What Is a Cable Tie Tool? Types and Selection Criteria
A cable tie tool is a hand tool that tensions a plastic or stainless steel cable tie and cuts off the excess tail; it is also known as a cable tie gun.
A cable tie tool is a hand tool that tensions a cable tie and cuts off the excess tail close to the tie's head; it is also known as a cable tie gun. In panel wiring, on cable trays and in serial assembly it gives similar tension on every tie and a clean cut, compared with pulling the tie by hand and cutting it with a side cutter. Separate tools are made for plastic and stainless steel cable ties.
Types
| Tool | What it does | Tie width range in the catalog |
|---|---|---|
| Plastic cable tie tool | Tensions nylon (polyamide) ties and cuts the tail | 2.2–4.8 mm and 3.6–9 mm |
| Steel cable tie tool | Tensions stainless steel band ties and cuts the hard band | 4.6–12 mm |
Selection criteria
- Tie material: Use a plastic tie tool for plastic ties and a steel tie tool for stainless steel ties. The blade of a plastic tie tool is not made to cut steel band.
- Tie width: The width of the tie must be within the tool's range. Thin ties of 2.5–4.8 mm fall within the 2.2–4.8 mm range, and wide plastic ties up to 7.6–9 mm within the 3.6–9 mm range. The 4.6 mm (standard) and 7.9 mm (heavy duty) bands of stainless ties are within the 4.6–12 mm range.
- Tension adjustment: With an adjustable tool, thin-sheathed cable and data cable are tied with low tension and thick bundles with high tension. Check on the product page whether the tool has an adjustment.
- Cutting method: Some tools cut the tail automatically when the set tension is reached; on others the cut is made with a separate lever movement. In serial assembly, automatic cutting speeds up the work.
Common mistakes
- Tightening steel ties with a plastic tie tool: The blade dulls or chips, and the band is not cut cleanly.
- Over-tensioning: Thin-sheathed and data cables are crushed; adjust the tension to the cable.
- Cutting the tail with a side cutter: A sharp, burred end remains that cuts the cable sheath and the installer's hand. The tool cuts the tail flat and close to the head.
- Using a tool that does not suit the tie width: A narrow tie slips in the jaw and a wide tie does not fit; the tie is not tensioned enough.
- Choosing a tie that is too short: If there is not enough tail for the tool to grip, the tie cannot be tensioned.
In the Welibaba catalog
The Cable Tie Tools category has 6 active products; KSN, Gwest and Isıso each have one tool for plastic ties and one for steel ties:
| Brand | Plastic tie tool | Steel tie tool |
|---|---|---|
| KSN | TG-009, 3.6–9.0 mm | TG-011, 4.6–12 mm |
| Gwest | TG-008 | TG-011 |
| Isıso | IPG-600A, 2.2–4.8 mm | IPG100, 4.6–12 mm |
The tie width range of the Gwest models is on the product page. The ties themselves are in the Cable Ties category (384 active products), 86 of which are Stainless Steel Cable Ties.
Frequently asked questions
Can a plastic cable tie tool tighten steel cable ties?
No. The jaw and blade of a plastic tie tool are not made to tension and cut steel band; the blade dulls and the cut stays burred. Use a steel tie tool for stainless ties.
Which tool suits which tie width?
Look at the width of the tie: a 2.2–4.8 mm tool suits thin ties up to 4.8 mm, and a 3.6–9 mm tool suits plastic ties up to 9 mm. Stainless ties of 4.6 and 7.9 mm are tightened with a 4.6–12 mm steel tie tool.
How tight should a cable tie be?
The tie should be tight enough that the bundle does not slip, without leaving a dent or mark on the cable sheath. Use low tension on data and thin-sheathed cables.
Can a side cutter be used instead of a cable tie tool?
A side cutter cuts the tail, but the tie is not tensioned enough or evenly by hand, and the tail is left sharp and away from the head. Stainless steel ties cannot be tensioned enough by hand or cut flush, so they need a tool.