Repairing Estate Fencing

[Muddy42]

Hi All.  I've gathered that a few forum members work on estates where 'estate fencing' might have been used so might be able to give me some advice.  I have some of this fencing that needs attention.  It looks quite like the below except much older (probably 80 years) and in shorter three-piece sections that look bolted together.  Given its age its in fantastic condition, the damage looks fairly minor - for example where trees have fallen over the fence causing bending.

 

For the minor re-bending, I was thinking of making some angle iron jigs that I can clamp on in situ, to straighten things out also with a hammer and a torch. For the major damage, I have access to some spare sections, that I will just replace one for one.

 

However I've never worked on these before , so any advice or tips would be appreciated.

 

[doobin]

You'll need to pull the bars past straight in order to convince it to bend, even with heat. A loader or digger plus a chain has worked well for me in the past, just go easy. You can hook the chain over a section of angle iron cut to the right size in order to try to limit kinking it the other way.

 

Basically general metalworking knowledge, which it sounds like you have. Much easier with two of you. And keep standing back and looking at it as a whole- if it looks right, it is right.

[woody paul]

If bars have been stretched you will be waisting your time trying to straighten them, best to cut them at a post and weld new in.. 

You can straighten them with sledge hammer like an anvil and a lump hammer to hit, 

[dumper]

Once bent devil to straighten, I usually cut and weld in new bar, posts I use hammer and a porta power,have used high lift jack to bend bars

[Muddy42]

Thanks all.  I'm nervous that if I apply too much lifting power I'll just rip the fence out of the ground.  I think I'll attempt the easy ones first (straight one-for-one replacement of sections) and then I'll have some smashed sections to play with or even scavenge metal from. 

[John Henry Wicks]

I run and own an estate fencing company and wld agree with others that you cut out the dodgy rails and replace with new rather that start trying to bend 80yr old mild steel. Usually with old Victorian estate fencing the biggest problem is that it is entirely rotted off at the base of the posts. In this instance you can cut the post out and install a new one (proper fix) or you can knock a short steel section in next to the old post and try and weld or bolt together (the bodge). Alternatively, get in touch with the likes of Fortify estate services who will probably save you quite a bit of time and money. 

[Muddy42]

12 hours ago, John Henry Wicks said:

I run and own an estate fencing company and wld agree with others that you cut out the dodgy rails and replace with new rather that start trying to bend 80yr old mild steel. Usually with old Victorian estate fencing the biggest problem is that it is entirely rotted off at the base of the posts. In this instance you can cut the post out and install a new one (proper fix) or you can knock a short steel section in next to the old post and try and weld or bolt together (the bodge). Alternatively, get in touch with the likes of Fortify estate services who will probably save you quite a bit of time and money. 

 

Thanks.  Yes we've just been bolting in whole replacement sections, scavenged from another fence that was being replaced.  Works well.