Do you know what is Nylon cable ties? And how to make the best of Nylon cable ties? Read this article, you will get the best answer.
Cable ties are versatile, economical, and easy to use, which has become a great solution for keeping cords, wires, and even hoses contained. If you’re not familiar with cable ties, first you can learn what what is a cable tie.
What is A Nylon Cable Tie:
A cable tie is a band or length of strap, manufactured from a class of polymeric materials known as polyamides (Nylon 6/6). The width, length, and head area employ ratcheting mechanisms, which allow for locking as necessary for “bundling” items together.
Commercially introduced in October 1938, Nylon was the first synthetic semi-crystalline polymer whose physical properties compared favorably to some metals. The polymers high strength and temperature resistance allows it to be used in “engineered” applications thus it falls into a category of polymers known as “engineering thermoplastics.” Nylons are produced from a family of resins, which contain an amide group -CONH-. These materials are then polymerized; a chemical process that link small amide monomers together into a long polymer chain, then called polyamides.
Nylon possesses an outstanding balance of properties, combined strength, moderate stiffness, high service temperature, and a high level of toughness. Nylon cable ties are particularly resistant to repeated impact, they have a low coefficient of friction, and excellent abrasion resistance. Nylon is resistance to fuels, lubricants, and most chemicals, but is attacked by phenols, strong acids, and oxidizing agents (ref. Our Physical and Chemical Certification for further information). Nylon is inherently susceptible to environmental conditions. ACT cable ties are moisturized to attain optimum performance levels. Nylon product should be stored in cool dry areas, out of direct sunlight, and sealed in the original packaging material. These measures will extend cable tie performance levels indefinitely.
General purpose nylon is suitable for use in most practical applications at continuous temperatures up to 185° F. Nylon 6/6, the grade most often used for cable tie production, meets UL 94V-2 flammability ratings. Its working temperature range is from -40° F to 185° F.
Heat Stabilized Nylon 6/6 is used in continuous or extended exposure to high temperatures (up to 250° F). A general-purpose nylon will have a reduction in physical properties and fatigue as a result of high temperatures. Nylon cable ties containing specially formulated heat stabilizers provide additional thermal endurance. Heat stabilized nylons are engineered for continuous exposure to temperatures above 185° F, which meets UL standard for electrical applications.
UV Stabilized Nylon 6/6 is used in continuous or extended exposure to outdoor use. Nylon cable ties is a weather resistant grade, enduring additional ultraviolet (UV) light. This grade is produced by incorporating stabilizers in the nylon resin. UV Stabilized nylon cable ties are available only in black.
In a word, Nylon cable tie is an easy and affordable solution for cable management. With the usage of Nylon cable ties, handing great mess of cables will not be a problem.
Main Functions or General Uses of Nylon Cable Ties:
In the early period, nylon cable ties were widely used in electronic andelectrical appliance industry. They were playing their roles in fastening and bundling wires and cables in these mechanical machines.With the reinforcing of social industrial efficience, nylon cable ties’ application field has been expanded and well developed. Almost all the industries are covered by the involving and bundling of our zip ties.
For example, architecture industry will need cable ties for bundling scaffolds. Agriculture industry use nylon zip ties to build the the shelf for the growing of the crops. Fashion industry needs our cable ties to hang their tags. Foods industry will make nylon cable ties fasten tags, and bundle the vegetables. Express and postal service will use zip ties to bundle mails and their goods.
And our cable ties also take apart in fastening connecting wires and cables in the televisions, computers, lights. The domestic electrical appliances, lights, facilities, machines, electronic toys and many products have cable ties fasten and fix the inner wirings and cables. Mechanical equipment, pipes of oil also need the fastening tool nylon cable ties. The wires and cables on the ships are fixed and bundled by zip ties. The packaging of whole sets of bycicles are also the playing stages of our zip ties. Agriculture, gardening, handicrafting, gift factories, electronic plants, wiring processing factories, wiring and cable companies, toy plants, festival celebrating, stationery, department stores, fresh food supermarkets, daily goods, electrical engineering and electric apparatus, connector assembly all take nylon cable ties as the main tool for fastening and bundling. The amount of nylon cable ties used in electrical and electric apparatus industry shared 40% of the manufacturing gross in 2011. And the amount used in domestic appliances industry was 17%. Automobile industry was 10%. Telecommunication industry had 8% of nylon cable tie application amount.
Well, Nylon cable ties aren’t only for cable management. Here are 17 or more other uses for cable ties around the house. Now learn the hacks you will wish you know earlier.
17 Unexpected Things to do with Zip Ties
1. Key Ring
You can use a nylon cable tie as a key ring in a pinch. This can be especially helpful if you’re giving a few spare keys to a house- or pet-sitter when you go out of town. Just zip tie your spare house key, mailbox key, and any other important keys together so your sitter can easily keep track of them.
2. Binder Rings
Use a couple of small Nylon cable ties to “bind” papers and documents together. Just punch a couple of holes along the edge and slip small zip ties through the holes. This is a simple and fun way to create a book of your child’s writing or artwork. They’ll love flipping through it!
3. Luggage Lock
When you’re traveling (especially if you’re backpacking,) you might utilize luggage storage services to keep your bags for the day while you’re out sightseeing. While I’m sure that the majority of people at these services are perfectly trustworthy people, it never hurts to take an extra precaution or two, right?
