All about metal cable ties

All about metal cable ties

From the material they are manufactured from, to why and how to use them, we look at everything you need to know about the metal cable tie.

What are metal cable ties?

Our stainless steel cable ties are manufactured from marine grade 316 stainless steel, offering a high melting point and unparalleled strength. With a minimum loop tensile strength  of 89 kgs at 4.6mm width and 160 kgs at 7.9mm, and a working temperature range of -80°C to +538°C, it is easy to see why metal cable ties can be used in a variety of conditions.

There are three types of metal cable ties available which are:

Stainless steel cable ties – these are ideal for use in situations where resistance to weather, corrosion, and chemical environments is required.

Coated stainless steel cable ties – we offer PVC and epoxy resin coated metal cable ties, perfect for providing strength while minimising the risk of abrasion or scratching.

Metal detectable cable ties - these are manufactured from nylon 6/6 but have an evenly spread metal content which allows them to be detected by metal scanning equipment. 

When to use metal cable ties and why?

If you need a cable tie that will offer weather resistance, will withstand chemical attack and offers a wide working temperature range, look no further than the metal cable tie. The only caveat here is that stainless steel cable ties should NOT be used where they could come into contact with galvanised steel as the two will react with each other. In these situations, our coated stainless steel cable ties are recommended.

Stainless steel cable ties are used globally in a variety of industries including electronics, shipbuilding and transportation. In Europe, the automotive industry is the market leader in the use of metal cable ties, and they play an important role in mining and the oil and chemical industries too.

As many of the industries that use metal cable ties depend on their durability and safety, all the stainless steel cable ties we sell at cableties-online are fully compliant with the 18th Edition of the IET Wiring Regulations (BS7671) which came into force on January 1st 2019.

How to use and install metal cable ties

Unlike nylon cable ties which have a ridged surface, stainless steel cable ties are smooth on both sides which renders them much more difficult to grip. Rather than pulling metal cable ties tight, you simply feed the end through a roller ball self-locking system. The roller ball locking mechanism will not wear or corrode in extreme temperatures and requires less strength to secure the tie, although if securing the ties by hand, you may not be able to secure them as tightly as you need.

When securing metal cable ties, the use of a pair of pliers will help you to pull the end of the tie and will secure it more tightly than by hand. However, the end, or tail, of the tie will be left intact and you may not be able to achieve consistent tightening across several cable ties. We would always recommend a cable tie installation tool for stainless steel ties, also available in a heavy-duty option, particularly when installing multiple cable ties. These tools will secure the tie to a pre-determined tightness and remove the end, to leave no sharp edges.