7 Best Wire Strainers For Woven Wire Sheep Fencing Old Farmers Swear By
Properly tensioned sheep fencing is crucial. Discover the 7 best wire strainers trusted by veteran farmers for a secure, long-lasting enclosure.
There’s nothing more frustrating than looking out at your pasture to see a tell-tale sag in your woven wire, a clear invitation for your craftiest ewe to test her boundaries. A good sheep fence is only as good as its tension, and keeping it drum-tight is a battle every shepherd faces. The right tool not only makes the job possible but turns a day of sweat and curses into a satisfying task with lasting results.
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Why Proper Tension is Key for Sheep Fencing
A tight fence is a psychological and physical barrier. Sheep, especially lambs, will test a fence by pushing their heads through the openings; a loose wire gives way and encourages them. Proper tension ensures the woven wire squares remain uniform and rigid, presenting a solid wall they learn not to challenge.
Tension also helps the fence function correctly in all weather. A taut fence will shed falling branches and resist the heavy weight of wet snow, springing back into place. A slack fence, on the other hand, will permanently stretch and sag under the same load, creating a maintenance nightmare and a permanent weak spot for predators to exploit.
Most importantly, a properly tensioned fence lasts longer. When the wire is tight, the load is distributed evenly across all the line posts and, most critically, the braced corner and end posts. A loose, floppy fence puts isolated stress on individual staples and posts every time an animal leans on it, leading to premature failure and constant repairs.
The Golden Rod Fence Stretcher: A Classic Tool
You’ll find one of these in almost every old farmer’s barn. The Golden Rod is a simple, effective tool consisting of a clamp bar that grips the full width of the woven wire and a separate stretcher tool that hooks onto it for leverage. Its beauty is in its simplicity; there are few moving parts to break or seize up.
This tool shines for repairs and shorter fence runs, typically 100 feet or less. When you need to patch a section or pull a short line tight between two well-set posts, the Golden Rod gives you the mechanical advantage to get it done by hand. It provides a direct feel for the tension you’re applying, preventing you from over-stretching the wire.
The downside is the sheer physical effort required for longer pulls. While effective, it relies entirely on your body weight and strength to create tension. For a long boundary fence, using a Golden Rod alone can be an exhausting, multi-person job. It’s the perfect tool for maintenance, but not always the best choice for a brand new, quarter-mile installation.
Hayes Chain Grab Strainer for Serious Pulling
When you need to pull a long, new stretch of fence, a chain strainer is your best friend. The Hayes Chain Grab is a classic design that uses a set of jaws to grip the wire securely, connected to a length of chain. You anchor the tool to your corner post or a vehicle and use the built-in handle to crank the chain, applying smooth, powerful, and controlled tension.
The key advantage here is the immense pulling power combined with precision. The ratchet mechanism allows you to add tension in small increments, letting you walk the fence line and check for snags before applying the final, firm pull. This controlled force is essential for getting a long run of woven wire uniformly tight without creating weak spots.
This is not a tool for quick patch jobs. It takes a few minutes to set up properly, and its power can easily damage a fence if you’re not careful. You must have a rock-solid anchor point—a well-braced H-brace corner is non-negotiable. Using a tractor or truck as your anchor is common, but you have to be mindful not to over-pull and snap the wire or compromise your posts.
Gallagher In-Line Strainers for Easy Retightening
Easily tension and terminate electric fence wires with this 20-pack kit. The durable, all-in-one design features an integrated insulator for safe and efficient permanent fencing.
Initial installation is only half the battle; fences settle and stretch over time. Gallagher In-Line Strainers are permanent fixtures you install directly into the fence line. Once in place, you can easily re-tension a slackening fence with a simple handle, without ever needing to set up pullers or come-alongs again.
These are absolute game-changers for long-term maintenance. You simply cut a strand of wire, insert the strainer, and reconnect the wire. When the fence sags a year later due to temperature changes or soil heave, a few turns with the ratchet handle brings it back to perfect tension in seconds. Installing a few of these per fence line is a wise investment in your future time and sanity.
