How To Choose Right Stainless Steel Cable Ties

Types of Stainless Steel Cable Tie Materials: 304 vs 316

When selecting stainless steel cable ties, the most important factor is the material. Different grades of stainless steel offer varying levels of durability, corrosion resistance, and environmental compatibility, especially in demanding applications like marine, industrial, or high-temperature cable management.

• Grade 304 Stainless Steel: This is the most commonly used material for SS cable ties. It offers solid corrosion and oxidation resistance, making it ideal for indoor installations, electrical wiring, and high-heat pipe supports. It’s a cost-effective choice for general-purpose metal zip tie applications.

• Grade 316 Stainless Steel: With the addition of molybdenum, this grade offers enhanced chemical and saltwater resistance. It’s best suited for marine environments, chemical processing facilities, and food-grade applications where superior durability is critical. If your installation faces exposure to chlorides, moisture, or harsh cleaning agents, 316 is the better option for long-term performance and secure cable bundling.

If your tying location is constantly exposed to salt water, humid environments, and chemical environments, it is recommended that you give priority to Grade 316 Stainless Steel to ensure a good fastening effect.

Type of Stainless Steel Cable Ties

When choosing metal zip ties, you also need to consider their type. There are several different types of stainless steel metal cable ties on the market, each with different advantages and characteristics. The following are several common types:
Standard Cable Ties: This is the most basic type of Metal zip tie, suitable for most general applications, and can achieve fast and efficient bundling.

Releasable Cable Ties: This type of stainless steel cable tie generally has a release mechanism that can be adjusted or removed without destroying the binding performance of the cable tie, so it can be reused. Therefore, it is generally used for maintenance, transportation, and testing.

Self-Locking Cable Ties: As the name suggests, this cable tie can be locked automatically when tightened by a unique locking mechanism. This cable tie can be locked without the use of a steel cable tie tool.
Heavy-Duty Ties: This type of tie is generally wider to withstand higher tension. It is generally used for bundling heavy loads or large mechanical equipment. Installation of this type of cable tie generally requires the use of a Cable tie gun for stainless steel ties.

PVC Coated Stainless Steel Cable Ties: This type of stainless steel zip tie is covered with a layer of PVC protective coating on its surface, which provides additional protection for the zip tie, making the zip tie thicker and softer, and also protecting the cable from damage by the metal edge of the zip tie. It is generally used in communications, transmission, and other scenarios with higher security.
Therefore, when choosing a ss cable tie, you need to choose the type of stainless steel cable tie according to the scenario and industry you are using.

Sizes/Strengths

The correct selection of cable tie size and tensile strength is the key factor in ensuring the bundling performance of your stainless cable ties.
The length and width of the cable tie will directly affect the tensile strength of the cable tie. Using the stainless steel cable ties manufactured by Boesethe  company as an example, we can help you select the correct cable tie by providing the relationship between several common sizes and tensile strengths, as shown in the table below:

Width（mm）	Length（mm）	Max.Bundle Dia（mm）	Min.Tensile Strength（N）
4.6	100	36	1100
4.6	300	76	1100
10	300	76	1700
12	350	78	2200
16	350	78	3400

Therefore, when choosing metal cable ties, you need to choose according to your actual application scenario. For example, if the cable ties will be subjected to vibration or impact during use, it is recommended to choose cable ties with a wider width and higher tensile strength.

Temperature Range of Stainless Steel Cable Ties

When purchasing metal cable ties, you also need to understand the temperature changes in your application environment. Although steel cable ties have good heat resistance, some ties may not meet your bundling requirements if exposed to extreme temperatures. Therefore, it is recommended that you choose Grade 316 Stainless Steel.

Installing Stainless Steel Cable Ties

When selecting stainless steel cable ties for your project, the installation method plays a crucial role in ensuring both safety and efficiency. Most metal cable ties, especially heavy-duty stainless steel variants, require specialized tools such as a stainless steel cable tie gun for proper tensioning and secure fastening.

However, not all installations demand heavy tools. For indoor applications or controlled environments with low vibration, minimal moisture, and limited exposure to corrosive elements, using self-locking stainless steel cable ties can be a cost-effective and efficient choice. These ties feature a built-in locking ball mechanism that allows for manual tightening without the need for additional equipment.

By choosing self-locking types, installers can reduce labor time and eliminate the need to purchase expensive cable tie guns—especially useful for electrical panel assembly, IT cable management, or non-industrial HVAC setups.

Whether you’re working in a commercial setting, marine-grade application, or a general utility project, always ensure that your fastening method matches the environmental demands and tensile strength requirements of the job. Proper installation contributes directly to OEM-grade cable security and long-term reliability.

Cost of Stainless Steel Cable Ties

In the eyes of many buyers, the purchase price of metal cable ties is more expensive than that of nylon cable ties. For example, when comparing Boese’s 10mm wide, 300mm long metal cable ties, the price of a Metal zip tie may be about ten times that of nylon cable ties. However, Metal zip tie is used in extreme application environments, requiring cable ties to provide long-term and strong binding effects, which nylon cable ties cannot achieve and need to be replaced frequently. Therefore, for harsh application environments such as high temperature, chemical corrosion, seawater corrosion, shock vibration, and other scenarios, it is recommended to purchase stainless steel cable ties, which can save you a lot of money.

Brand of Stainless Steel Cable Ties

You may wonder? Do I need to consider the brand when choosing a Metal zip tie? Absolutely. Good brands usually provide more reliable and better quality products. By understanding the brand’s history, product certification, and customer feedback, we can better choose a reliable Metal zip tie. For example, if you are from the European Union, you need to pay attention to whether the product has CE certification. If you are from the United States, you need to pay attention to whether it has UL certification, etc. Therefore, when purchasing, it is recommended to learn more about the brand and certification of the product.

FAQS

Q:How  to use metal cable ties?

A: First, you need to choose the appropriate type of metal cable ties, then wrap the metal cable ties around a fixed position, and use the metal cable ties gun to tighten them after adjusting the position. Finally, use the stainless steel cable tie cutting tool to trim off the excess cable ties and grind the edges to make them smooth.

Q: Can stainless steel cable ties be reused?

A: Generally speaking, standard stainless steel cable ties are not reusable. They are designed for one-time use. However, there are some types of stainless steel cable ties that are reusable, such as Releasable Stainless Steel Cable Ties, Heavy-duty Stainless Steel Cable Ties with Locking Mechanism, and Reusable Stainless Steel Cable Ties with Reusable Pins.

Q: What are the Stainless Steel Cable Ties called?

A: They have many names, such as metal cable ties, hose clamps, Stainless hose clamps, SS cable tie, Stainless steel tie wraps, Stainless steel zip tie, Cable ties stainless steel, radiator clamps, Metallic cable ties, Stainless steel cable zip ties, and heat-resistant cable ties.

Conclusion

Choosing the right stainless steel cable ties requires us to consider many aspects, such as raw materials, size, tensile strength, installation, cost, application scenarios, and brands. Each factor will affect the actual application. Through the introduction of this blog, you can clearly understand how to choose metal zip ties. Finally, I hope you can choose a satisfactory stainless steel cable tie.