this post was submitted on 01 Aug 2026
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Woodworking

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Besides trying (newbie here) what am I doing wrong? (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) by flandish@lemmy.world to c/woodworking@lemmy.ca
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Feeling like I am over thinking. My horizontal pieces are level, and my pickets I figure I will keep a straight run until the grade requires I “step up” the next run. Should a run always be post to post? or is 5-8 pickets ok? The right side is me trying to see what it looks like with shorter runs. (i dont think i like it.)

Grade is enough that right side of pic would only be 4’ tall while left is 6’ Ish.

My adhd and lack of self esteem is over thinking this huh? Is “space from top of picket to horizontal piece consistent” a visual plus that is worth something too?

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[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 22 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Conventional wisdom is to run the rails parallel to the surface rather than level with gravity:

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 10 points 3 days ago (1 children)

ohh interesting! then the middle of each picket can be the same distance from the rail. so that side looks consistent too. thanks for your reply!

i might try that. (after all this is only like 4 posts length on this side easy to pop down!)

[–] captain_aggravated@sh.itjust.works 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Happy fencing!

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 11 points 3 days ago (3 children)

thanks! trying the parallel to ground idea.

[–] klangcola@reddthat.com 3 points 2 days ago

Keeping the pickets vertical like that looks tidy

[–] bonedaddy@mander.xyz 5 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Now you're cookin

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

thanks!

[–] CHOPSTEEQ@lemmy.ml 4 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Damn man you’re giving me the confidence to take on my fencing project.

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

thanks! go for it!

[–] sepi@piefed.social 8 points 3 days ago (1 children)

Dude great job so far. These things are difficult the first few times. Good going!

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago

thanks for the kindness!

[–] Montagge@lemmy.zip 3 points 3 days ago

I'd say make it so it looks good to you as long as it'll stay upright!

For the run post to post are you referring to keeping the fence boards level? If so you should be able to lift the boards up to account for grade. Just don't go past your bottom support.

[–] wedge@woodworking.group 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

@flandish

If your terrain is irregular along a given panel, you might have to straighten it out a bit so you get level tops without ground interference at bottom anywhere.

If you have two opposing slopes forming a ‘V’ (valley)… well, theoretically that join is possible. :)

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 3 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

thanks! trying this for a bit now that i took the other parts down. bottom gap i am thinking may be a slight too big but i need to landscape around anyway too. for dogs plants etc.

[–] DarrinBrunner@lemmy.world 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

My only comment is I want the top rail horizontal to resist wind load at the top. I like this design, with the top rail being a cap, that protects the endgrain of the pickets. I'm not sure about putting the bottom rail in the dirt, however.

[–] flandish@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

gotcha. thanks!