While incredibly useful, they aren’t meant for the initial pull. They are designed for fine-tuning and maintaining tension, not for stretching a brand new 300-foot roll of wire. The best practice is to use a heavy-duty stretcher like a chain grab for the initial install, then place in-line strainers every 150-200 feet to handle future adjustments.
SpeeCo Come-Along Stretcher for Versatility
Many hobby farmers already own a come-along for other chores, and it can absolutely be pressed into service for fencing. When paired with a stretcher bar or even a simple block of wood to distribute the force, a come-along gives you the ratcheting power needed to pull a fence tight. Its slow, controlled action is a major benefit.
The primary appeal is its versatility. This one tool can help you pull a fence, winch a fallen log off the fence line, or even help pull out an old, stubborn post. If you’re on a tight budget and can only afford one pulling tool, a quality come-along is a smart choice because of its multiple uses around the farmstead.
However, a dedicated fence stretcher is usually safer and more efficient. Come-alongs can be cumbersome, and their hooks aren’t always ideal for grabbing fence wire without slipping. It’s a workable solution, but if you’re putting up a lot of fence, you’ll quickly appreciate the purpose-built design of a tool made specifically for the job. Think of it as the adjustable wrench of fence tools—it works, but a dedicated socket is better.
Gripple Plus Tensioners: The Modern No-Knot Fix
Gripple tensioners are a modern marvel for fence repair and joining. These small, ingenious devices allow you to join two pieces of wire or create a tensioning loop without tying a single knot. You simply feed the wire through the Gripple, and an internal ceramic roller mechanism grabs it, allowing it to move in but not out.
For quick repairs, they are unmatched. If a wire snaps, you can splice in a new piece in under a minute using two Gripples. You can then use the special Gripple tensioning tool to pull the wire tail and add tension right at the point of the break. This speed is invaluable when you have livestock to contain and limited time.
The trade-off is cost and the need for a proprietary tool. Gripples are more expensive per unit than simple knots or in-line strainers, and while you can pull them tight with pliers, the dedicated tool is what really makes them shine. They are an excellent addition to a repair kit for emergency fixes but might be too costly to use for an entire new fence installation.
Strainrite Permanent Strainers for Long Fence Lines
Similar to the Gallagher concept, Strainrite offers a range of heavy-duty permanent and in-line strainers designed for serious, long-lasting fence lines. These are often built with robust cogs and gears, designed to handle the extremely high tension required for long-distance fencing, especially in hilly or uneven terrain. They are built to be abused by the elements and still function perfectly a decade later.
Their primary application is on boundary fences or major pasture divisions where fence integrity is paramount. By installing these at the end posts or in the middle of very long runs, you build in the ability to easily maintain tension for the life of the fence. This proactive approach saves an enormous amount of work down the road.
This is an investment piece. Strainrite gear is professional-grade and priced accordingly. For a small paddock, it’s likely overkill. But if you are responsible for maintaining thousands of feet of perimeter fencing, the efficiency and reliability they provide make them a very shrewd purchase. You’re not just buying a tool; you’re buying peace of mind and saving your future self from a lot of hard labor.
Maintaining Your Tools for a Lifetime of Use
Your fence stretchers are tools that work under immense force, and they deserve respect and care. The most common cause of failure is neglect. After a day of fencing, take a minute to knock the mud off, wipe them down, and give any moving parts a quick shot of penetrating oil.
For chain strainers and come-alongs, pay close attention to the ratchet pawls and springs. These tiny parts do all the work of holding the tension, and if they get gummed up with dirt and rust, they can slip. A slipping ratchet under thousands of pounds of pressure is incredibly dangerous. Regularly inspect the jaws on your grab for wear and tear, as worn jaws are more likely to let the wire slip.
Store your tools in a dry place, not on the damp floor of a barn or the bed of your truck. A little preventative maintenance ensures that when you reach for your stretcher, it will work smoothly, safely, and effectively. A good tool, properly cared for, will last a lifetime and be something you can pass down to the next generation of farmers.
Ultimately, the best fence strainer is the one that fits the scale of your job, from a quick patch with a Gripple to a new boundary line pulled tight with a chain grab. Having a couple of these options on hand means you’re prepared for both installation and the inevitable maintenance that comes with keeping sheep. A tight fence is a safe fence, and these tools are the key to making it happen.
