It says “Rope Diameter (in.) 1/2 inch,” Would I use 1/2 inch thimbles?
Can I get away with zinc plated, or do I need to have them galvanized (or stainless steel) too? Can I use light duty, or will I need heavy duty?
I’m not even sure how to figure out how strong or large the eye hooks and turnbuckles need to be.
If I want to be able to have two turnbuckles (going in opposite directions) on each, would 3/8th" be large enough? Would these work for turnbuckles?
But with 5 posts that means 24 thimbles and turnbuckles and 15 eye hooks. That’s going to get pricey.
Should just have the outer of the 5 posts have hardware and the middle 3 posts just have holes for the wire to pass through? But would that put too much strain on them though and end up leaning?
Basically I feel like it’s totally over my head. Any advice for how to go about determining these? Other places that might help? Or specialty online stores that might offer advice?
That strikes me as an issue that’s easily solvable in a home garden setting.
For a commercial grower if a trellis falls it’s probably a MASSIVE trellis that’s incredibly heavy on its own. It doesn’t make sense economically to reinforce them more since they’re already so large and stable.
“You can also build a hybrid model where the trellis only has one wire - at the top of the stakes. Stakes & Trellising is the best if you’ve got the time and money.” So I can build the trellis and also add stakes, easy.
For me, it’s not going to be too expensive to add some extra posts/stakes to reinforce them, and I’m not going to be tying dozens of trees together anyway.
Again, I’m more interested in advice for how to know what hardware to get, what material, size, etc.
It sounds like you are resolute that the trellis is the way to move forwards. Have you already searched the forum for the term “apple trellis” and checked out how others have constructed theirs, the things that worked out well for them?
I agree with @Masbustelo (a coffee reference?) that fence strainers are the way to go for tensioning a trellis wire. I have used them before for that purpose and have already laid in a quantity for tensioning the wire in my next trellis project.
It’s more that of the available options, the only one that my wife is okay looking at for years is the trellis and without her okay I’m just not going to be able to do it hahaha. I also have a little bit of scrap wood I can use for the “H” bars in between the posts.
I have searched it, I saw a lot of great ideals that I’m pulling from and added some things to the design (like anchors on the ends).
I love the idea of that tension tool! Definitely looking into it.
The tension tool is affordable. Stainless hardware is fairly affordable on temu too, although buyer beware online for stainless quality. Half inch wire is definitely overkill, I think I saw you mention it above.
Keep in mind galvanized means more lead, so if that is a factor I’m not sure how much ends up in the environment from the hardware.
Depending on what design you have in mind, you can keep trip hazards to a minimum and utilize a Kiwi Brace inside of the last post instead of a ground anchor outside.
Agreed. Along those lines, the fencing supplier I referenced earlier has black coated high-tensile wire, which is what I’ve used. It is very low visibility and works great with the tensioner that is pictured above.
Hmm I already had my wife buy the wire for me “for Christmas,” but maybe I should swap it out. I haven’t ordered the thimbles or sleeves yet (partly because I have absolutely no idea where to find the right size sleeve for a reasonable price yet).
