Scrap fence?

Cygnet · #1 04/23/08, 11:21 AM

Can I sell scrap field fencing to a recycler? Not sure if they'd be interested. I have a ton (well, a couple hundred pounds worth) that's all torn up from goats. It's not usable as fencing, but not rusted.

Also have around 20-30 pounds of aluminum wiring. Will they take that? (No insulation, it's from electric fencing.)

-- Leva

Karenrbw · #2 04/23/08, 11:54 AM

Our local recycler would take both of those items.

texican · #3 04/23/08, 01:50 PM

Imho, if you need to get rid of the old fence, that's one thing, but making money is another... you might make some muscles. You might spend more time and energy and gas on the scrap, than it's worth... But if it's got to go, it's got to go, right!

In your 'sitchywattion' I might just build my initial fence between the garbageishy neighbors, and then glom on as much of the ragged fences as possible to the new fence. Then plant running roses, and tons of red cedar seeds...

Any t-posts? I've been collecting old fencing materials for years, and this last year I ended up needing lots of building materials. I'd tried straightening out t posts with little success. Used a torch to heat the bends and that worked ok... but figured I was spending too much money. Then, a ton of bricks hit me in the head, and I realized I could slide the tposts into a stationery pipe, and straighten them easily, and without spending money on them.

Cygnet · #4 04/23/08, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

Imho, if you need to get rid of the old fence, that's one thing, but making money is another... you might make some muscles. You might spend more time and energy and gas on the scrap, than it's worth... But if it's got to go, it's got to go, right!

In your 'sitchywattion' I might just build my initial fence between the garbageishy neighbors, and then glom on as much of the ragged fences as possible to the new fence. Then plant running roses, and tons of red cedar seeds...

Any t-posts? I've been collecting old fencing materials for years, and this last year I ended up needing lots of building materials. I'd tried straightening out t posts with little success. Used a torch to heat the bends and that worked ok... but figured I was spending too much money. Then, a ton of bricks hit me in the head, and I realized I could slide the tposts into a stationery pipe, and straighten them easily, and without spending money on them.

I wish I could make a fence out of this, but it's cut into about ten foot lengths and has numerous holes in it big enough to walk through and it's all curled up and twisted. And I've been cutting bits and pieces out of it for years to mend other fence -- what's left would take more energy than it's worth to make a good fence out of. It came with the lot. There aren't any t-posts, unfortunately.

When I build a fence for my lot, it will be very sturdy and built to LAST. And look good.

(The kids and/or the adults, by the way, CUT my electric fence that's along the back of the lot yesterday. I Am Annoyed as I discovered it was cut and shorted out when the goats got out. I even set up a breaker that the older kids and adults can reach so they can cut the fence to retrieve lost balls and kites and stuff, with the understanding they'd turn it back on later ... and yet, they cut my fence. I'm very tempted to become the neighborhood scrooge who keeps any toys that land on my property.

... I'm fed up. I was going to put a gate in for the toy problem for the kids to get their toys that go over the fence as they are constantly flying kites and playing ball -- I honestly like kids -- but I am seriously reconsidering that now.)

Climate isn't right for multiflora, but I might plant a whole bunch of cholla back there. It'd solve the ball problem. (Pop!)

Windy in Kansas · #5 04/23/08, 02:27 PM

My local scrap metal place would take the aluminum but not the fence wire. I suppose with theft as it is they'd rather not get involved with what might transpire if they did buy it.

mustangsally17 · #6 04/23/08, 03:01 PM

i make tomaote cages out of my old fencing, or at least i did in the south, i dont believe the growing season is long enough here to need cages of such size....nothing fancy, just tubes..

agmantoo · #7 04/23/08, 06:28 PM

Cygnet, unfortunately you have to become a person that has to be " reckoned with". If your read my posts here you may think I am a decent person or so I perceive. If you lived in my neighborhood you may think I am related to the devil. Whom do you think caused me to creat such a reputation? The neighbors!

MELOC · #8 04/23/08, 07:17 PM

they may take it if it is all cut up into 3-4 foot long pieces. longer wire can bind up the shredder.

Scrounger · #9 04/23/08, 09:05 PM

Here, we have two scrap yards about 30 miles away (in opposite directions, of course.....). The one pays better, but won't take wire. They other one will buy wire, but you don't get the "good" price. Both will take aluminium wire in a minute. Be sure the wire is ALL aluminium. Some of those had a steel strand in the center for strength.....

texican · #10 04/23/08, 10:13 PM

Cygnet...
where are you located? In Texas, I do believe it's a crime to cut a fence. At one time, it was illegal to carry wire cutters on one's person.

I don't know what you could do... without getting mean. Call the sheriff and ask if it's ok to cut some fences? Anonymous like, you know... Ask if it's alright, cause you'd like to cut some of your neighbors field fencing, you know, jus' for fun... and THAT would be alrighty... Right? [of course, you're entrapping the LE official... the answer will be NO] If they tell you NO, tell them it's happening to you, and if it happens again, will they arrest the people doing the cutting?

