Tools for Chain Link Fence Installation – What You Will Need
Some people (particularly those who are fairly handy) wonder if they can install their own chain link fence. The good news, it is possible to DIY your new chain link fence. However, you will need a fair amount of tools for chain link fence installation.
Some of these tools might already be in your garage or shed. Others you might be able to rent. But some you will have to buy for your chain link fence project. Be sure to price out the tools for chain link fence installation you don’t have and factor them into your cost calculations.
Measuring and Setting Out Tools for Chain Link Fence Installation
The first group of tools you will need for your chain link fence installation are measuring and setting out tools. In many cases, if you regularly do work around your home or property, you will have all or most of the tools on this list. You will need:
- A tape measure – preferably a longer one that you can use to measure full panels – a longer tape or measuring wheel can also help, and if you often have to switch between metric and English dimensions, having one that’s marked in both makes it a lot easier
- Chalk line – very useful for marking fence lines without leaving any permanent lines
- String lines and pegs – used to mark fence lines so that you know where to dig
- Spray paint in bright colors – as you measure the space between each post, you can mark the centre of each hole so you know where to dig
- A carpenter’s level – this is useful before and after you set out your fence line to ensure that your fence is installed level and plumb
- A carpenter’s square is also useful to ensure that your 90-degree angles are correct
Many of these tools are used for many other kinds of building projects, and they’re very likely to be in your toolbox already. Even if they are not, they are multi-function options that are worth investing in, and most are relatively inexpensive.
Excavation Tools for Chain Link Fence Installation
Next on the list of must-have tools for chain link fence installation are the tools you will need to excavate the holes for your fence. You won’t need to purchase all of these tools, and it really depends on what kind of excavation plans you have.
Hand Digging Tools for Chain Link Fence Installation
The first sub-list we have for excavation for chain link fences is if you plan to dig holes by hand:
- Shovels or spades, which are the most common and easy to come by hand digging tools for your fence
- Prybars, which are often used to loosen up dirt in fence post holes before you remove it with a shovel
- Pick axes, which can be used to loosen clay or gravelly soils
- Post hole diggers, which are tools that are designed to scoop dirt out of holes easily
- A good pair of leather gloves – digging holes by hand is hard work, and you want to avoid blisters!
Most of these hand-digging tools can also be used for other jobs in the garden, so if you don’t have them in your garage or shed yet, they’re worth buying.
Other Digging Tools for Chain Link Fence Installation
If you don’t want to dig by hand, there are other options you could use for the excavation portion of the installation process:
- Augurs, whether hand-held or machine mounted, are a great option that makes digging fence post holes much easier
- Post pounders or drivers, which drive steel posts into the ground without needing concrete, are another great alternative
The tools in the list above are much more fence specific than hand-digging tools, and they are usually quite expensive to buy, so you might want to look for rental options instead of purchasing them.
concrete Tools for Chain Link Fence Installation
The next thing you will need to have to install a chain link fence (if it’s being installed in concrete) are tools to transport and place the concrete. These might include:
- A concrete mixer, which is easier than mixing by hand and can often be rented
- Wheelbarrows, which are an easier method of moving mixed concrete along your fence line
- Trowels and other finishing tools to smooth the concrete once it’s in place
- Good quality gloves and eye protection – concrete is a highly alkaline substance, and it can give you burns if you are not careful
If you are installing your fence by base plating it to an existing concrete surface, you will probably need a hammer drill with masonry bits to drill your holes and equipment to tighten your bolts in place.
Mesh and wire Tools for Chain Link Fence Installation
The next list of chain link fence tools you will need to complete the installation of your fence is much more specific to fencing and less likely to be in your toolbox. However, they are still very important for fence installation. These include:
- A come-a-long and Maasdam puller – these are used for tensioning fencing and can be purchased from many fence material suppliers
- A “monkey strainer” if you are installing a chain link fence that uses straining wires rather than top rails
- Fencing pliers – these are large and strong and usually have wire cutters integrated in the head, so you can cut wire with them too
- Hog ring pliers, which, as the name suggests, are used to close hog rings
- High-quality wire cutters
- A shifting wrench that you can use to tighten nuts and bolts for various fence fittings.
General Tools That Are Also Used for Chain Link Fence Installation
While you can install a chain link fence with just the tools we’ve mentioned above, there are many others that will make the process easier.
A grinder with cutting disks is very useful for cutting posts and top rails. A ladder is also useful if you aren’t too tall or you want to be a little more comfortable installing fittings and top rails at the top of a taller fence.
Safety gear like gloves and safety glasses are also a must, and you should probably also have some steel-toe boots. No one likes it when a fence post falls on their feet!
Depending on how many of these tools you need to rent or purchase for your chain link fence project, it may become quite expensive. Consider getting a few professional quotes before you make the investment to see if it’s really worth doing it yourself.
