Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/875930
52 • october 2017 • world fence news OK with them, they said. I gave 'em an estimate on 500 ft. of new 72 in. 3 B.W. for this side of the ditch. But damn if this side of the ditch wasn't as bad as the other side. Weeds the size of tree trunks, no two inches of ground the same level, the whole schmear! Even though they said they would have their maintenance crew cut the weeds down, this job was getting to be what I calls a "badger." It's easy to get hold of, but damn hard to let go of! I agree to do this section, then we consider the rest. The plan changes a dozen times; move part of the front fence, move most of front fence, don't move fence, move roll gates, move whole fence and roll gates, put roll gates in at an angle, put roll gates in square, jog fence 21 ft., etc., etc. Each proposed change, of course, requires reams of paperwork – de- tailed cost of everything down to the price of a single tie wire, and a written explanation of every step involved! The guy in charge is an engineer, and wants "detailed details." I shower him in paperwork and "artist's con- ceptions" (mine). I don't really want this job, and wouldn't go to all this trouble really. It's just that I recognized a chance to stick the shaft (friendly, of course) to the competition. They either got to run with this big dog or stay on the porch. Just a reminder to them that I was still around, so to speak. Well, damn the luck, they decid- ed to stay on the porch. The main man calls and says I got the job, when can I start? Ye gads! I told him I misplaced a coupla decimal points in my figures, and the cost is going to be $2,000 more than I quoted. It was OK with him, when could I start? he asked. I try to wriggle out of it by telling him I need a down payment of the to- tal materials plus one half the labor. He says he will have a check in an hour, when can I start? Hey ma, I wanna go home! But I tell him I'll have the materials by Fri- day, and I'll start Monday. Doggone it, if it weren't for bad luck, I wouldn't have any luck at all! Oh well, it comes with the terri- tory; if a fish kept its mouth shut, it wouldn't get caught, right? The install was a real booger, as we had to pour gallons of water in each hole so the gas digger could get the dirt out. The auger snagged roots in each hole, and we had to use the "Stilson wrench reverse gear" so much it wore a groove in the auger shaft. The holes promptly filled back in, and a crew member dislocates a shoulder when the auger snaps a huge piece of buried chain. Setting the posts is agony. The weed stumps make walking impossi- ble, and we have to tote the concrete to each hole in buckets, cause it's im- possible to run a wheelbarrow over the stubble. Well, you all have been to that town before, right? Need I say more? The fabric goes up fairly easy, as long as we don't let it touch the ground. The B.W. catches every blade of grass and weed stump on the line. It did miss one, but it made up for it by jumping off anoth- er one and tangling 300 ft. of itself in the chain link. We finally got that finished, a day behind schedule. It looks pretty good, if I may brag a little. Onward! Now to move the roll gates, which are Sched. 40 frames. The framework is 3 in. Sched. 40 with huge chunks of concrete belled out at the bottom. We borrow a forklift and chain to get 'em out. Each one nearly tips the forklift on end, and we break an average of 10 ft. of chain on each post. It takes two men four hours to break the concrete off. Hard? Like steel! It's been there 28 years. We have the usual roll gate instal- lation problems: The "traffic" people go out of their way to get in mine; semi's rolling up and finding out they have the wrong packing house; tour- ists who want to see what a packing house looks like; the fire department who is answering a false alarm; the police who are investigating an office break-in the night before; people are asking directions; people asking me if I can recommend a good motel; even somebody asking me to give 'em an estimate on 5,000 ft. of 72 in. plus 3 B.W. The devils were really working overtime on me! Somehow we get everything back together, and wonder of wonders, it all fit! We didn't even have parts left over! Well, almost none. We came up with two 3 in. brace bands and no place to put 'em. I dunno! The rest went fairly well. We re- place 50 ft. of damaged fabric and 15 line posts. Oh, I might mention that the en- gine on the truck went ka-put! It blew oil out and then ground itself to piec- es. It took two tow trucks to get it to the used car lot. The mechanic's two weeks behind and can't get to us! I had 10 jobs in the yard that were wanted "yesterday." It's trade-at-any- cost time. $40,000 instant debt. The American Way! Fence job a tangled mess from the very start continued from page 50 We recently landed one of them jobs that I'd rather we hadn't, but we did anyway, despite me jacking the bid up $2,000 over the competition! I, of course, lost my butt. It took three days more than I figured on, everything that could go wrong did, and then when they couldn't think up anything new to go wrong, they sent out for some new ideas. Pigtail and Square Kdt available! KDT Power Twist Tie US Patent No: 8,266,771 B2 "Affixing the fence fabric to a fence post is an important and repetitive step in most fence installations. For this reason, an inexpensive fence tie that facilitates high quality fastening with reduced time and effort can improve upon the time and cost associated with building fences." – As published in U.S. Patent, KDT Power Twist Tie Our PATENTED KDT Power Twist Tie saves time, and time is money! 9 ga & 6 ga conform to ASTM F626-96A Sizes for 1-5/8 pipe up to 8-5/8 Available in Galv. Class B Coating or less & Aluminized Look for it at your local supplier or Call 800-749-7181 E-mail: sales@kdwire.brcoxmail.com AND MENTION WFN! Keener Dupont Wire Co., LLC Where wire is our only business Only four steps needed to install the KDTwist Saves 20% on installation time! – Move KDTwist to post at a 45° angle; it pops on. – The installer does not have to pry apart legs. Reduces fatigue for the installer. – Smaller opening to close. – Use any power twist tie tool on the market to secure the KDTwist. Special sizes or shapes on request • KDT now available for T-posts Available in 12 ga, 11 ga, 9 ga, 7 ga, 6 ga Phone: 301-334-9100 Fax: 301-334-7846 www.cpalmerdiecastinginc.com • Many items in stock - caps, finials, rings, wall mounts, column bases ….. • Custom made parts • Short volume runs • In-house tool & die shop