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Tools of the Trade - Building a Fence

The classic fence is a part of the American imagery that evocates both the quiet suburban life as well as the hard labour on the fields. Building your own fence has long been a tradition (nowadays perhaps playing more of a symbolic part than a functional one), a meaninful activity that used to serve as a makeshift rite of passage. Of course, building a fence has a mundane side too. That side is filled with careful measures, long afternoons under the sun and (most of all) lots of wood.

If you have decided to build your own fence, you have come to the right place. You have your burly muscles and manly attitude, but when it comes to building something tools are of the essence. In this case, there are several tools that you will need to make your fence building experience as straightforward as possible. Of course, you will also need time, patience and a healthy supply of water (you are going to be sweating in no time, believe us); we trust that you can procure those items on your own though.

It Takes More Than Simple London Shelf Brackets

The following list is intended for the purposes of installing a fence with nothing but hand tools (we wouldn't be so manly if we didn't; we need no things like super-glue or any silly aquarium sealant to get this job done!) We recommend you purchase new tools from a reputable dealer; discount tools are a gamble in which you always tend to loose. Once you get your tools, make sure you keep them clean and dry and they will last you for a long time.

Heavy leather gloves: it's always nice to minimize the scratches you will get from handling all the equipment (watch out for the ends of the fence wire, those things are sharp!)
Claw hammer: you will need to hammer things down and a claw hammer helps pulling out those nails that inevitably were nailed in the wrong place.
Wire cutters: purchase quality ones! You don't need really big ones, you need sharp and durable ones. This will probably be an expensive item, but it's well worth it.
Shovel: get any round point shovel that doesn't desintegrate to the touch and you'll be fine.
Post hole digger: get a heavy duty set and forget about the hardships of digging holes. Well, ok, you will still sweat and trash around but you will be so much more efficient while doing it.
Come along (just ask for it): this helps to tense the fence.
Fence tensioner: does just what it says it does; maintains tensions by clamping the wire and increasing pressure as the tension increases. You need this.
Post pounder: you use these big tools to drive the T-bar posts into the ground. Best used by muscular teenagers, friends at the gym and generally people that are not you.
Portable festoon lighting: for those who prefer to work when there is less light (and heat) these things provide good lighting and use very little power, which means they will last you for hours.