Building a Fence, Part Two: Tools

I promised two blogs ago that I would tell you how to build a fence, should you be as cheap as I and not wish to hire people to do this for you.

The first thing that you will need to do is gather your tools. The two most important things that you will need is a power drill and circular saw:



You should purchase a cordless drill and saw. But, it is important to make sure that they have the power that you will need to cut through 4x4 treated lumber and your fence panels. Sometimes, cordless tools just do not have the power that you need. So you will want to make sure that you purchase 18 volt tools. It's pretty easy to find that information, since it will be on the battery:


You should also purchase at least two batteries, and a charger. Three batteries and two chargers would be better, but let's not get crazy!

When you purchase your saw, you also want to make sure that it is a 6 inch saw. Often cordless circular saws are smaller, even 4 inch. The reason that you need a 6 inch saw is because you are going to be cutting through 4 inch lumber. 6 inches is the diameter of the blade. Which means, that you can only make a cut 3 inches deep. Actually, slightly less than 3 inches, since the nut that holds the blade into the saw takes some depth away. By the same logic, a blade 4 inches in diameter would make a cut under two inches deep. Once again showing off my mad math skillz, you can circle that post all day, but if you can't cut more than 2 inches deep, you'll never be able to trim the length of your 4x4 posts.

You also want a saw that you can change the angle of the cut on. Now, on a table saw you do this by actually tilting the blade. On a hand-held saw, however, you do this by tilting the plate:


You will also need a rigid tape measure that has locking capability, and is longer than then length of your panels (8 feet). I was lucky in that I was following the line of my old fence, so I simply used the old fence posts as a guide for keeping the new fence straight.


If you are building a completely new fence as opposed to to following the line of an old fence, you will also want to make sure you find your local "Call Before You Dig" company and have them come locate your gas line and also electrical and communication lines if they are buried. If you are building a new fence you will also need to get a permit from your city, and they should have the contact information for your local service providers. You will also need to get a long measuring tape and surveyors flags to lay out your fence line.

You will also need a post hole digger, since there are some places (near the house, for example) where you won't be able to use the gasoline auger. If you look, the post holer is also marked with measurements so you can estimate your depth:


You will also want to have a lopper, so that you can cut tree roots that you come in contact with:


A measuring stick is also handy, to measure the depth of your augured holes. It is also handy to have a t-square to mark off the posts for cutting to length. This is a drywall square, but fits the bill nicely:


You will also need a level. A three-foot level is important. Longer levels are more accurate.


The level can be used both vertically:


And horizontally:


You will also need a shovel and potentially a pick axe, depending on the soil you are working in. You should also have ready access to water, and either a hose long enough to reach the furthest point of your fence line or a five gallon bucket.

You should also determine how you want to get rid of your old fence, whether you want to actually dig out the old posts, or if you want to cut them off and leave the concrete in the ground. If you dig them out, you really will need that pick axe. If you cut them off, you will need a saws-all, or reciprocating saw, as noted in the previous blog.

You will also need to make arrangements to get rid of your old fence and posts, generally the garbage company gets pissy when you put that out on the curb. You can contact your garbage service to see if they offer large pick-ups, or you can search for a service that will take care of it for you. In St. Louis, there is a company called "Anything Goes" that will haul off the materials for a reasonable price. That is who I used.

Stay tuned....someday soon I'll even tell you how to start building the fence....