I'd set some pole posts in the corners... even if I couldn't afford the fence you want in the future. And string some mongo tight gaucho barb wire... not regular wire, but gaucho. Gaucho is prestretched, and if you tighten it properly, it'll hurt you if it's cut, and not nailed or tied to t-posts. I'd set a t- post every 40 or so feet ...tie your supertite gaucho wire on top...but only tie it to every other post... then restring your electric wire onto the new fence. Call the sheriff, and tell them you're rebuilding your fence, and it's going to take a few weeks to finish it. Make sure it's a call, or a certified letter, and let the LE officer get the info. If someone cuts your gaucho wire, thinking it's like electric wire, there'll be an ambulance call involved...

Rarely can I ever remember getting an entire stretch of fence done in one day... especially if it's new fence.

Or you can be nice, and just sign your property over to the leeches...

stranger · #11 04/24/08, 05:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cygnet

Can I sell scrap field fencing to a recycler? Not sure if they'd be interested. I have a ton (well, a couple hundred pounds worth) that's all torn up from goats. It's not usable as fencing, but not rusted.

Also have around 20-30 pounds of aluminum wiring. Will they take that? (No insulation, it's from electric fencing.)

-- Leva

if junk dealers can get a couple hundred dollars for a junk car which is half plastic, you should get over 200 for a ton of fence

Cygnet · #12 04/24/08, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by texican

Cygnet...
where are you located? In Texas, I do believe it's a crime to cut a fence. At one time, it was illegal to carry wire cutters on one's person.

I don't know what you could do... without getting mean. Call the sheriff and ask if it's ok to cut some fences? Anonymous like, you know... Ask if it's alright, cause you'd like to cut some of your neighbors field fencing, you know, jus' for fun... and THAT would be alrighty... Right? [of course, you're entrapping the LE official... the answer will be NO] If they tell you NO, tell them it's happening to you, and if it happens again, will they arrest the people doing the cutting?

I'd set some pole posts in the corners... even if I couldn't afford the fence you want in the future. And string some mongo tight gaucho barb wire... not regular wire, but gaucho. Gaucho is prestretched, and if you tighten it properly, it'll hurt you if it's cut, and not nailed or tied to t-posts. I'd set a t- post every 40 or so feet ...tie your supertite gaucho wire on top...but only tie it to every other post... then restring your electric wire onto the new fence. Call the sheriff, and tell them you're rebuilding your fence, and it's going to take a few weeks to finish it. Make sure it's a call, or a certified letter, and let the LE officer get the info. If someone cuts your gaucho wire, thinking it's like electric wire, there'll be an ambulance call involved...

Rarely can I ever remember getting an entire stretch of fence done in one day... especially if it's new fence.

Or you can be nice, and just sign your property over to the leeches...

Meh. It's kids. Elementary aged kids. That I THINK are the culprits for the cut fence. I don't want to hurt them, and I don't particularly want to get them involved with the law. Also, I do not know who, specifically, cut the fence. It may not have even been "the kids" as everyone and their brother used to cut across my property before I put the electric up.

I'm suspicious it was the kids, because they were out in their yard when the fence was cut (and it's polywire, so a quick swipe with a knife wrapped in something insulating would have done it). But I can't prove it.

I chalk it up to "kids will be kids" most of the time, but it's ANNOYING. I'm sure to an eight or nine year old, they're not thinking "the goats will get out" -- they're thinking, "that mean neighbor lady put an electric fence up and it's in the way, I want my kite, and if I cut it, nobody will know it was me if nobody sees me." (I pointed out the breaker to the adults/older teens, but I'm not sure that they're using it as I find two or three balls a day in the field and toss them back.)

(The garbage is way more annoying; I can blame the adults for that.)

-- Leva

texican · #13 04/24/08, 05:25 PM

Put up the bad wire. Tell the neighbors you're letting all your friends and neighbors know that you're putting up some bob, since the poly wire couldn't stand up to your wily goats... and mention that the gaucho is some dangerous stuff, and let them know the kids will get hurt if they try to climb over it... they need to come around to the front of your place and use the gate or call.

I seriously doubt any court in the land would prosecute you for putting up a fence. Call the sheriff and ask if it's kosher?

Rarely can I make it through a couple hours of playing with barbwire without getting cut...

If you let the kids get away with it, it'll only embolden them and weaken you in their eyes. As Barney Fife was want to say, "Nip It. Nip it in the Bud!"

good luck to you
Phil

minnikin1 · #14 04/25/08, 07:34 AM

If you have a dog that digs under gates, then old junk fence like this is a great way to stop it.

Lay it out as flat as you can, use what-cha-got to "staple" it down into the ground, and throw old hay or straw over top to rot.
Check occasionally to make sure there aren't stray wires sticking up to catch ankles or mowers...

I'll be using some to make rabbit tractor parking spaces this year, so they can't dig out of their bottomless pens. The grass grows up through the fence nicely.