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Fence panel clips -- I must be thick ...

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Another John

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Jan 22, 2015, 5:35:39 PM1/22/15
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Hi all

I'm replacing two 6x6 panels in a wind-struck fence.

I can't really use the normal U-shape panel clips, because it would be
extremely difficult to raise a panel high enough to slot down into the
gap between two posts.

So I've been looking at these:

http://www.wickes.co.uk/Wickes-Timber-Fence-Panel-Fixing-Clip/p/541399

However I can't for the life of me work out how to fix them [properly].
(Can't google any website that shows them in use, and the guys at Wickes
didn't know either.)

There is a big "lip" with a hole in, presumably so that you can get your
screwdriver through the hole in order to fix the clip to the post. (You
can't see them in the pic, but there's a screwhole lined up with that
hole, and there are two screwholes in the small lip at the back, in that
picture.)

But why is that lip (with the hole) needed at all? The only way I can
imagine to use these, would mean that the lip sticks out proud from the
post - uh?

If anyone can point me at a diagram somewhere that shows how they're
used I'd be very grateful.

Thanks
John

Bob Minchin

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Jan 22, 2015, 5:41:22 PM1/22/15
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Hmm not obvious but they do look a bit like the third photo down on this
page
http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Fence

alan_m

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Jan 22, 2015, 5:59:50 PM1/22/15
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On 22/01/2015 22:35, Another John wrote:

> However I can't for the life of me work out how to fix them [properly].
> (Can't google any website that shows them in use, and the guys at Wickes
> didn't know either.)

The Wickes video shows how to use them
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bwoaH1N76M

--
mailto: news {at} admac {dot] myzen {dot} co {dot} uk

Roger Mills

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Jan 22, 2015, 7:14:06 PM1/22/15
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Yes, indeed. They look the same as the ones in the Wickes video cited by
alan_m. I haven't got a clue what the big hole is for, though!
--
Cheers,
Roger
____________
Please reply to Newsgroup. Whilst email address is valid, it is seldom
checked.

Rod Speed

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Jan 22, 2015, 7:56:18 PM1/22/15
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"alan_m" <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote in message
news:ciddn3...@mid.individual.net...
> On 22/01/2015 22:35, Another John wrote:
>
>> However I can't for the life of me work out how to fix them [properly].
>> (Can't google any website that shows them in use, and the guys at Wickes
>> didn't know either.)
>
> The Wickes video shows how to use them
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bwoaH1N76M

Hell of an inditement of the Wickes clowns that they didn’t know about the
video.

alan_m

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Jan 22, 2015, 9:53:43 PM1/22/15
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On 23/01/2015 00:14, Roger Mills wrote:

> Yes, indeed. They look the same as the ones in the Wickes video cited by
> alan_m. I haven't got a clue what the big hole is for, though!

The fixing screw goes through the clip into the first vertical edge
rail, then through the large hole in the clip, then through the fence
slats AND the vertical edge rail the other side. The smaller the hole
the more accurate you would have to be when positioning the fixing screw.

Rod Speed

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Jan 22, 2015, 11:03:58 PM1/22/15
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alan_m <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote
> Roger Mills wrote

>> Yes, indeed. They look the same as the ones in the Wickes video cited by
>> alan_m. I haven't got a clue what the big hole is for, though!

> The fixing screw goes through the clip into the first vertical edge rail,
> then through the large hole in the clip, then through the fence slats AND
> the vertical edge rail the other side.

That's not how the video does it.

> The smaller the hole the more accurate you would have to be when
> positioning the fixing screw.

But that hole can't have anything going thru it retention wise.

It looks like the large hole is to allow you to put the screw
into the much smaller hole behind it, thru the large hole.
But that isn't how the video does it either, he puts the
screw into the hole that is below the large hole from
the other side and doesn’t use the large hole at all.

Andy Burns

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Jan 23, 2015, 2:00:27 AM1/23/15
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Roger Mills wrote:

> Bob Minchin wrote:
>
>> they do look a bit like the third photo down on this page
>> http://wiki.diyfaq.org.uk/index.php?title=Fence
>
> Yes, indeed. They look the same as the ones in the Wickes video cited by
> alan_m. I haven't got a clue what the big hole is for, though!

In case the screw "wanders a bit" on its way through the panel I should
think.

The Medway Handyman

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Jan 23, 2015, 3:15:52 AM1/23/15
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On 22/01/2015 22:35, Another John wrote:
Don't bother with clips. Just screw the panel into the post. If you
use Turbo Gold or Screw Tite screws you don't even need a pilot hole.

