Tie a Termination Knot Instead of Stapling Fence Wire to the Post

The Problem

Stapling high-tensile fence wire to a post looks like the easy way to anchor it, but the staple bites into the wire and weakens it, and over time the wire works back and forth under tension and temperature swings until it slips past the staple. The fence loses tension, sags, and eventually fails — an expensive problem on a long run. A termination knot ties the wire off to the post so it holds at full strength without anything crushing it.

The Technique

You can tie this at the start of a run or at the far end while holding the wire under tension.

1. Wrap the wire around the post.
2. Bring the working end over the standing wire and bend it away from you to form a horseshoe bend.
3. Bring the working end up inside that loop around the post, and lift it straight up so it's in line with the post.
4. Wrap the working end over that loop, going in the direction of the standing wire and staying on the same side of it, until the end points straight down along the post.
5. Form a crank handle with the tail and take three turns around the standing wire.
6. Remove the excess with the no-cut method: switch your cranking from around the wire to along it, and the tail snaps off flush.