It's been a long and hard lesson and thanks to Jason Garvey for giving me advice I've made some good progress on fencing in my property.

Here are some pictures of some of the work that I have accomplished. I have been digging the post holes using a one man gas auger and that is by far the hardest part. I'm learning how to use a pipe notcher and a stick welder. And like Jason told me if you spend a little extra time fitting the pipe you will save tones of time welding.

I've still got a long way to go. I have set 27 drill pipe posts and have over 30 more holes to dig. If anyone knows of someone that is in the Wolf City area with a skidsteer and an auger attachment please let me know. I'd be more than happy to pay them to finish all the holes.

Thanks a bunch Jason Garvey

Home Depot Tool Rental has a stand on skid steer with an auger that they rent pretty reasonable. Works really well, and it comes on a trailer that can be hauled with a half ton. If you pick it up after 4, and they close at 8, you can keep it overnight and they'll only charge you 4 hours. Heck of a lot cheaper than paying someone to come out.

Looks good so far.

Interesting saddle jig/tool you got there (i assume) appreciate it if you shared some about it. About to start building some pipe fence myself. I havent done a lot of it and due to lack of tools have always done it with a grinder. Thanks.

You have a tool rental place in your area, Rent a skid steer with the attachment, the get your posts set and your pipe cut and notched. Then rent a Miller Bobcat and blow through it. It will be money well spent.

It’s called a tube notcher.

You can do the saddle notches with a chop saw also.

I have never seen this used on fence building, the only place I have seen them used was in race car shops. I like a torch for saddling pipe, mark the bottom of the saddle and just cut it out. Some of that tubing like that is nasty inside, and a plasma cutter will work better. Kudos to the OP, nothing like self satisfaction after doing a job yourself

build your pieces under a roof. then take them out lay them in place , drill holes in ground and stand up. ITS HOT OUT THERE

Yeah that's a hell of an August project. Looks great

we always marked with one of these and cut with a torch





Pro-tip, 2-7/8 will perfectly sleeve over 2-3/8. You can buy pre-cut notches, just have to weld twice.

Looks great! Will outlast any livestock inside of it.

That looks great Steve. Congrats on the new place Sir

The pipe notcher cuts this pipe faster and with a perfect fit. I could not cut it that perfect with a plasma cutter. At least not without doing some grinding.

I appreciate all the advice.

And it only about a mile from Jason’s place😀

And only an hour from my home!

looks great sir

For those that may be interested here is a link to the pipe notcher on amazon https://smile.amazon.com/Pipe-Tube-Notcher-Hole-Saw/dp/B01LX85IQR/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Pipe+and+Tube+Notcher%2C+Hole+Saw%2C+40+ga&qid=1597412554&sr=8-3

here is a youtube video of how it works:

I have never heard of making cuts this way. I just built 200Ft of pipe fence for my yard and it was pretty grueling using a torch and welding up the gaps (I am not good at either but can do enough to get by). Cutting Saddles to fit is not the easiest thing to do. Keep up the good work.

The nice thing about the notcher is it can clap to the top of a pipe that you have in the ground already and cut a nice saddle on the top. The only thing you have to remember is to clean off the oil before welding. I forgot to bring something to do that at first and used the grinder to clean off the first few. Then I found I had a can of carb cleaner that worked great on removing the oil. And of course I made sure it was all evaporated before welding so there was no chance of blowing myself up with trapped flammable vapors in the pipe

Here is a pic of one of the first saddles I made. They got better as I figured out I did not have the angle perfectly square on this one. It made for a very easy weld anyway.

How long does the hole saw last on that?

Have you figured out to get notches square to each other on opposite ends of a piece of tubing?

If you weren't so far away I'd offer my BellTec auger on the bucket of my tractor. In dirt I have drilled 37 post holes in an hour. Working 48 and 96 off there's just no way I could make it up there and be back in time to go to work.

If you follow directions and use cutting oil it should last At least 50 cuts. I’ve done 21 so far and it’s still working like new. Don’t push it or go high speed

The instructions say no more than 170 rpm

Not sure I would use that for. So no I haven’t figured that out!

Thanks but I already have another THF member that’s going to help me with the post holes next weekend. 😀

I’ll let you know how that goes

I did a little welding to put the caps on some of the posts this morning until it got too hot at 11am

Really nice work

Did you have welding experience prior to this?

I am going to have to put up about 1000ft of fence in San Angelo at my Dads place in the next couple years. I have enough experience to make two pieces of metal stick together, that is about it.

