Cable Ties Guide

This page has been created to help make sure you have the right products for the environment you are working in, or designing for, is imperative in manufacturing. Our aim in this section is to share our Cable Tie knowledge to help you select the right product, we will discuss what you can expect from each type of cable tie and what environment they were designed to be used in.

We have access to the widest possible range of cable ties. Supplied by Panduit & HellermannTyton we can source a vast range of sizes, styles, colours and materials. Apart from the Standard style of cable ties there are; Push Mount Cable Ties, Releasable Cable Ties, Weather Resistant Cable Ties, Marker & Flag Cable Ties, In-line Cable Ties and Barb Ty" Cable Ties.

We can also provide a range of Panduit Cable Ties Metal Detectable, Stainless Steel, Heat Stabilised, Flame Retardant Polypropylene, Halar®, Tefzel® and PEEK

What is a Cable Tie?

A cable tie (also known as a hose tie, or zip tie, and by the brand names Ty-Rap) is a type of fastener, for holding items together, primarily electrical cables or wires. Because of their low cost and ease of use, cable ties are ubiquitous, finding use in a wide range of other applications. They come in a variety of materials such as Stainless steel, nylon, naked or coated with a rugged plastic, cater for exterior applications and hazardous environments.

A standard cable tie, is normally made of nylon, and has a flexible tape section with teeth that engage with a pawl in the head to form a ratchet so that the free end of the tape section is pulled through the cable tie and tightens and will not come undone. Some cable ties include a tab that can be depressed to release the ratchet so that the tie can be loosened or removed, and possibly reused.

The different types of cable ties that we sell

• Standard Cable Tie – We can offer standard format nylon cable ties from many manufacturers, this Cable tie is a single use tie, that is available in a wide range of colours. Consequently, we have the widest possible range of sizes and can offer budget to top quality cable ties from HellermannTyton and Panduit.
• Push Mount Cable Ties - Push mount cable ties eliminate the need for cable tie bases and fasteners as designed to incorporate a mounting hole which allows the cable tie attached to the chassis, panel or wall.
• Releasable Cable Ties (also known as Re-usable) - Releasable cable ties enable re-use where changes are anticipated during development, production or servicing in the field. These cable ties have become the leading cable tie type as they can be easily reopened to allow new wires to be added to a bundle.
• Weather Resistant Cable Ties - An outdoor applications cable ties manufactured from a weather resistant nylon 6.6 extend the life expectancy of a cable tie from 1 - 2 years, to 7 - 9 years, or even 12 - 15 years if using a cable tie manufactured from nylon 12 material. Weather resistant cable ties are available in most cable tie formats including standard, push mount and releasable.
• Marker & Flag Cable Ties – Our Marker & Flag cable ties are used to fasten and identify cables at the same time. The legend plates can be marked by indelible pens or printed labels. As we are official distributors for HellermannTyton and Panduit we have access to extensive styles, sizes and colours.
• Barb Ty" Cable Ties - Dome-top® Barb Ty cable ties feature smooth domed heads and stainless-steel locking barbs that provide infinite adjustability. These premium cable ties offer high strength and low thread force and are particularly popular in the motorsport industry. Usually supplied in natural or black but also available in many colours and weather resistant and heat stabilised nylon.
• In-line Cable Ties - The low-profile head of the in-line cable tie avoids snags and reduces overall bundle size. The parallel entry cable tie that threads like a belt ensures a 35% lower head height than conventional cable ties. The larger sizes, available in 16 different colours, are widely used in children’s playgrounds and soft play areas.

Traditional ways to use Cable Ties

Here are some of typical uses that we have come across:

• Cable Management - There's nothing more frustrating than tangled up cable cords. Use a few zip-ties to keep these annoying little cords in check without damaging them!
• Child-Proofing – Keep little hands out of cupboards with precious objects or breakables. The releasable ones are really god for this job
• Make an Organiser – Using left over boxes and cartons fastened together with cable ties then you can make a handy workshop organiser for screws, nails and other little bits
• Securing Objects for Transit – When you are travelling or shipping several loose items, it is often easier to cable tie them together so that they don’t get damaged
• Plant Support - You can use zip-ties in the garden this summer to support your plants. (Great for heavy plants that you're trying to train.)
• Flower Arrangement - Keep that bouquet together and arranged perfectly – loosely tie a cable tie around the bundle to keep everything in place.
• Fix A Fence - A quick fix for any type of fence, use zip ties to reinforce fencing or patch a hole that has worn over time.
• Garden Pot Labels - To organize your garden and flowerpots, use flag cable ties to identify the varieties you’ve planted.
• Restraining Device – To restrain someone either on the hands or the feet with zip ties. The advantage to using zip ties to restrain someone is that very few people know how to escape them.
• Cue Card Organiser - Keep your notecards in the right order and readily available by loosely binding them with a zip tie. Simply punch a hole in each corner and add to the stack as you go.

Alternative ways to use Cable Ties
Here are some of the unique alternative ways of using Cable ties:

• Hedge Trimmer Blade Alternative – If you replace the blade with a cable tie and the results will amaze you.
• Bicycle Snow Tyre Creation - Don't let even the coldest weather slow you down! Tie a bunch of zip-ties around your bicycle tire for increased traction during winter months and go.
• Odour Control - Throw a few silica packets in the bottom of the bag to soak up that gym smell. Or you can make your own silica pouches. Just wrap a generous scoop of silica crystal kitty litter in a piece of breathable fabric and tie it shut with a zip-tie.
• Sink Declogger - When the sink gets clogged, then don’t reach for chemicals. Instead, use a long zip tie by cutting several notches on the zip-ties end. It’ll hook the hair clog, allowing you to pull it out. Problem solved. The size of the eye of the zip tie will prevent you from inadvertently pushing the tie past the stopper.
• Keyring – A cheap alternative to a traditional keyring holder, but remember you’ll have to cut them free if you want to remove the keys
• Luggage Identifier – This doubles up to not only a way of identifying your luggage but if you put the cable tie around both zips then it will make your luggage even more secure.
• Zip Replacement - When you need to do up your hoodie or jacket but don't have time to take it in to have the zip replaced!
• Festive Light Storage - Bundle your Festive lights in an untangled loop, and zip ties them on both ends of the loop. This will prevent the strand from tangling in storage.
• Hands-Free Light - Use zip ties to attach mini a torch to a pair of safety glasses/goggles and then use this pair whenever you must climb into the attic or do any repairs in dark spaces, verywhere you look will be illuminated.
• Cable Extension - Join two together by placing the tapered end of one cable tie into the jaw of the other cable tie until it engages on the teeth. Clip the excess tail and it will create a longer cable tie.