Invention and Improvement of Barbed Wire
Barbed wire was invented for use in agriculture, which determined its design and properties. In the middle of the nineteenth century in Europe and the United States, many inventors proposed models of barbed wire of various designs, but a breakthrough in its production and use occurred towards the end of the century. It happened in the USA, where Joseph Glidden first patented a very successful design of barbed wire, and then set up its industrial production. The vast territory of the United States and the virtual absence of fencing materials provided a market for barbed wire, which has proven itself as a cheap and durable material for livestock pens.
Barbed Wire Construction
The above-mentioned Joseph Glidden patented several different designs of barbed wire, two types of which proved to be the most effective in use and convenient in production. These are single strand barbed wire and double strand barbed wire. As their name implies, they use either one strand of steel wire or two strands as a warp. Short pieces of steel wire are wound on the basis of barbed wire, forming sharp spikes. This design of barbed wire made it possible to produce it quickly and cheaply, and when used, such barbed wire successfully kept cattle in pens, and at the same time did not cause severe injuries to animals that affect their health.
Barbed Wire Quality
The quality of barbed wire is ensured by the quality of the wire used to make it. For the manufacture of barbed wire, soft wire without coating can be used, less often - with zinc coating. Uncoated wire is the least durable, as it is susceptible to corrosion, zinc coated wire lasts much longer. When using zinc coated wire, production equipment must ensure the integrity of the protective zinc coating during the manufacture of barbed wire. The effectiveness of barbed wire is also affected by how firmly the spikes are wound on the base, as well as their sharpness, which is ensured by cutting the wire to make them at an acute angle.
Barbed Wire Price
The price of barbed wire is determined by the value of the wire used to make it. The larger the diameter of the wire, the higher the price of barbed wire. The price of barbed wire is also affected by the presence of zinc coating - galvanized barbed wire costs more than similar uncoated wire.
