Especially a niche tool with limited usage!
Like the other said, hammer in fencing staples should work. Or a screw every 6 inches or so with a large fender washer to get some clamping force.
Theres gonna be that one day that my friend is going to need one, now is the chance to invest to be the hero.
Or, I'll forget I have it when I need it again. Case and point, I was digging for this project and it's really rocky. My buddy said he had a shovel bit for a hammer drill..... Well shit, so do I, but I totally forgot and I was already done with the digging. So, a tool I've never used, still sits unused, when I could have used it. LoL
Niche tools with limited usage are the best tools. My “rule” is that I don’t buy a niche tool (whether it be a hand tool or a more expensive powered/pneumatic tool), until the second time (or third, depending on the project) where the tool would actually be useful.
For example, I recently bought a new set of Knipex side cutting pliers because my wife and I hung a bunch of pictures and art. Sure, my trusty linesman’s did the job last time, but they’re heavy, not as easy for high-dexterity tasks, and not really *the* tool for cutting lots of picture hanging wire.
Also, as a bonus, having those niche tools that you don’t use super often makes you seem like a hero to your friends and neighbors when they’re working on something and need to borrow tools. “Hey u/GoPetADog, do you have something I could borrow to do _____.”
Yes, my friend. Yes I do.
See if u can rent one! Hone depot, lowes maybe even a local store would have one for rent! Leaste your wife would appreciate the fact that you didn't buy a new tool. On the up side u get to play with a new tool for a day or 2! It's win, win my man! 🤘
It's like twice the price of the regular cordless guns. The cable stapler is a around 200 bucks and might work in a pinch, but you gotta buy the Milwaukee staples.
Id rip thin strips of wood and use them to sandwich the edges down, Id probably use 1 1/2 staples to hold it together, but 16/18g nails would be fine, just send some of em in at an angle to add strength
I should have mentioned that I bought 4' cloth and spaced the wood 4' so the sandwich idea would work nicely. I don't have anything to rip wood with. Do they sell thin strips?
yes. they are called furring strips but they are typically not treated.
You may be able to find some composite wood or PVC material in the trim section of home depot where you would find the base board and shit.
I second that. Also, this method helps leaving no small gaps for rodents to crawl through. We’ve used this method to keep rabbits and chickens safe. I see the fox and other predators next to the coops all the time and we have not lost one animal over the last 2 years since we have them.
You can also sandwich the hardware cloth between the framing and another piece of the same material, then screw those two pieces of wood together every 12” or so and boom done.
I just did this exact thing a couple weeks ago, I used 3/8" staples. It was convenient to use the staples to pin the mesh up. I wish I had a helping hand because that stuff does not cooperate. I may go and screw a strip over the edges like ppl are saying because it is not laying down nice there. If I did it again I'd pin it in place with some 3/8" staples and finish it off with strips of wood. I had to use a lot of staples to get it to lay flat. Good luck!!
Yeah I have the fear of it coming in crooked or wavy, especially since i will be attaching it overhead. Glad my question and others' answers helped you out.
i use hammered in staples, the type electricians use to stake down romex cable with. works very well, and is cheap. the U shaped staple captures the wire pattern well
Oh the hardware cloth phase - my least favorite part of the coop build (mostly because of predator skirting.) I used both staples and the little hammer-in staples. The stapler was the best, just arrow T50s. An electric staple is your friend. In some places I then put a 1” x .5” PT wood piece down to hide the edges.
I used a narrow crown stapler and turned the pressure down so it wouldn’t break the wire. I stapled about 3” on center, then capped it with a trim piece so you couldn’t see the staples.
If you have a battery powered stapler, I would get the wire in place with the stapler and then get poultry staples and put them in with a hammer every 18-24" or so. The cheap staples wear down over time. The poultry staples wont but they are a bitch to install.
I’d use a strap of wood to pin the mesh and run nails through, though screws could also be fine. If easy removal is more the goal, fence staples can be removed with end cutters and hold well.
