A rich bounty of tools and equipment awaits those keen to ease the process of erecting agricultural fencing.

Here are some of the options.

See also: How to make fence posts on farms last longer

Milwaukee M18 Fuel Fencing Stapler

Unlike many of its rivals, the M18 Fuel Fencing Stapler from Milwaukee doesn’t require a gas canister to function.

Instead, it’s powered entirely by 18V batteries, with a 3Ah pack capable of firing up to 600 staples before needing a recharge.

It works thanks to a nitrogen air spring – effectively a pressurised chamber that gets compressed by a plunger propelled by its brushless motor.

The result is that it can rapidly fire staples at a rate of two a second without having to wait for the pressure to build back up.

A tool-free depth gauge allows users to fine-tune depth so that wire doesn’t get crushed, and it’s compatible with 9-gauge (4mm) galvanised staples with lengths of 40mm, 45mm or 50mm.

Jams can be cleared quickly by flicking a release lever and there’s a dry fire lockout to prevent it operating when the magazine is empty.

Online prices for the tool, complete with two 3Ah batteries, a charger and case, start at about £550.

Protech Evo220B tracked post knocker

Packing a Euro 8 front loader, Protech’s Evo220B tracked post knocker is designed to reduce the amount of manual handling required and remove the need for another machine on site.

Lift capacity is 1.5t, meaning it can carry full packs of posts right to the fence line, and it can be remote controlled, so operators can move the machine into position without having to hop on board.

Protech designed the 220B to work in the toughest of conditions, which is why it’s fitted with underbelly protection and has extra-long tracks that can be pushed out wider for added stability.

The post knocker itself offers 220deg of slew and is fitted with a telescopic boom that can accommodate 16ft telegraph poles.

Driving force is delivered by a hefty 450kg hammer and it has both a rock spike with hydraulic extractor and a drilling system.

Propulsion comes courtesy of a 48hp Yanmar diesel engine that drives motors in the 450mm tracks. List price is £97,800.

Protech offers a simpler Evo2 version with no front loader or remote-control system, as well as a lightweight Evo Compact that can be towed behind SUVs or pickups with a 3.5t capacity.

Quadcrate wire unroller and strainer

Those in search of a simple method of winding out fencing wire might like the look of Quadcrate’s Wire Unroller.

The neat tool mounts to the rear rack of an ATV and can unravel 50m of stock netting in less than 15secs, and 100m rolls in roughly double that time.

A bar is also available that allows three rolls of barbed wire to be dispensed at the same time. If only two strands are required, there are holes for R clips to be inserted which act as guides to keep them separate.

In addition, a side cranking handle means the winder can be used to neatly gather up old wire.

Interested buyers first need the firm’s foldable Quadcrate cargo carrying device, which attaches to the ATV, with the unroller attachment costing an additional £390.

To complete the package, post holders, a tool box and a wire tensioning device can be added, with the latter priced at £160. This clamps the wire and uses the power of the bike to add tension.

Good tyres are recommended for this process, as is having some weight on the racks.

Tornado Pro Strain system

Thanks to integrated screw adjusters on struts, Tornado’s Pro Strain system can be pre-loaded to prevent movement when wire is installed and tensioned.

The heavy-duty posts and pegs are hot dip galvanised to improve longevity and are strong enough to be installed by a mechanical post knocker.

Straining/turning posts and pegs are manufactured from 89x3mm tube and are pre-drilled with a series of holes to allow heel and breast plates to be fitted as well as the strut coupler.

Both angle strut and box arrangements are possible and the system is suitable for use with steel intermediate posts such as Clipex or conventional wooden ones.

WragTrack XL400

The latest machine to join Wrag’s post knocker line-up is the heavy duty self-propelled WragTrack XL400.

Based on an Italian Messersi tracked dumper, it offers 200deg of swing and features a long boom with a generous 5m of clearance under the 400kg hammer.

Power is provided by a 65hp Kubota engine which drives the 450mm wide tracks via a two-speed hydrostatic transmission.

Standard-spec models are fitted with an open canopy and a rear post carrier. There is also a huge array of extras available, including a front-mounted post carrier, chainsaw saw holder, wire unrollers, augers and blades.

Transport height is 3.2m, it stands at 1.8m wide and weighs about 4,800kg. Prices start at £85,000.

Wrag also offers a lightweight Tow-it machine that can be loaded on a trailer and pulled by a vehicle with 3.5t capacity.

Stihl GTA40 cordless pruning saw

When the odd small branch needs clearing from a fence line, it can be a bit of overkill to fire up the chainsaw.

