UV Proof Zip Ties

[Dave Zellers]

Do they exist? I bought some on Amazon that claimed they were but now 2 years later they are failing.

This is for a 2' high garden fence made of PCV pipe and 1/2" hardware cloth so nothing heavy duty at all. It's just that I would rather not have to go around and replace them constantly.

Hoping someone has a source. Just a 6" tie would do the trick.

[William Lessenberry]

https://www.amazon.com/100pcs-Stainless-Coated-Locking-7-8inch/dp/B07XBZZ16S?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A4853ZEGOAALH&th=1
BillL

[Bill Dufour]

Single strand copper ground wire.
Bill D

[Dave Zellers]

https://www.amazon.com/100pcs-Stainless-Coated-Locking-7-8inch/dp/B07XBZZ16S?source=ps-sl-shoppingads-lpcontext&ref_=fplfs&smid=A4853ZEGOAALH&th=1
BillL

Holy Cow! I had no idea stainless steel zip ties even existed! Wow. And honestly they are not as expensive as I would have thought. A couple hundred would probably do it. Still would prefer clear or white plastic so they blend, but to be honest, those are definitely a possibility.

Thanks for that for sure.

DZ

[Dave Zellers]

Single strand copper ground wire.
Bill D

Yes that is definitely on the list of possibilities. Especially white clad to match the PVC.

14 gauge and do a spiral along the length.

[John K Jordan]

… Still would prefer clear or white plastic so they blend, …


It’s been my experience here on the farm that white plastics of various types degrade in the sun much quicker than black and dark. For example white 5-gal buckets are the first to go. They get brittle and weak and break.

I generally fasten hardware cloth with twists of aluminum or galvanized steel wire. I fasten shade and wind fabric to the outside of my peacock cages with twists of fine stainless steel wire.

Another option for fastening things to either galvanized or PVC pipe is self-drilling sheet metal screws. I used those on pvc when installing my dust collection system. For simple frames and things outdoors I generally use the grey electrical pvc conduit since I keep some on hand and I like the look. I see black pvc is also available but I haven’t tried any.

JKJ

[Bob Borzelleri]

I figure that if I get 2-3 years out of nylon zip ties, I scored big.

[Rick Potter]

Used to use zip ties on my Costco carport cover when the little bungees failed. White is shot in a year, black last about 3.

[Alex Zeller]

I've found the same thing. White zip ties don't last in the sun. I exclusively buy black now even if they will stand out unless it's something like Christmas lights that will come down in a month or so. Those stainless ones look interesting. But I prefer the stile that uses a metal tang that bites into the plastic, not the type that has the notches. They seem to get tighter.

[Tom M King]

Those stainless steel zip ties break easier than you might think they would. I first used them to hold an exhaust wrap on the downpipe on a tractor to keep so much heat away from my leg. I broke several before I figured out just the right way to use the tool.

For heavier uses there are a bunch of different sizes of stainless strapping that comes in handy for a lot of uses. This method requires a special tool, but there is a cheap Chinese copy that works well.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GL182FB/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07GL182FB&pd_rd_w=fO68A&content-id=amzn1.sym.88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_p=88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_r=NFVSA742QR418V870C2J&pd_rd_wg=AAxVy&pd_rd_r=e436b251-a032-485d-9943-0380d9fcb498&s=industrial&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFTWVhQSkc1NFNNVTgmZ W5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA5NjIwNDEyTzAxRUFaUzNNWUhWJmVuY3J 5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxMjc1OTQyNk9CQTMySEhCMVdUJndpZGdld E5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmR vTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

[John K Jordan]

Used to use zip ties on my Costco carport cover when the little bungees failed. White is shot in a year, black last about 3.

There must be different grades of zip ties too. The ties holding the sheath for a big flat-tipped scuba knife to my tractor ROPS lasted 18 years in the sun before one of the two broke. The ties were larger and thicker than most in my zip tie tubs.

I’m guessing white ties let UV light penetrate deep inside the plastic while the black stops most of it at the surface.

Speaking of zip ties, for those who don’t know you can get reusable zip ties. Each has a release lever. I use them for a variety of things but mostly on 2” tie down ratchet straps, for example the long straps to secure a load of square hay bales to a trailer. I secure the loose ends with the reusable zip ties. When not in use I organize the straps in the storage tubs by coiling each strap tightly around it’s hook, the coil secured with a reusable tie. Makes life easier when it’s time to use them!

https://amazon.com/gp/product/B0834ZF8S5

Every farmer who sees me use then asks where I got them. I usually carry extras so I can give them a handful. I mostly buy the 12” length.

JKJ

[Tom M King]

That's funny. I use those exact same reusable ones for the exact same thing with the tiedown straps. I have two Sterilite bins in the toolbox on the truck to hold different sizes of tiedown straps.