One thing I learned from building my chicken run- build it with the hardware cloth installation in mind. 1” deck screws with washers worked the best. The screws help you pull the cloth tighter.
Poultry net staples. [Something like this.](https://www.homedepot.com/p/3-4-in-Hot-Galvanized-Poultry-Staple-1-lb-HGN34HGPNS1/310887936) You hammer them in place, preferably diagonal across the hardware cloth welds.
I keep ducks… the construction cloth on my coop is held on with stainless steel screws and fender washers. It is 100% raccoon proof
Edit, many are recommending staples. I would not suggest that. Raccoons can rip staples out. They are smart strong and extremely determined little predators with thumbs.
Sounds to me like you need to drop $550 on cordless fencing stapler gun. Milwaukee 2843-20.
Wife would kill me. I've already over engineered this sucker and spent too much time and money. But, I do love a new shiny tool.
Especially a niche tool with limited usage! Like the other said, hammer in fencing staples should work. Or a screw every 6 inches or so with a large fender washer to get some clamping force.
Theres gonna be that one day that my friend is going to need one, now is the chance to invest to be the hero. Or, I'll forget I have it when I need it again. Case and point, I was digging for this project and it's really rocky. My buddy said he had a shovel bit for a hammer drill..... Well shit, so do I, but I totally forgot and I was already done with the digging. So, a tool I've never used, still sits unused, when I could have used it. LoL
Niche tools with limited usage are the best tools. My “rule” is that I don’t buy a niche tool (whether it be a hand tool or a more expensive powered/pneumatic tool), until the second time (or third, depending on the project) where the tool would actually be useful. For example, I recently bought a new set of Knipex side cutting pliers because my wife and I hung a bunch of pictures and art. Sure, my trusty linesman’s did the job last time, but they’re heavy, not as easy for high-dexterity tasks, and not really *the* tool for cutting lots of picture hanging wire. Also, as a bonus, having those niche tools that you don’t use super often makes you seem like a hero to your friends and neighbors when they’re working on something and need to borrow tools. “Hey u/GoPetADog, do you have something I could borrow to do _____.” Yes, my friend. Yes I do.
My rule is when the niche tool will pay for itself. Been waiting years to get that one job that will buy me a Festool Domino.
It’s not for you, it’s for the house.
See if u can rent one! Hone depot, lowes maybe even a local store would have one for rent! Leaste your wife would appreciate the fact that you didn't buy a new tool. On the up side u get to play with a new tool for a day or 2! It's win, win my man! 🤘
They make cordless ones?! I don't have to haul around the generator and compressor for farm fencing anymore?!
It's like twice the price of the regular cordless guns. The cable stapler is a around 200 bucks and might work in a pinch, but you gotta buy the Milwaukee staples.
Low-key could probably rent one though for not too much
Id rip thin strips of wood and use them to sandwich the edges down, Id probably use 1 1/2 staples to hold it together, but 16/18g nails would be fine, just send some of em in at an angle to add strength
I should have mentioned that I bought 4' cloth and spaced the wood 4' so the sandwich idea would work nicely. I don't have anything to rip wood with. Do they sell thin strips?
yes. they are called furring strips but they are typically not treated. You may be able to find some composite wood or PVC material in the trim section of home depot where you would find the base board and shit.
PVC is a good idea
They sell treated 1x2 furring at Lowes
1x2’s should do the trick
Yes, and you can screw or nail them. Also, removable in case you need to replace a section of screen that a wolverine or wombat got into.
they might but i don't remember seeing any, you got a friend with a table saw? itd be way cheaper to rip down some 1x if possible
I second that. Also, this method helps leaving no small gaps for rodents to crawl through. We’ve used this method to keep rabbits and chickens safe. I see the fox and other predators next to the coops all the time and we have not lost one animal over the last 2 years since we have them.
We've had good luck with washer-head roofing screws, using a driver or impact. The washer grips the fence wire nicely. And it's removable.
I didn't know those existed, I like the look. I only thought they came with orange washer and nail combo .... Thank you
You can also sandwich the hardware cloth between the framing and another piece of the same material, then screw those two pieces of wood together every 12” or so and boom done.