If your bag has two zippers to close it, you can use a Nylon zip tie to secure the two zippers together. It probably won’t stop a determined thief, but it will deter most people from poking around in your bags while you’re out enjoying your trip.
4. Bubble Wand
Make a small loop at the end of a large zip tie and use it as a makeshift bubble wand! Try out one of these recipes for homemade bubble solution, and have a bubble party with the kids!
5. Seal Bags
Use a Nylon cable tie to re-seal packages so that the food won’t get stale. This works great to keep marshmallows, brown sugar, and other foods from drying out.
6. Plant Support
Some plants need a little extra encouragement to stand up straight. Place a stake next to your plant, and use a loosely looped zip tie to secure the plant stem to the stake. (The zip tie should be loose enough to accommodate for the expected growth of the plant. You don’t want to accidentally strangle it!)
7. Zipper Fix
Got a pair of jeans with a zipper that just won’t stay up? Loop a Nylon cable tie through the end of your zipper, then zip up your pants. Hook the loop onto the button, then button your pants. And voila! Zipper crisis averted. 🙂
8. Bouquet Binder
Use a Nylon zip tie to secure bouquets of flowers. This is great tip for brides who opt to make their own bouquets. It’s also a great way to keep flowers together as a bundle if you’re displaying them in a slightly larger vase.
9. Pack Efficiently
Need to pack a lot of stuff into a small bag? Cable ties to the rescue! Roll your shirts and pants tightly, then secure each one with a zip tie. You’ll be able pack very efficiently! (Make sure to bring extra zip ties to use for the return trip.)
10. Traction Booster
If you need a bit of extra grip to power through a slippery trail, or even just an icy parking lot, grab a zip tie! Loop the Nylon zip tie around the toe of your shoe, with the fastener facing down towards the ground. Clip the excess length, and the clasp will give you that extra traction you’re looking for.
11. Remove a broken cork from wine bottle
If you have no corkscrew on hand or have somehow broken the cork trying to get to your wine, all you need to enjoy it is a few large cable ties.
Create a loop with two or three medium- or large ties, push the cork down into the bottle and use the loop to fish out the floating cork (or bits of cork). It can take some practice to figure out how to wedge the cork between the two sides of the loop, and it requires some force to pull the cork out, but it works surprisingly well.
12. Impromptu child safety
If you need to keep children out of a cabinet or two, you don’t need to purchase a child lock, at least not for a temporary solution. Just run a Nylon cable tie through two adjacent handles or around two knobs and pull tight.
You’ll need to cut the tie off to access the cabinet later, so it’s not a great long-term solution. But it will keep the little hands out in a pinch.
13. Tamper indicator
Using the same idea, you can use cable ties as a tamper indicator for a number of things. Run a cable tie between the loops on two zippers of a backpack or duffel bag when traveling. Run one through the zippers of your tent door when you’re away from your campsite. Or drill a hole through the handle and lid of a storage bin to “lock” it.
While these ties won’t do much for theft prevention — anyone with a knife, scissors or even fingernail clippers can still get into your stuff — just having them in place will act as a deterrent or a quick indicator that someone has messed with your stuff.
14. In the garden
For plants that need to be staked, you can help keep them upright as they grow with Nylon cable ties. Loosely wrap a cable tie around your tomato plant or a small sapling and a staked rod. You may also want to staple the cable ties in place to keep them from sliding up and down the stake.
Just remember to not tie the plant too tight, to give it room to grow and move freely. And also remember to remove or adjust the ties as the plant grows.
15. Unclog a drain
You can also use cable ties to clear out a clogged drain.
If you’ve got an extra long cable tie, you might be able to get by with just one. If all you have is smaller ties, you’ll need to string a few of them together to reach the clog. In most cases, you need between 18 inches (45.7 centimeters) and 2 feet (61 centimeters). But if needed, you can always add length by adding more ties.
After you’ve connected all the ties, you need a pair of scissors or cutting pliers to create diagonal cuts along the length of the bottommost tie. The cuts should be angled upwards and staggered. Then bend the edges made by the cuts outward with a pair of pliers to create barbs.
Feed this down into the drain and, assuming the clog has been caused by hair or other small buildup, it should grab or jostle loose whatever is clogging the drain and remove it when you pull the ties back out.
16. Hanging decorations
For hanging temporary decorations, cable ties are a fantastic option. The standard black or white may not blend in with the decorations very well, but Nylon cable ties now come in an array of colors. Green goes particularly well with Christmas decor. Brown and orange might go better with Thanksgiving decorations. Cable ties are particularly great for hanging wreaths, string lights and garland.
17. Emergency traction
If your car is stuck in the snow and you’ve got a handful of Nylon cable ties on hand, they might just help you get unstuck, as Instructables user movemaine shows. Use the smaller ties to create grips or treads on the larger ties, which you will wrap around the wheel and tire.
These makeshift “snow chains” certainly aren’t a replacement for the real deal and they will likely break off shortly after your car gets moving. But they’re essentially a less rugged, DIY version of these emergency anti-skid chains.
Conclusion
As you see, cable ties not only promote perfect cable management but also provide life-long and dependable services.
For any queries or free consultations on Nylon cable ties or different types of cable ties, cable clips or more cable managements and electrical solutions, feel free to contact our technical team anytime.