They also come in colors to make them harder to lose.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMQST9SG/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?pd_rd_i=B0BMQST9SG&pd_rd_w=14SbD&content-id=amzn1.sym.88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_p=88097cb9-5064-44ef-891b-abfacbc1c44b&pf_rd_r=RZ1E905QSF44ZA06CCE6&pd_rd_wg=OwrzS&pd_rd_r=8caee464-76fa-4659-b1cf-f2108cb530da&s=hi&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWw&smid=A3ONFTWS4FHJKT&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFKSk9FRUZQTkFSODUmZ W5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA0NzQ4MDQzN0dTNThIWFpQTEJPJmVuY3J 5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxNjE3NTZYQVdFWVEwNVFRR0smd2lkZ2V0T mFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWwmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9 Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl&th=1

[Lee Schierer]

Aluminum chain link fence ties would do the job and would last pretty much for a life time. You can get them from any fence supplier or big box stores. Typically you can get 30 of them for about $8.
493894

[Tom M King]

That's what I used to hold the deer fence up on the 10' t posts surrounding the garden. I did hold it in place with cheap twist ties to start with, but those have long since failed, fallen off, and no telling where they are now.

[Bill Dufour]

Search "Metal Truck Seals" on ebay et al.
Bill D.

https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Truck-Trailer-Security-Seals/dp/B00546MAM6/ref=asc_df_B00546MAM6/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241899084459&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16120126895057450831&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032274&hvtargid=pla-579806847570&psc=1https://www.amazon.com/Metal-Truck-Trailer-Security-Seals/dp/B00546MAM6/ref=asc_df_B00546MAM6/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241899084459&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16120126895057450831&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9032274&hvtargid=pla-579806847570&psc=1

[Stan Calow]

I've found the same thing. White zip ties don't last in the sun. I exclusively buy black now even if they will stand out unless it's something like Christmas lights that will come down in a month or so.

I think that is why they add black to tires.

[Ronald Blue]

We used a lot of zip ties in my former job securing hoses, wire looms etc. Black is the most UV resistant. Clear or white are temporary until you can get black.

[John K Jordan]

That's funny. I use those exact same reusable ones for the exact same thing with the tiedown straps. I have two Sterilite bins in the toolbox on the truck to hold different sizes of tiedown straps.

They also come in colors to make them harder to lose.

[url]https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BMQST9SG

I haven’t lost any of the black ones yet but the fluorescent orange ties would be easy to see. These are longer than I need and cost more but don’t seem unreasonable.

I’ve tried different organization methods and now sticK with two strong lidded tubs, one for the all the ratchets and one for the rolled up straps. From the diameter of the roll it’s easy to tell which are the shorter straps I use on the sides and which are the long straps I use from the front to the back of the trailer (40’ I think). I usually carry 150 square bales per load (stacked 6 high) and tie down with 6 crossways and 4 down the length. I know that’s more than most use but too many is better than too few! I’ve seen plenty haul with 3-4 straps total but I’ve also seen bales on the road.

If anyone hasn’t tried storing straps rolled up there’s a nice advantage - take off the zip tie and throw the roll while holding on to the end. The whole strap unrolls across the ground, stretched out beside the trailer, ready to toss over the load and fasten down.

JKJ

[Dave Zellers]

I wondered if the black would last longer but that's a no-go for me. Looks like the permanent fix will be white clad copper wire.

[Rob Luter]

The Carbon Black pigment prevents the UV light from penetrating and breaking the polymer chains. There will often be a sacrificial layer at the surface that "chalks" and protects the rest. White will always degrade, usually discoloring first and then getting brittle and falling apart. I've designed and manufactured a number of white plastic parts for exterior use. There are various UV packages that can be added to slow down the discoloration and ultimate destruction of the material. The copper wire suggested previously should work OK, but the vinyl insulation will still break down. Unfortunately, most (all) wire intended for outdoor use is black.

[Bill Dufour]

For some reason the romex designed for direct burial and the pvc conduit is gray. The nEc say the neutral wire can be white or "natural gray" insulation. I have never seen other then white neutral wires.
Bill D

[Brian Elfert]

I used these for tying up the excess wire in my solar system: https://www.gardnerbender.com/en/products/Cable-Ties/Xtreme-Ties I have no idea if they will actually last longer yet.

My experience with UV wire tires is most of them become brittle by the time they are 15 to 20 years even when not exposed to UV. The black wire ties in my coach bus are still holding fine if not touched, but they will readily break if touched.

[Derek Meyer]

In this case I wouldn't buy them from Amazon. You just don't really know whether the advertised UV resistance is real or not.

I've bought from cabletiesandmore.com (http://cabletiesandmore.com) and their ties are excellent quality. I've used the UV ones outdoors and they do hold up well.

[Dave Zellers]

I've bought from cabletiesandmore.com (http://cabletiesandmore.com) and their ties are excellent quality. I've used the UV ones outdoors and they do hold up well.

Oooh! That link is a keeper. :)

[John K Jordan]

I've bought from cabletiesandmore.com (http://cabletiesandmore.com) and their ties are excellent quality. I've used the UV ones outdoors and they do hold up well.


Oooh! That link is a keeper. :)

I’m keeping it too. In fact, I see things I’m going to order today.

BTW if anyone uses a lot of zip ties and doesn’t have a tensioning gun tool one can make life easier. Those made for nylon ties are not expensive. The tool will tension then neatly cut off the excess.

[Brian Elfert]

Places like waytekwire.com only sell quality brand name cable ties. The prices tend to be high unless you buy a thousand or more.