How to Build a Corner Post for a Barb Wire Fence

A fence is only as good as the bracing on the corner fence posts. The corner fence post is under the constant pull of the barb wires that stretch the length of the fence. A corner fence post that is braced with four H-braces will increase the life-span of the fence up to thirty years.

Strong fence corner posts provide durability to barbed-wire fences.

Step 1

Use the posthole digger to dig a hole a minimum of three and a half feet deep and two feet in diameter. Place the post in the hole and add concrete to fill the hole to just below ground level. Before concrete sets, check for proper placement of the post within the concrete and check that the post is level vertically. Corner posts can be made of metal or wood. Metal posts should be a minimum four inches in diameter while wood posts should be a minimum of six inches in diameter.

Step 2

Install four additional posts along the fence line. Install two wooden or metal fence posts at eight feet and at sixteen feet from the corner post. The posts are set along the proposed fence line and should be embedded in concrete and buried a minimum of 36 inches below ground level. Allow concrete to set before anchoring your corner posts to each other.

Step 3

Install a brace between each of the eight-foot spans after the concrete has set. For wood posts, cut a small notch six inches below the top of the post. Secure an eight-foot length of wood between the posts. Use screws or nails to secure the brace into the notches in the post. Weld an eight-foot piece of pipe six inches below the top of the posts between each of the four spans of your fence line if you are using metal corner posts. Each of the eight-foot sections resembles an "H" and is called H-brace. Double H-braces are recommended for fence lines that are longer than 650 feet in length. A single H-brace can be used for shorter fence lines. H-braces should also be installed every 1/4 mile and anywhere you will be installing gates.

Step 4

Wrap wire from the bottom of the corner post to the top of the first brace post a minimum of two times. The wire acts to compress the wood brace and to help hold the corner post in position. Secure the wire to the bottom of a wooden post by stapling it in place. Thread the nine-gauge wire from the bottom of the corner post to just above the brace of the second post and back to the bottom of the corner post. The wire wrap is optional for metal corner posts with welded braces.

Step 5

Place one short piece of pipe between the two wraps of wire near the center of the H-brace. Turn the pipe around in a circle to cause the wire to twist upon itself. Tighten the wire as much as possible. The twisted wire will hold the pipe firmly against the horizontal brace when the proper tension is reached. Repeat the wire wrap and twisting for the three remaining eight-foot spans.