current version is made from aircraft aluminum to keep it light and free from rust.
Using the Wire Splicer requires an overlap of about 6 in. of wire and a needle-nosed vice-grip to hold the wire tight during splicing. The tool makes a tightly wound splice that conducts electricity as well as unbroken wire, Sowers says. "The splice is also as strong, or stronger, than the original fence wire. It will never unravel."
Sowers Wire Splicer costs $25 plus $5 shipping. It's bored to fit 14-gauge wire, the size of wire most commonly used in electric fencing. He says several customers have used the tool to splice together two rolls of baling wire for wire balers. Sowers hopes to build a website for the fence splicer and maybe produce a YouTube video that shows how the Wire Splicer works. In the meantime, the best way to order one or more splicers is to call Sowers by phone or e-mail. He also sells and installs solar-powered well pumps and in the past has built farm sprayers and small feed wagons.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Leon Sowers, 13103 SE 40 St., Murdock, Kansas 67111 (ph 620 243-4497; Lcsfarms@yahoo.com).
The Kansas farmer says he invented the Wire Splicer after years of gouging his hands and ripping his clothing, only to end up with a poor splice. "It seems like we're constantly having to splice electric fences due to breaks caused by cattle and especially deer," Sowers says. "Hand-wound splices never have good electrical conductivity. I knew there had to be a better way, and I actually had this idea in my mind for a couple of years before making the first model."
Sowers built several prototypes in his farm shop, then eventually partnered with a machine shop to perfect the tool and build them in quantity. The current version is made from aircraft aluminum to keep it light and free from rust.
Using the Wire Splicer requires an overlap of about 6 in. of wire and a needle-nosed vice-grip to hold the wire tight during splicing. The tool makes a tightly wound splice that conducts electricity as well as unbroken wire, Sowers says. "The splice is also as strong, or stronger, than the original fence wire. It will never unravel."
Sowers Wire Splicer costs $25 plus $5 shipping. It's bored to fit 14-gauge wire, the size of wire most commonly used in electric fencing. He says several customers have used the tool to splice together two rolls of baling wire for wire balers. Sowers hopes to build a website for the fence splicer and maybe produce a YouTube video that shows how the Wire Splicer works. In the meantime, the best way to order one or more splicers is to call Sowers by phone or e-mail. He also sells and installs solar-powered well pumps and in the past has built farm sprayers and small feed wagons.
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Leon Sowers, 13103 SE 40 St., Murdock, Kansas 67111 (ph 620 243-4497; Lcsfarms@yahoo.com).