Tool: 14” 304 Stainless Steel Zip Ties (30 count)
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...
11.8” 304 Stainless Steel Zip Ties (100 count)
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...
Transcript:
Hey, I’m Donald Bell for Cool Tools and in this video I’m going to show you the coolest, most hardcore zip tie of them all - the stainless steel zip tie. If you’re curious to get some for yourself you can check the link down in the description.
I’ve covered a lot of different zip ties and cable ties in these videos, but they all have one thing in common - plastic.
There are times when the situation calls for something that can endure extreme heat or extreme cold. Maybe you need something that’s fire resistant, or can take a beating. Even the best plastic can only do so much.
A 30 pack of these stainless steel ties runs around $11. And I have to admit that so far, I rarely reach for them over a standard zip tie. I have hundreds of zip ties. They’re cheap, and perfect for making temporary connections.
Using a steel tie is a commitment to some kind of permanence. Not only are they made to last, but they’re also hard to undo. They’re so much thinner than a regular zip tie that there’s almost nothing here for cutters to grip on. If these are cinched up tight on a pole, you’ll need a saw or an angle grinder to get the thing off.
You’ll also probably need a few tools to really get these attached. To get a tight fit, you’ll need some pliers to steady the head, and maybe one to get a good yank on the end you’re pulling.
To cut off the extra, you’ll need snips to get through the steel. And if you’re not careful, you’re left with a sharp steel edge that could really hurt someone. So instead of trimming these, some people recommend bending them back or folding them down with pliers.
Now, it’s also worth comparing these to hose clamps. Clamps are thicker, they’re pre-formed, so they don’t pack flat like the ties do, and they’re definitely more expensive. And you typically buy a hose clamp for exactly the diameter you need. The zip ties come in different lengths, but you can also chain them together infinitely.
Mostly though, the clamp aspect of these makes them ideal for a situation where you want an airtight seal, or if you want a connection that you can undo later on. The ties are harder to tension and definitely harder to undo.
They’re also more attractive. It’s like a shiny, pretty belt. And sometimes that really matters. If it’s something I’m going to look at everyday, I might want a solution that looks nicer than a hose clamp or baling wire.
So that’s the story with stainless steel zip ties. You can find a link down in the description to pick some up for yourself. And you can find thousands or reader recommended tools like these at cool-tools.org.
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