Strainer Assemblies Explained

Tanya

Alright, welcome back to Erecting End Assemblies! I'm Tanya, and I'm here with Jock. Today we're diving into strainer assemblies—why they're, like, the backbone of any good fence. Jock, you reckon most folks realise just how important these things are?

Jock

Honestly, I don't think so. I mean, you see a fence and you just think, oh yeah, it's a bunch of posts and wire, right? But if your end assemblies aren't solid, the whole thing just, well, sags or shifts. The strainers are what actually hold all the tension in the wire. Without 'em, the fence just doesn't stay put.

Tanya

Yeah, exactly. And it's not just at the ends, either. You need 'em at corners, gateways, anywhere the fence changes direction, or even, like, at the top of a hill or bottom of a gully. I always forget that last one until I'm out there and realise the wire's drooping halfway down a slope.

Jock

Yeah, and on those long, flat stretches, you gotta put in extra strainers every so often, or the wire just starts to sag in the middle. It's a bit of a pain, but it's worth it.

Tanya

Oh, for sure. Actually, I helped my neighbour last year—she'd skipped proper end bracing on her back paddock fence. Looked alright at first, but after a few months, the whole thing was leaning over, wires all loose. We had to pull out the old posts and start again. She wasn't too happy about that, but, you know, lesson learned.

Jock

Yeah, that's a classic. It's always tempting to cut corners, but you end up doing twice the work later. And, like, if you don't brace the strainer post in the direction of every fence it connects to, it's just gonna get pulled over eventually.

Jock

So, let's talk about what you actually make your strainers out of. There's wood, steel, and concrete, right? Each one's got its own pros and cons.

Tanya

Yeah, I mean, I grew up with timber posts—local hardwood mostly. Treated wood's pretty good, it's light, easy to cut, and if you get the right stuff, it's resistant to rot and termites. But, uh, if you've got white ants around, you gotta be careful. And, obviously, fire's a worry.

Jock

Yeah, that's the thing. After that bad bushfire season a couple years back, we actually switched over to steel strainers on our place. The timber ones just, well, they didn't stand a chance. Steel's great for fire-prone areas, but if you're near the coast or got acidic soil, it can rust. Galvanised steel lasts a lot longer, though, and it's pretty common now.

Tanya

Yeah, I've seen more people using steel lately. Concrete's another option—super strong, lasts ages, but it's not cheap. And if you put too much strain on it, it can crack. Plus, they're heavy as anything. I nearly did my back in trying to move one last year.

Jock

Yeah, concrete's a bit of a commitment. I reckon it comes down to what your local conditions are—like, if you've got termites, maybe don't go for timber. If you're worried about fire, steel's probably your best bet. And if you want something that'll last forever and don't mind the cost, concrete's the go.

Tanya

Yeah, and sometimes it's just what you've got lying around, to be honest. But it's worth thinking about, 'cause the wrong choice can make life a lot harder down the track.

Tanya

Alright, so you've picked your material—now you gotta put it in properly. I reckon the biggest mistake people make is not bracing the strainer post well enough. If you don't, the post just gets pulled over and the whole fence goes slack.

Jock

Yeah, that's spot on. Every strainer post needs to be stayed, or braced, in the direction of every fence it connects to. Doesn't matter if it's wood, steel, or concrete—if you skip the bracing, you're asking for trouble.

Tanya

Yeah, and with timber, you wanna use a good, solid stay—like, a diagonal brace from the strainer post down to a ground anchor. For steel, it's usually a box assembly or a diagonal stay as well. Concrete's a bit trickier, but same idea—just make sure you don't over-tighten the wire or you might crack the post.

Jock

And, like, don't rush the job. Make sure your posts are deep enough, especially if your soil's a bit soft. I've seen people just whack 'em in shallow and hope for the best, but they always end up leaning after a bit of rain.

Tanya

Yeah, and double-check your angles. If your brace isn't lined up right, it doesn't do much. Oh, and don't forget to use proper fittings—I've seen people try to get away with old bits of wire, and it just doesn't hold up.

Jock

Yeah, and I reckon the other big mistake is not checking for movement after you tension the wire. If the post shifts, you gotta fix it straight away, or you'll be back out there in a month doing it all again.

Tanya

Yeah, it's all about doing it right the first time. Anyway, that's probably enough fence talk for today. We'll get into more details in the next episode, but for now, thanks for listening!

Jock

Yeah, cheers for tuning in. Catch you next time, Tanya.

Tanya

See ya, Jock. And see ya, everyone!