Fi-Shock Polytape Corner Insulator

I was needing some new tensioners for the pasture extension I was building and using tape fencing around. All the others I found were almost $15 each so I was ecstatic when I found these for such a great price and I ordered what I needed plus a few extras.When they arrived and I started using them, the first thing I noticed was that they were much smaller than the ones I've gotten before, which wouldn't have been a big deal, except that there is a place for 3 screws on the other brand that I've got and only a place for 2 screws on these.I thought "Oh, well" and started putting them on my posts. I immediately noticed that the plastic was very brittle. If I would turn the screw just a single turn too tight, the plastic would split and begin to break around the screw holes. Then, if you put any sort of real tension on the fencing, it makes the splitting/breaking worse.I've only been using these tensioners for a few weeks and I've already had to replace 2.

Plastic becomes brittle and breaks easily after 5 years in the sun.

I will be ordering more. Two of the four I originally ordered have broken. The plastic broke near the screws, but it may be from overtightening. I like nice tight fences and these aren't up to that job. That said, I'm going to continue using this product because I like the ease of installation, functionality, attractive look. You can reinforce them by tying baling twine through and around the post as to not over-stress the plastic.

Initially we bought the corner and end tensioners (also sold here) that looked fance, but they were a waste! We took them down and replaced all corners AND ends with those. We LOVE them, but you have to make sure the way the tape feeds through: it holds better one way then the other. Try it from left to right vs right to left. They are easy to fasten, keep the tape tight and so far we didn't have to retighten after 1.5 month of use and all this rain!