I have used a flux core welder in the past. But I learned to use the stick welder by watching YouTube videos and practicing on some scrap metal. I'm still learning. But with practice I am getting better.

I am using E6011 or E6013 1/8" electrodes on 75 amps right now but may need to fine tune that as I sometimes burn a hole. I'm getting good at fixing that but with practice I hope to prevent that going forward.

Good on you man, I am hoping I can get one of my buddies that is better than I am to come help me get started when I finally decide to get on my project.

That looks like 2 3/8 tubing.
Normally that tubing has a seam on the inside.
Line your saddles up with the seam.

I must have been tied when I replied to this question earlier. What I’ve been doing is cutting one end then dry fitting it to the cut end to measure were to cut the opposite end and marking the top. The notcher is easy to line that mark up when making the second end cut.

This works on used pipe that you can’t see the seam.

Made some great progress on the project this weekend thanks to another THF member (munoz) that helped me dig the remaining 30 post holes.

I then set some of the posts with cement. But ran out of cement. I'll have to bring a load up next weekend to set the remaining posts.

I also got all the pipe I need to finish all the fence and entrance work delivered to the property. I had to load and unload it all by hand. Wow was that exhausting.

... you're a better man than me in this heat.

I built some pipe yard fence at my old house, using 2-3/8 sch 80 I picked up an auction for cheap. I saddled the tops of the vertical pipe posts and ran continuous top rail. once done, put up chain link. I also did some corrals out at my barn for my horses using 2-7/8 drill stem, same solid top rail and then kick rails saddled on the horizontal. It was a learning experience but I got pretty good with a torch cutting saddles and with a gas operated welder by the time I was done.

good job and good luck with completion!

If you don't mind me asking, where did you buy the pipe from?

The best place would be Vitz Metals in Anna https://vitzmetals.com/

Thanks.

Went out yesterday but cut it short as the heat was too much for me

Now working on the entrance. Welded the end caps on the cross member of the entrance gate and lined up the first entrance gate post. I’m going to need help getting that post in the hole

Any advice? I done have a tractor or skid steer.

Put the two entrance posts in and welded up a skinning pole yesterday

You’re having too much fun and enjoying this cooler weather

Yes I am. I was there early enough to try to dove hunt. I only sat for 30 mins as a pair of falcons were chasing every dove that came into my field. But I did hear a sounder of pigs grunting and squealing in the woods behind me. They were close and were not scared off by me letting a few shots off with my shotgun.

Soon it will be time to start hunting them. Just need to finish putting the cable and hoist on the skinning pole.

I bet the FoxPro caller with the hog sounds would bring them out for a good opportunity.

Good work, I also enjoy figuring out how to build and fix things myself.

I have built a bunch of fence in my time, never seen a pipe or tubing notcher setup like that. Pipe saddle guides for marking and Oxy-acetylene torch for cuts works really well for pipe fitting. A little bit of grinding can make welding easier as well. Plasma cutters are for shop projects

Just can't justify the cost and storage for the Qxy-acetylene setup. All the other equipment I can use for small projects later. I hope to never have to do pipe fencing again after this.

I've used that pipe notcher for a side project already. A buddy of mine needed a replacement for his wheelchair foot rest and I used it to cut that pipe for perfect fit and weld.

That pipe mother won’t be trying to start fires like a torch would either.

Very true.

It’s a neat looking setup for sure, and if it’s working for you 👍🏻. I’m not trying to critique your methods at all, just adding some info to your thread from my experience doing this type of work for hire.



True, but if you’re welding or grinding at all, especially in high fire danger conditions you better have a water rig and possibly a spotter on-site for fire prevention anyway. Grass fires are easy to prevent, but hard to stop once they get going.

Top rail installed today. Soon I can remove the temporary gates

Had some gravel put down today.. Next I need to build a scaffolding to finish the entry gate top.

Cut and saddled the entrance posts

Now I need to get the top up there and welded

Pure greatness.

Got it done today

That looks awesome Steve. Great job Sir

Nice!

Finally finished the entrance

Love happy endings.

Nice looking entrance.

Really cool project, I was wondering what generator you were using to run that little miller multi-matic? I've got a Esab machine I need to purchase a generator for. It will run on 110 or 220 but I tried welding with it using a 4k generator and it was a no go.

I ran it on a Black Max generator from Sam’s. Cost about 1k and I’ve user it on my mig welder and plasma cutter it’s rated for 7500 with peak up to 9375 watts. Has a Honda engine and electric start.

Looks great!