This is where mini saws such as Stihl’s new GTA40 come in handy. Designed for professional use, it’s fitted with a 15cm bar running a 1/4in PM3 chain and has a conventional side-mounted tensioner with captive nut.

There’s also an automatic oiling system with a tank that has capacity for six charging cycles.

It runs on two of Stihl’s 21.6V AS 2 lithium-ion batteries, giving a working time of about 50 minutes or 190 cuts in 5cm branches. IPX4 protection means the tool is splash-proof and can be used in poor weather.

In use, operators are supposed to use both hands and there’s a claw-shaped deflector to prevent the non-trigger hand getting in harm’s way.

The GTA40 launches this spring and will be priced from £200 for the bare tool.

Strainrite Pro Crimp powered crimping tool

To save the hand-ache of manually crushing wire crimps, Stainrite’s Pro Crimp F3020 harnesses the power of a lithium-ion battery and electric motor.

The handset itself is made by French firm Infaco, to which Strainrite grafts its own crimping head. This pairing allows crimps to be applied single handedly, leaving the other hand free to hold the wire in place.

A full charge will deliver roughly eight hours of work and it takes about two hours for the cells to replenish.

The tool is designed for use with Strainrite crimp sleeves only and can be bought online for about £1,900. This includes the battery, charger and a holster.

Stockade ST400i stapler

A favourite of many a seasoned fencing contractor, Stockade’s ST400i gun can fire up to 3,000 staples to a charge of its lithium-ion battery.

This is because most of the power comes from replaceable liquid hydrocarbon “fuel cells” that have sufficient oomph to deliver 650 shots at a rate of two a second.

Additional features include a sequential trigger for rapid operation, adjustable depth of drive, and a wire guide to ensure correct placement.

It’s designed to work with 9-gauge (4mm) staples in 40mm, 45mm or 50mm lengths.

The ST400i is distributed by Tornado in the UK and is priced at £1,143.

Chalke Valley Engineering Fastfencer Monkey

The Fastfencer Monkey from Chalke Valley Engineering has a swinging “gate” that allows wire to be delivered to either the right or left of the tractor.

It is designed to carry one 500m roll of netting and has a removable bar to carry a plain wire jenny or a roll of barbed. Wire is clamped by two hydraulic rams that trap it between the curved unrolling surface and an angle iron gripper.

This model is suitable for conventional livestock and equine fencing and costs £3,350, excluding brackets and delivery.

The Cornish firm offers an array of other Fastfencer models, including versions tall enough to unroll 2.6m netting and with built-in storage for posts, tools and extra rolls of wire.

It also builds a range of Post Puncher knockers that have the hammer enclosed in a steel tube for safe operation. Its popular PP2 model, which is suitable for excavators from 2.5t, starts at £3,115.

Vector Powerdrive Model 6 excavator post driver

Vector’s Powerdrive Model 6 post knocker is designed to mount on loaders or excavators from 1.5t. When installed on the latter, forward and rear tilt is achieved by using the digger arm and blade.

In addition to giving a wider range of movement, using it on a tracked machine allows work to continue on ground that’s too wet for a tractor.

Most customers opt for a 200kg hammer – suitable for knocking in large straining posts – which requires the services of a 3t digger. Those with 2.5t machines can choose a 150kg unit and there’s a 100kg version for 1.5-tonners.

No leg is required to sit on the ground, which makes it handy to use around obstacles or when pushing new posts into existing fences.

The mast is short to make it easy to transport and there’s a heavy-duty post cap. This allows the angle of the post to be accurately controlled and applies all of the machine’s weight before the hammer strikes.

An optional rock spike can be added, allowing a 90mm hole to be punched into hard ground before hammering in the post.

Carmarthen-based Davies Implements is one of the retailers selling Vector machines and prices the Model 6 at £3,600. A larger Model 7 with 400kg hammer is available for 8t-plus diggers, as well as a range of tractor-mounted models.

Solo Fencing Systems SoloRail

The SoloRail from Yorkshire firm Solo Fencing Systems is designed to make the task of fixing fencing rails simple for one person.

A top clamp holds the tool to the post and a series of adjustable supports ensure horizontal timbers are held securely at the desired position.

Just one tool is required, as users can line up the other end with previously nailed rails.

Mounting holes for the supports are drilled at 25mm increments, allowing precise adjustment of their spacing.

The tool costs £180 including five rail supports and it is suitable for all popular post-and-rail fences, including highway-spec installations up to 1.4m high.