If you’ve got a pile of cables, wires, or anything else you may need to secure into place, zip ties are a popular tool to get the job done. Yet, sometimes your stack of cables may be particularly big—so large that the zip ties you have on hand aren’t long enough to fully wrap around your bundle. If you’ve ever been in this situation, you’re probably wondering what your options are. Can you daisy chain zip ties to make them longer? Or, are long zip ties a better option? If so, how long of a zip tie can you get? Keep reading to find out more about the do’s and don’ts of joining zip ties.
Can You Put 2 Zip Ties Together?
Yes, you can put zip ties together, but it might not always be the best option (more on that later). In fact, one of the most common cable tie hacks you’ll hear about is to combine two or more zip ties to make one longer tie. Fortunately, the process is fairly simple. Here’s how to put two zip ties together:
- Step 1: Ensure your cable ties are the same width and thickness before beginning. Cable ties of differing sizes should not be joined together.
- Step 2: Insert the end of one cable tie (also called the stem) into the head (the square mechanism at the end of the tie) of another cable tie. Insert it enough so that it locks in place, but not so far that it would significantly reduce the length.
- Step 3: Repeat step 2 until you’ve combined as many cable ties together as you need to achieve the proper length for the job.
- Step 4: Wrap your cable tie around the items you intend to secure.
- Step 5: Insert the first cable tie’s stem into the head of the final cable tie to create a loop and pull it tight.
However, before you start combining all of your zip ties, there is one important thing to keep in mind. Combining two or more zip ties together to make one longer tie can reduce the overall tensile strength, which is how much weight a zip tie can support. While there are a number of reasons why this might occur, most have to do with the head of the tie.
On a zip tie, the head is the weakest point. When enough pressure is applied, the locking mechanism within the zip tie can break. Now, consider what happens when you combine cable ties: you introduce more than one head into the equation. This creates two (or more) weak points. This may not be an issue if you’re bundling particularly light items, but if you need to secure heavy cables or wires, a single long zip tie may be a better option than daisy chaining multiple ties.
What Is the Longest Length of Zip Ties?
Generally speaking, the longest cable tie is 60 inches in length, or 5 feet long. Zip ties of this length can wrap around a bundle that’s approximately 17.71 inches in diameter. Don’t need something quite that long? That’s ok. At ZipTie.com, we offer zip ties in the following lengths:
If you know the approximate diameter of the items you’re securing with a zip tie, you can also shop by that measurement. You can find cable ties that support the following diameters at ZipTie.com:
With this many lengths and bundle diameters available, you’re sure to find an option that fits your needs!
ZipTie.Com: Your Source for Zip Ties
Whether you’re looking for light weight or heavy duty long zip ties, short ones, or anything in between, ZipTie.com has you covered. We provide a wide array of cable ties, including highly customizable options, to fit your needs—whatever they are.
When you shop at ZipTie.com, you’ll find high-quality, UL-Listed products made from US materials like stainless steel and nylon 6/6. And, with our large in-stock quantities, you’ll rest assured that we can deliver the products you need quickly and reliably. In fact, we deliver to most of the US in just one to three business days! Ready to get started? Explore our full catalog of cable ties or reach out to us at +1-855-947-8433 (between 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM ET) for inquiries or custom orders.