I saw an article on the web about tensioning the top wire on a high cordon
setup grape trellis using a weighted bucket and a measured distance to the
wire but now can't find it. My vines are in and the trellis is up but not
tensioned. I understand that about 200 lbs tension is suggested and the
bucket solution seems pretty low tech and simple. Has anyone seen the
article? If I canl't find it again I guess I'll just wait till it gets
loaded in a couple years and tighten it then.

Dick

"Richard Heckman" > wrote in message
...
>I saw an article on the web about tensioning the top wire on a high cordon
> setup grape trellis using a weighted bucket and a measured distance to the
> wire but now can't find it. My vines are in and the trellis is up but not
> tensioned. I understand that about 200 lbs tension is suggested and the
> bucket solution seems pretty low tech and simple. Has anyone seen the
> article? If I canl't find it again I guess I'll just wait till it gets
> loaded in a couple years and tighten it then.
>
> Dick

I think you would be far happier and better off to use a device called
in-line strainers. They are relatively low tech but very efficient. The
cost is only a few bucks. You can go to your local farm supply store or
vineyard supply store. They are also good to use on your end posts.

The strainers are inline. Thats how I will apply tension. I don't have a
tensiometer and am looking for a simple way to set the tension. As I said,
I can always wait till it gets loaded and tighten as necessary. I saw the
article while I was looking for something else and I thought I had
bookmarked it but apparently not.

Dick

"Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Richard Heckman" > wrote in message
> ...
> >I saw an article on the web about tensioning the top wire on a high
cordon
> > setup grape trellis using a weighted bucket and a measured distance to
the
> > wire but now can't find it. My vines are in and the trellis is up but
not
> > tensioned. I understand that about 200 lbs tension is suggested and the
> > bucket solution seems pretty low tech and simple. Has anyone seen the
> > article? If I canl't find it again I guess I'll just wait till it gets
> > loaded in a couple years and tighten it then.
> >
> > Dick
>
> I think you would be far happier and better off to use a device called
> in-line strainers. They are relatively low tech but very efficient. The
> cost is only a few bucks. You can go to your local farm supply store or
> vineyard supply store. They are also good to use on your end posts.
>
>

If you haven't already done so, you will also need to be able to support or
adjust the tension on your end post, otherwise when you tighten your wires,
your endpost will lean inward.

"Richard Heckman" > wrote in message
...
> The strainers are inline. Thats how I will apply tension. I don't have a
> tensiometer and am looking for a simple way to set the tension. As I
> said,
> I can always wait till it gets loaded and tighten as necessary. I saw the
> article while I was looking for something else and I thought I had
> bookmarked it but apparently not.
>
> Dick
>
> "Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> "Richard Heckman" > wrote in message
>> ...
>> >I saw an article on the web about tensioning the top wire on a high
> cordon
>> > setup grape trellis using a weighted bucket and a measured distance to
> the
>> > wire but now can't find it. My vines are in and the trellis is up but
> not
>> > tensioned. I understand that about 200 lbs tension is suggested and
>> > the
>> > bucket solution seems pretty low tech and simple. Has anyone seen the
>> > article? If I canl't find it again I guess I'll just wait till it gets
>> > loaded in a couple years and tighten it then.
>> >
>> > Dick
>>
>> I think you would be far happier and better off to use a device called
>> in-line strainers. They are relatively low tech but very efficient. The
>> cost is only a few bucks. You can go to your local farm supply store or
>> vineyard supply store. They are also good to use on your end posts.
>>
>>
>
>

Very true. Found out the hard way, myself. A few years ago, I purchased
4' 'anchors' - iron rods with a spiral blade at one end and a loop at
the other for tethering to the endpost. Have them on all my vinerows
now. I also discovered that the grapplers work great on the wire
thethers, too. I can adjust tension on both the cordon wire, and the
anchor wire - seems like they both need it every spring.

I've got a strainer in the line between the anchor and the endpost also to
take care of that.

Dick


"Paul E. Lehmann" > wrote in message
...
> If you haven't already done so, you will also need to be able to support
or
> adjust the tension on your end post, otherwise when you tighten your
wires,
> your endpost will lean inward.
>
> "Richard Heckman" > wrote in message
> ...
> > The strainers are inline. Thats how I will apply tension. I don't have
a
> > tensiometer and am looking for a simple way to set the tension. As I
> > said,
> > I can always wait till it gets loaded and tighten as necessary. I saw
the
> > article while I was looking for something else and I thought I had
> > bookmarked it but apparently not.
> >
> > Dick

Seems like an awkward setup. I use Grapplers - and tighten as needed
accoridng to load. You have to spend the 30 or 40 bcks for the too, bit
after that, the grapplers themselves are cheap - and very easy.

http://www.jimssupply.com/index.html

Look to www.orchardsupply.com. I beleive they have a power point
presentation that has the bucket tension measurement you described.

Sal Coco
Kansas City Kansas

Thanks Sal, thats what I needed. I had Orchard Supply bookmarked but I
forgot it was there and thought of that bookmark for the catalog only.

Dick


"Sal" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Look to www.orchardsupply.com. I beleive they have a power point
> presentation that has the bucket tension measurement you described.
>
> Sal Coco
> Kansas City Kansas
>