Can someone explain to me exactly how to use this old Durbin-Durco stretcher? Anybody ever used one? I found it cleaning out the barn a few years ago and put it in my collection. Unfortunately, my fence building instructor isnt here for me to ask him directly anymore. I dont remember ever using it, as we always used the goldenrod wire stretcher to build/fix fence. Anyways, somebody learn me on how to use this thing.

I'm not sure as I've never used that type but if I were to guess, I'd orient it like your third to last picture, run the wire through the small hole in the shaft, then around to the jaws, then, use the post as leverage and as you push or pull that handle those jaw get tighter and tighter and holds the wire as you would essentially push the lever counterclockwise around the post.

That's a cool find. I'll wait and see what others have to say.

Jason_Roofer said:

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I'm not sure as I've never used that type but if I were to guess, I'd orient it like your third to last picture, run the wire through the small hole in the shaft, then around to the jaws, then, use the post as leverage and as you push or pull that handle those jaw get tighter and tighter and holds the wire as you would essentially push the lever counterclockwise around the post.

That's a cool find. I'll wait and see what others have to say.

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Yeah I think we had one of these back in the day, you use the post as leverage … now a day you can do the same thing with vice grips or big pliers

Staple wire loosely in place if working by yourself.
Flat end goes against post.
Wire goes in jaws.
Pull on handle to tighten wire and set staple.

I have one similar.
Never use it, wire stretcher is easier and simpler.

The one truth about fence fixing and building H braces is to never let it be revealed that you know how to do it!

I once worked with a ranch hand once up in the mountains of Colorado who only used a hammer to splice up broken wires. He never carried a Golden Rod stretcher, just a coil of wire and staples in a sewn up boot top. He showed me how it worked, and it was surprisingly effective but I've long since forgotten the technique.

Correct. Much easier with two people.

Fence building should be a required course.

So i guess it works like a big set pliers with a pry bar on the end. I'm guessing lay the wire across the "teeth" of the device and use the post for leverage. I will let yall know how it works

It's an old barbed wire stretcher. You put the wire in the teeth and then put the triangular tip on the fence post and then use the handle to push and pivot around the post until the wire is tight. From there they would use square nails to secure the wire to the post before releasing pressure from the handle. At least I think that's how I remember using it when I was young.

marcel ledbetter said:

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The one truth about fence fixing and building H braces is to never let it be revealed that you know how to do it!

I once worked with a ranch hand once up in the mountains of Colorado who only used a hammer to splice up broken wires. He never carried a Golden Rod stretcher, just a coil of wire and staples in a sewn up boot top. He showed me how it worked, and it was surprisingly effective but I've long since forgotten the technique.

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Sewn up boot top still the container of choice on my slice of heaven. I'm not quite sure how you could possibly ride fence without it.

I still use one. Mine is not exactly like that one, it has a wooden handle and a grip for the wire attached by an eye bolt. Nice thing about it is you can back into the handle to apply the tension which leaves both hands free to staple the wire to the post or tree. Really helps when you are alone.

country said:

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It's an old barbed wire stretcher. You put the wire in the teeth and then put the triangular tip on the fence post and then use the handle to push and pivot around the post until the wire is tight. From there they would use square nails to secure the wire to the post before releasing pressure from the handle. At least I think that's how I remember using it when I was young.

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That's it exactly. One can tell they have it loaded right and using in correct direction as when you apply force to the handles to stretch, the teeth pressure holding the wire increases more and more the harder you stretch.

As a teenager and new electrician on the job site, I was asked to fetch the wire stretcher from the truck once. Never did find that darn thing…

At least now I know what I'm looking for!!!

We never had such luxuries. My dad taught me to use a gooseneck wrecking bar to do the same thing. Hook the wire in the jaws and make a half turn around it…….put it against the post and pull like heck…. Hold it with your leg and nail the wire.
That way you had one tool that did many jobs…… when you didn't have money to buy but one tool.

Yes! We also used fencing pliers with a cheater bar or bull nose pliers similarly. Now we use a modern fence stretcher and pull everything tight with truck or tractor. I use pipe wrench to grab each wire to the pipe and cut the wire loose from the puller, then wrap the wire around the post and to itself. Much better fences.

cupofjoe04 said:

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As a teenager and new electrician on the job site, I was asked to fetch the wire stretcher from the truck once. Never did find that darn thing…

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Typically those are kept in the truck right next to the sky hooks.....

I just finished a 1.5 mile stretch of 75" tall Sta Tuff fixed knot high tinsel. Making ties at steel post are a PIA.
A pro fence builder told me about a " T Gripple". I bought them. I will never wrap tie a high tensil wire again!

OK barbwire fence builders........whats the sequence of stretching the wire .......

I stretch one out on the survey line. Corner to corner if able. I use it as a guide for my post. Then after all my post are set and t-post I move it to the top and work down. I stretch the wires from corner to corner with a come along as tight as I like it. Then pull up or push down as needed depending on terrain to tie. I put .133 t-post every 12' and 2 7/8 or 2 3/8 line post every 96'. 3.5" corners post and h brace. I put a h brace pull every 660' feet. I do that so if a tree falls on the fence I don't have to re stretch so damn far.
I use 6 strands of 12 gauge Oklahoma wire.

Edit to add: They make a chuck that fits your drill and they make pre cut t-post clips and various size pipe clips that the ends stick in that chuck…. Hit your drill…. It winds it perfect and automatically releases from that chuck.
Look it up on STA-TUFFS web site and watch the video.
So much easier and faster than t-post clips or tie wire b

Gunny456 said:

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I just finished a 1.5 mile stretch of 75" tall Sta Tuff fixed knot high tinsel. Making ties at steel post are a PIA.
A pro fence builder told me about a " T Gripple". I bought them. I will never wrap tie a high tensil wire again!

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Never heard of them. Look like an amazing product. Thanks for sharing!

Interesting splicing connector for high tensile wire like Gaucho.

Looks easy to use, going to try some. Got some fence down from Beryl.

I never have used one of those. Let me know how they work.

That looks like a complicated crowbar, which around our house was called fence stretcher

I used some of those probably 25 years ago on a big fencing project and as far as I know they've held up.

I always hated gaucho wire. You can tear down a fence with that **** 30 years later and it'll spool up like it was new (and take your glove with it).

cmiller00 said:

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I used some of those probably 25 years ago on a big fencing project and as far as I know they've held up.

I always hated gaucho wire. You can tear down a fence with that **** 30 years later and it'll spool up like it was new (and take your glove with it).

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Prolly some hide as well.

No doubt!

Animal Eight 84 said:

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Interesting splicing connector for high tensile wire like Gaucho.

Looks easy to use, going to try some. Got some fence down from Beryl.

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They sell them for 12g standard barbed wire as well. I used these exclusively when rebuilding my traps and pens. I'll never stretch and knot wire again. There is a tensioner that you can buy for this. When the fence gets a little slack in it form cows or horses or trees or just from time, you can stretch it back to spec with these gripples inline. Piece of cake and a real time saver. The stretcher tool they sell is a torque gauge as well so you can set how many pounds of pull you want on the wire and it will give once you achieve it. I like my wire tight but not so tight it sings when you thump it. You can set that on the tool.

I have used the gripple on field fence and it has held up nicely.

That's what those look like! I spent countless hours as a kid with my grandfather looking for the board stretcher and left-handed hammer....