Cable ties, also known as zip or ratchet ties, are plastic fasteners used for organizing wiring and bundling cables. They come in various sizes and colors and can be used in product packaging, gardening, and automotive repairs. They were originally designed for electrical wiring but have since been used for law enforcement as plastic handcuffs. To release them, a knife or scissors are needed, but releasable cable ties are also available.
Cable ties are plastic fasteners that have a wide variety of uses, from wiring to law enforcement. Many hardware stores sell zip ties, which may also be labeled cable ties or ratchet ties, and can be a very handy tool to have around. The basic design of a cable tie is quite simple, but they come in a range of sizes and colors for various applications.
A simple cable tie is simply a small strip of plastic with a row of teeth. At one end, the plastic has been molded into a spike, and at the other end, a small square case holds a lip designed to catch the teeth. To use a zip tie, the pointed end is threaded through the casing and then pulled; when released, the lip holds the tie in place. The design is set up to be very easy to fasten, but usually difficult to release, although some ties have special tabs that can be held down to release the teeth.
The original cable tie came out in 1958 and the design hasn’t changed much since then. Cable ties were originally designed for the purpose of organizing electrical wiring, as they are ideal for bundling cables and other wire assemblies. Multi-colored cable ties can also be used to make color-coded cables, which can be very useful. Once cable ties hit the market, people found many other uses for them.
The design of a cable tie allows people to fasten things easily and quickly with a high degree of tightness. As a result, cable ties are used in product packaging, gardening and even automotive repairs. Cable ties’ once famous use is as plastic handcuffs; law enforcement officers can quickly handcuff a group with cable ties. Law enforcement zip ties have the advantage of being single use, eliminating the risk of disease transmission, although they can also cut off a suspect’s movement if they are too tight, which is a serious hazard.
To release a zip tie, you need a knife or scissors. One tool that works very well for removing small ties is nail clippers; they’re usually the perfect width to grab the zip tie and cut through it without risking damage to the object the zip tie is holding. You can also buy releasable cable ties, although they tend to be more expensive than the conventional style.
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