--
Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk

Bod

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Jan 23, 2015, 3:31:20 AM1/23/15
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That's what I usually do. Just block up the panel underneath to the
height you want, then just screw the panels to the posts.
Easy to remove, if necessary.

stuart noble

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Jan 23, 2015, 3:35:23 AM1/23/15
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On 23/01/2015 08:15, The Medway Handyman wrote:
Or just fix the normal clip, hammer it to an L shape, and bend it back
when the panel is in. Works well and a no brainer if you're working
alone with 6ft panels

Another John

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Jan 23, 2015, 5:14:04 AM1/23/15
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In article <ciddn3...@mid.individual.net>,
alan_m <ju...@admac.myzen.co.uk> wrote:

> On 22/01/2015 22:35, Another John wrote:
>
> > However I can't for the life of me work out how to fix them [properly].
> > (Can't google any website that shows them in use, and the guys at Wickes
> > didn't know either.)
>
> The Wickes video shows how to use them
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bwoaH1N76M

Holy smoke. The verdict is in: I am thick!

I actually watched that video at the start of my considerable wanderings
through "The Interweb course on fence erection". I was paying attention
to all the early stages though, and didn't register his use of the
clips!

I eventually ended up watching (and paying more attention to) the B&Q
video on *mending* a fence, and that fella uses the other clips (And
actually lifts, then slides, the 6' panel into position, with the help
of his female assistant (I thought really that she ought to be doing
what he did, just for a change.)).

Thank you so much Alan, and to everyone else for the handy tips. I see
now that my basic fault was assuming that the big hole is for getting
your drill/driver through, whereas, as more than one has pointed out,
and as the Wickes video shows, it's for accommodating a wandering
screw-end.

Thanks again chaps. In't t'Interweb brilliant?!

John

DerbyBorn

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Jan 23, 2015, 5:27:32 AM1/23/15
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"I can't really use the normal U-shape panel clips, because it would be
extremely difficult to raise a panel high enough to slot down into the
gap between two posts. "

Using the usual U shaped ones is easy - if the top ones are just loose
enough to rotate a bit then angle them at about 30degrees and then slide
the panel UP into them and then rotate the panel down and drop it into the
bottom clips.
You only need to lift the panel high enough to clear the bottom clips.

(However, bending the clips - or using the newer ones shown in the video is
probably the way to go now. You would have to lift a panel to ful height
with concrete slotted posts though.

Roger Mills

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Jan 23, 2015, 7:47:06 AM1/23/15
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I can't remember how long the screw was in the video. What alan_m says
makes sense - a long screw goes through the small hole into the upright
at the back of the panel, then through the big hole (with plenty of
clearance!), through the slats and on into the upright at the front of
the panel - making quite a solid job.

Another John

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Jan 23, 2015, 10:49:17 AM1/23/15
to
In article <XnsA42B6A65FC180Tr...@81.171.92.236>,
DerbyBorn <Some...@Nearhome.com> wrote:

> "I can't really use the normal U-shape panel clips, because it would be
> extremely difficult to raise a panel high enough to slot down into the
> gap between two posts. "
>
> Using the usual U shaped ones is easy - if the top ones are just loose
> enough to rotate a bit then angle them at about 30degrees and then slide
> the panel UP into them and then rotate the panel down and drop it into the
> bottom clips.
> You only need to lift the panel high enough to clear the bottom clips.

DB: my son sometimes uses a word which I find very irritating, however
in this instance .... "Awesome"!! What wonderful lateral thinking!

John

Rod Speed

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Jan 23, 2015, 6:28:00 PM1/23/15
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"Roger Mills" <watt....@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:cieu68...@mid.individual.net...
That isn't how the video does it, at 4:10 minutes.

You can certainly say that the large hole is so that the screw
that holds the clip onto the panel can come to thru the timber
that the clip slides over and out that panel and thru the large hole.

Graham

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Jun 9, 2021, 10:01:12 AM6/9/21
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Just to say thank you for your advice, bought and collected Screw Tite screws from Screwfix and my one panel replaced in 10 minutes. I am going to buy different sizes of the same product. They are excellent, no pre drilling and my OXO cordless buried them with no effort. I chose the 70mm length. So cheers mate!

--
For full context, visit https://www.homeownershub.com/uk-diy/fence-panel-clips-i-must-be-thick-1021397-.htm

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