Formboss – Redcor Stakes

Staking Methods
Depending on what you’re trying to achieve, there are a range of staking options available for FormBoss® Metal Garden Edging Systems. The general rule of thumb for selecting the right stake is making sure the stake is more than twice the profile height as a minimum.

Tapered Stakes (Triangle Stakes)
The first option is the tapered stake. It’s ideal for edging profiles up to 185mm high, and works great at strengthening and anchoring most standard applications.

For general applications we strongly recommend 3 stakes spaced out evenly per length of steel (2.44m). This works out to be every 813mm. Generally you’ll just place one in the center and one at each end about 400mm from your connection. These stakes are sold individually.

They are available in:
240mm, 300mm & 400mm heights

Galvanised 2.5mm gauge, REDCOR® steel 2.5mm gauge, ZAM® 2.5mm gauge & stainless by special request.

Angled Stakes (Retaining Stakes)
The second option is the angled stakes. These stakes are specially manufactured to suit both higher strength jobs and retaining applications.

Generally you space angled stakes at the same *3 per length (every 813mm). If you have a high strength job such as a straight 400mm retaining wall, or steps of any size, it is highly recommended to increase the quantity to *4 per length, this will work out to be spacing them every 610mm. If your steps are narrow you’ll need a minimum of 1 angled stake per side. You insert the top edge of the stake under the lip of the edging the same as you would with the tapered stakes. Angled stakes are sold individually.

They are available in:

REDCOR® steel 3.0mm gauge, Galvanised 3.0mm gauge & stainless by special request

It’s important that you use a rubber mallet to knock these stakes in. A metal hammer will fold the top edge of the stake over and make it impossible to insert it under the lip of the edging.

Sometimes, especially for the 1200mm stakes, it is necessary to pre-dig out the area where the stake is going. A motorized post hole digger is fantastic for the 1200mm stakes, fill your hole up with concrete if you want the strongest retaining wall possible.

FormBoss® Smart Connectors
The FormBoss® connector is essentially a short piece of the same FormBoss® profile, that allows you to connect your lengths together in a way that you end up with flowing uninterrupted lines.

Simply get your smart connector, making sure the rolled lip is at the bottom, and slide one of your lengths halfway so the lip is pinching the edge top and bottom.

FormBoss® allows you to have flawless uninterrupted lines with all the connections, stakes and fixings hidden under the soil level!
You’ll have to make sure that any cuts you have made are 100% square (90 degrees) in order to get the cleanest connection possible.

Push both lengths tightly together inside the smart connector, and clamp them there to ensure they don’t move.

From our experience, a wide brimmed vice clamp works best, because it tightly clamps both lengths flush together within the connector. (as seen below)

Clamp your edging and insert two self tapping screws through either side of the connection.

For profiles over 150mm you will need to insert two screws either side of the connection instead of just one. This will ensure both lengths don’t pull apart.

If you have any off cuts of edging, you can always chop them up into small sections which are essentially the exact same as our smart connectors.

When we cut up connectors we grind off the sharp burr created by cutting, and then we cold gal spray paint the exposed cut edges (for our galvanised edging) to ensure longevity.

You are strongly advised to file off all sharp edges and cold gal spray paint any exposed bare metals (for our galvanised edging) for maximum longevity (and safety).

Connectors and screws are included FREE with every order. We’ll work out how many you need when you order!
See our more advanced connection techniques for sloping blocks, tapered edges and connecting different profile heights. Click here!