Fencing

We decided to replace our rather dilapidated fences in the garden.  

Top Fence

Bottom Fence

So we ordered the timber from Travis Perkins and some bark screening via B&Q.

Day 1, preparation

We asked for the timber to be delivered on Wednesday.  At 8:20, while we were still in bed, I got a phone call saying it would be here in 10 minutes! 

So getup, get dressed then help the driver to unload 17 4.8m lengths of timber of various widths and thicknesses.

First job was to cut to the correct lengths using my old cheap Chinese table saw. 

My old table saw

My amazing sled

Many years ago I made a "sled" for the saw.  It is incredibly useful.  The saw came with a safety guard. When in position it was impossible to see the blade, which made it hit and miss for cutting the wood at the right point.  I removed it. Then I made the sled.  Using it means that hands go nowhere near the blade and the workpiece is lined up with the sled, not the blade. I can honestly say the sled transforms the table saw.

Add 2 nails and it's a jig.

Then I needed to shape the ends of the vertical lengths.

The addition of a couple of nails to the sled turned it into jig for cutting the tops.

But cutting eight 3"x2" lengths then cutting and shaping forty four 4"x 1" takes time - like the whole day including taking the delivery, and walking the dog.

Day 2, top fence started

We have two fences. Both are  willow fence screen rolls which are falling to bits.  The plan was to remove it, put a couple of 3"x2" between the fence posts and then attach a bark screen roll. I thought I'd be done by lunch time. But on taking the old willow fence down I found the post spikes were rusted away. We needed new ones and getting the old one out of the ground is a pig of a job.  It took me around four hours to remove the three of them, source and collect new ones, then install them. While the posts were out I cut them down to size on the table saw. The saw managed the 3x3 posts easily when pushed behind the sled.
I did manage to get half of the top fence done in the remaining time. But we did not like the look of the tie wraps holding it on.  

Day 3, top fence finished.

New top fence

I took a ride up to Screwfix to pick up some staples, then I replaced the tie wraps with staples, and put up the other part of the top fence. The final two and a half hours of work were completed in the rain.

But the top fence is done! 

 Rain stopped play for the rest of the day.

Next, the bottom fence.