What are cable ties used for, how many types of cable ties are there, and what are the best cable ties?
Choosing the best cable tie will depend on several factors, including what they will be used for, where will you be using them and how many times will you need to use them.
With so many options to choose from, across a range of types, sizes, materials, bundle diameters, tensile strengths, operating temperatures and so on, it can be daunting when choosing the right cable tie for the task.
Over the next few articles we will unpack the jargon and break down everything you need to know when deciding which solution is best for you.
What are cable ties used for?
It’s highly likely that you will have used a cable tie at one point or another in time.
Cable ties are one of the most versatile products on the planet, used across a wide variety of different applications from home and garden to large-scale commercial and industrial projects. Our customers use cable ties for anything from attaching signage to posts to securing pipes on oil rigs. We happily cater for everyone from keen gardens who need to secure plants to canes or plumbers that need to label different pipes with different colour ties.
Cable ties can be referred to in several different ways, including:
- Cable ties
- Zip ties
- Tie wraps
- Ty wraps
Cable ties bundle together cables and wires (amongst other things) together to keep them organised, secure and safe.
How Many Types of Cable Ties are there?
Choosing the best cable tie for the job will largely depend on what they will be used for.
So let’s take a high level snapshot of each type of cable tie, and their main features and uses in order to help you decide which type is best for you.
|
Type |
Features |
Uses |
Overview |
|
Standard Nylon Cable Ties |
|
Ideal for indoor and outdoor use across the home, garden & commercial due to their high tensile strength, durability and resistance to weathering and aging
|
Standard nylon cable ties are the most commonly used cable tie for it’s tough and versatile makeup |
|
Coloured Cable Ties |
|
Often used to clearly identify different cables or wires |
Coloured cable ties are used to help organise bundles with colour coordination |
|
Heavy Duty Cable Ties |
|
Ideal for tidying up machinery, spare parts |
Heavy duty cable ties are perfect for applications which require added strength, or needed to endure harsher operating conditions
|
|
Releasable / Reusable Cable Ties |
|
Provides the ability to re-use, saving time and cost when multiple use is needed
|
Releasable cable ties are used in applications where a temporary fastening solution is required
|
|
Stainless Steel Cable Ties |
|
Commonly used for applications that require a higher strength, higher temperature range and resistance to weathering, aging, fire or chemicals |
Stainless steel cable ties are used across a range of applications from production line facilities, aircraft, power plants, mines, commercial kitchens, tunnels and oil and gas platforms |
|
Metal Detectable Cable Ties |
|
Detectable by standard metal detectors Unique blue metallic colour for visual identification
|
Metal detectable cable ties are suitable for processes involving food, pharmaceuticals and chemical industries
|
|
UV & Heat Resistant Cable Ties |
|
Heat stabilisation provides additional thermal endurance Higher carbon content for greater resistance to ultraviolet exposure in outdoor usage
|
UV & heat resistant cable ties are suitable for a multitude of indoor and outdoor environments subject to high temperatures, e.g in close proximity to exhausts or brakes |
|
Printed Cable Ties |
|
For fixing or sealing solutions that requires clear identification, with one popular choice being sequentially numbered cable ties |
Printed cable ties are ideal for identifying cables and pipes to provide traceability for specific applications, such as identifying electricity cables with live and neutral, or gas and water pipes
|
|
Push Mount Cable Ties |
|
Provide a stable and secure fixture, allowing for consistent performance and reliability These cable ties have a push mount at the top that locks into place when pushed into a pre-drilled hole |
Push mount cable ties are ideal one step fastening, with tie applied into a pre-drilled hole
|
|
Screw Mount Cable Ties |
|
These cable ties have a screw hole at the top of the cable tie hole for the cable tie to be firmly fixed to the surface of wherever you want to secure the tie Can be secured to a panel using a single screw
|
Screw mount cable ties are designed to securely fix ties to a surface |
|
Double Loop Cable Ties |
|
These cable ties have a primary hole to initially slide the tie through, before clipping the second loop |
Double loop cable ties create two loops to attach and separate two bundles |
|
Biodegradable Cable Ties |
|
Decompose under prolonged exposure to UV light, heat, moisture and micro-organisms Minimum of 2 years to biodegrade, dependent on the conditions under which they are stored or used |
It is important that biodegradable cable ties are used for temporary use cases only Possible applications include events and landscaping |
With a wide range of types of cable ties, across a variety of different uses, the best cable tie for the job is available for the task at hand.
Keep an eye out for our next few articles, in which we demystify the different materials, sizes, bundle diameters and strengths of cable ties.
If you have any further questions, just drop us a message via live chat, email or telephone and one of our friendly staff will help with any specific requirements or enquiries.