Continuous Fence Pipe Saddles: The Fastest Way to Build Drill Stem Fence
Pipe saddles are pre-fabricated weld-on fittings that connect horizontal drill stem rail pipe to fence posts, eliminating the need to hand-cut a curved saddle into every rail. For anyone building a continuous fence from salvaged oilfield tubing, they turn one of the slowest, most skill-dependent steps into a fast, repeatable one.
What Are Continuous Fence Pipe Saddles?
A pipe saddle is a small formed steel fitting with a curved seat that cradles the rail pipe against the post. Common sizes fit a 2 7/8" drill stem rail and connect it to 2 3/8" posts. Once positioned, the saddle is welded to both the post and the rail, locking the two pipes together. What saddles do:
- Create a curved seat for the rail to rest on
- Weld onto both the post and the rail for a solid joint
- Give the finished fence a clean, professional look
Why Use Saddles with Drill Stem Pipe?
Drill stem pipe is salvaged oilfield tubing, sold in long lengths and pre-cut post pieces, and prized for ranch and continuous fencing because it's rugged, strong, and long-lasting. That same heavy wall makes traditional joint methods painful: cutting a saddle (a coped curve) into each rail end by hand with a torch, plasma cutter, or bandsaw is slow, skilled work, and crimping heavy-wall pipe is impractical without a 20-50 ton press. Pre-made weldable saddles solve both problems at once:
- Faster installation: No torch coping each rail end before it can go up
- No special cutting skills required: Anyone who can weld can set the rail
- Stronger, cleaner weld joints: Full contact between saddle, post, and rail
How to Install a Pipe Saddle on Drill Stem Fence
- Set your posts: 2 3/8" post pipe, plumb and in line.
- Rest the rail in the saddle: 2 7/8" drill stem rail drops into the saddle's curved seat at each post.
- Tack weld: Tack the saddle to the post and rail to hold the assembly in position.
- Full weld: Run a complete weld around the saddle for a solid, finished joint.
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