I finally saw a farm fence done right out in Lancaster County

Was delivering a package out in Amish country near Bird-in-Hand last Tuesday and noticed this beautiful post and rail fence. They used locust posts and white oak rails, all hand-split. The posts were set at exactly 8 feet apart from what I could pace off, and the joints were tight even after what looked like years of weather. Made me think about how I rush my own builds sometimes. You guys ever take a detour just to inspect someone else's fence work?

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angela_coleman5mo ago

Pace off a few fence sections yourself and you'll start noticing the small things like post spacing and joint angle. If you're rushing through a build, try clamping your rails in place before drilling any holes to guarantee that tight fit you saw out in Lancaster. It's worth taking the extra time on the layout so the whole line stays crisp for years instead of sagging after one winter.

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karenw905mo ago

Oh man that reminds me of something my buddy Mike saw last spring. He was driving back from a fishing trip up near the Susquehanna and took a wrong turn because of a detour. Ended up on this tiny back road and there was this old farm with a split rail fence that was all black locust and hickory. He said the posts were still solid as a rock after who knows how many years and the rails fit together so tight you could barely see daylight through the joints. He pulled over and walked the whole line taking pictures like a crazy person. Said it made him want to redo his whole backyard fence but he never got around to it.

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