Floating Brace

[Ben H]

Last weekend I read about a floating brace. I've built a lot of H-Braces and tried a few Angle Stay Braces. Sunday I built two of the floating braces. I'm talking with the NRCS about allowing me to use these on a project I'm working on. The hardest thing I deal with on my ground is getting the brace post exactly where I want it. These floating braces can solve that problem.

I'm planning on a 5 strand HT perimeter.

Has anyone had any problems with them? The NRCS's initial reaction is that they should work for 4 or less strands. I'm reading they're fine for 5-6, I've sent them a few rescources.

The other thing I thought about is that the horizontal brace in an H Brace pushes into the top of the brace post. Therefore your week point is that post. With a floating brace pushes into the ground, it seems like it should in fact be stronger.

I'm interested in hearing any pros and cons with either system from your experience.

[burnt]

I read your title and immediately thought that your orthodontist had screwed up and not gotten those shiny wires tight enough to straighten your teeth . . . .

J/K!

[WyomingRancher]

What's a floating brace? I've only built h-braces before. Are they easier to construct? Would you post a picture?

[Ben H]

Sorry, my bad, I assumed I was te only one who hadn't heard of these.

Just got approval from NRCS to do 5 strands.
Here's how you do it
http://www.powerflexfence.com/Article1.20.html

[Lonecowboy]

why does a person need nrcs approval on how he wants to build HIS fence??

[WyomingRancher]

[4Diamond]

[burnt]

Looks like a pretty neat idea, Ben. I can see it being particularly useful where making post holes or driving posts is a problem. I had never seen or heard of it before.

[sic 'em reds]

I have done this, but a little different for anchoring the end of the brace.

Same concept, but at the end of the brace, I dug a hole for it to go into, then placed a piece of treated 2x6 for the brace to butt against.

The thing I like more about the way I did it is your brace can't move on you.

I would assume the brace can move on the floating brace, but probabaly not much??

[Ben H]

sic 'em reds, I've done the one you're talking about, Gallagher shows it in their manual. It works ok, I like this floating brace better. With that brace wire tightened up it's pretty damn strong, you can't budge it up verticly, can kind of kick it a little side to side on the concrecte if you try, but that allos some flexibility.

NRCS is cost sharing, I get a higher percent for being a starting farmer (starting on my own anyway), therefore it has to be built to their specs which I don't think are unreasonable.

[4Diamond]

[Ben H]

I believe a deadman and bedlog are the same thing. They don't have a brace post, just the cross brace at the base of the post.