As a boy I spent a summer on my grandfather’s farm in Mississippi. I learned a lot about farming. Grandpa taught me about hog rings, a piercing applied to a pig’s nose to prevent rooting (digging with its nose). Grandpa didn’t have hogs, so I was able to skip that gruesome procedure.
Rather, Grandpa used hog rings as fasteners for wire fencing. As often happens, this alternative use has now overtaken the original swine application. Any respectable fencing department sells hog rings. They are also widely used in upholstery.
When Grandpa passed away, I inherited his hog ring pliers. The remainder of my grand inheritance consisted of everything needed to manufacture collars for a pack of hunting beagles. I keep these tools as a reminder of Grandpa. I use his claw hammer regularly, but the hog ring pliers… well, not so much.
Yesterday as part of a project to exclude squirrels from my garden, I finally had my chance to use hog rings again. The last time I squeezed those pliers, I was a young boy fixing a chicken coop in Mississippi.
Next I’ll sic my beagles on those pesky rabbits.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi John!
When I worked at the awning shop all those years ago we used to recover seats from boats, trucks, and the like. We used to fasten the fabric onto the wires under the seats by simply piercing the doubled fabric and closing the ring around the support wires.
Mom & I enjoyed reading this.