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!