I think I'll roll with these ideas thank you. Quick staples to get it in, then sandwich for a clean finished look.
You can use lathe. It sold in bundles.
Those look perfect thank you. I'll use them
I like to pre drill them. Keeps them from splitting.
5/8 staple. Then place 1x2 or 1x4 over it with screw or brad. Have fun with your chickens!
Staples to hold the screen in place while you rip thin boards to nail down fully securing it.
Also, that rosemary bush is gone. They are going to pick that down the stems in 2 weeks.
I second this. Fat little imps chickens be.
I just did this exact thing a couple weeks ago, I used 3/8" staples. It was convenient to use the staples to pin the mesh up. I wish I had a helping hand because that stuff does not cooperate. I may go and screw a strip over the edges like ppl are saying because it is not laying down nice there. If I did it again I'd pin it in place with some 3/8" staples and finish it off with strips of wood. I had to use a lot of staples to get it to lay flat. Good luck!!
Yeah I have the fear of it coming in crooked or wavy, especially since i will be attaching it overhead. Glad my question and others' answers helped you out.
i use hammered in staples, the type electricians use to stake down romex cable with. works very well, and is cheap. the U shaped staple captures the wire pattern well
Screws with washers
Oh the hardware cloth phase - my least favorite part of the coop build (mostly because of predator skirting.) I used both staples and the little hammer-in staples. The stapler was the best, just arrow T50s. An electric staple is your friend. In some places I then put a 1” x .5” PT wood piece down to hide the edges.
That sounds good. I made it so I can cut 4' strips of cloth. I like this idea of staple in, then cover with strips. Thank you
Hammer in staples
Staples every other square and hammer em down
I used a narrow crown stapler and turned the pressure down so it wouldn’t break the wire. I stapled about 3” on center, then capped it with a trim piece so you couldn’t see the staples.
If you have a battery powered stapler, I would get the wire in place with the stapler and then get poultry staples and put them in with a hammer every 18-24" or so. The cheap staples wear down over time. The poultry staples wont but they are a bitch to install.
Poultry staples is a great suggestion. Never heard of them but they look perfect
Staples from a staple gun
I’d use a strap of wood to pin the mesh and run nails through, though screws could also be fine. If easy removal is more the goal, fence staples can be removed with end cutters and hold well.
Air staples if you want the job to be permanent
Screws with some fat washers
One thing I learned from building my chicken run- build it with the hardware cloth installation in mind. 1” deck screws with washers worked the best. The screws help you pull the cloth tighter.
Screws with washers?
“Horse shoe” nails, think there really called fence staples and a pair of needle nose, hammer em in bud
Someone else said another name for them is poultry nails. Needle nose is great idea, thank you
I built a coop a few years ago…yeah they’re fiddly little bastards. Chickens wont care one way or the other ;)
Crown stapler
Poultry net staples. [Something like this.](https://www.homedepot.com/p/3-4-in-Hot-Galvanized-Poultry-Staple-1-lb-HGN34HGPNS1/310887936) You hammer them in place, preferably diagonal across the hardware cloth welds.
I usually put up wire mesh with screws and washers. It holds great and if you ever want to change or replace it you can just take the screws out.
I use a combination of 18ga galvanized narrow crown staples and fender washers with screws.
Galvanized fence staples.
Just finished my coop last week. 18G stainless staples put in on an angle and aim for where the vertical and horizontal wires cross is the easiest way
I used a roll of galvanized hanger strap and nails
Just want to say that is a nice coop! I love how you have the tree inside.
Screws with large finder washers will give you a strong connection.
I keep ducks… the construction cloth on my coop is held on with stainless steel screws and fender washers. It is 100% raccoon proof Edit, many are recommending staples. I would not suggest that. Raccoons can rip staples out. They are smart strong and extremely determined little predators with thumbs.
Rent a gun for it
Sandwich with a 2nd peace of wood
1/4 galvanized crown stable
You can buy pneumatic staplers at harbor freight or online for less than $50