Hot Rods Use of zip ties

Don’t shoot me just yet for starting a thread about zip ties...

I noticed quite a few cars at GNRS last week looked period correct except for their use of plastic zip ties on their wiring. It really bugged me so I looked into it. What we now refer as zip ties were invented in 1958 and the same company still sells them (Ty-rap invented by Maurus C. Logan of the Thomas and Betts company in Memphis, TN).

So how many of you use them on your cars?

‘Now pull the trigger or gently lower the hammer as you see fit.

 

They can make nice wire looms, they can however be used to excess.

 

I use them but sparingly. They can be handy to tidy up things like wiring, but are also somewhat of a temporary solution since they can get brittle and break over time. I also work for a construction equipment manufacturer and we use them with that same thought process on new equipment. The looks of them don't bother me much as long as they aren't overused. Interesting that they have been around since the late 50's. I wouldn't have guessed that.

 

I use them, I don't have the patience to use string/twine and make it look beautiful, so zip ties around the wiring and then electrical tape. HRP

 

And, I have done the exact same as scotty t above. A guy taught me that trick back when I was in high school.

 

Scotty t,
Very clever,,,,and they do the job,,,,keeping the wires apart to prevent arcing.
Good idea.

Tommy

 

Guilty, but I cover the whole mess with woven fabric split loom.

 

In auto class in the 70s one teacher didn't like them for ignition wires. He said people were so concerned with making wires parallel and pretty then having misfire from inductive pickup one wire next to another one.

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I cover the wire with fabric cover also.

It seams to me the zip ties have gotten brittle, you pull them tight and they break.

 

Heck yeah i use them. Use the white ones where they can't be seen, like under the dash, and the black ones under the hood, they kinda blend in.

 

I was actually wondering about this the last week. When I looked at my recently purchased vintage Allen Syncrograph (1948+), the wires were secured with what appears to be a simple string. What did they use on cars from that era and prior?

 

I carry a bundle of them in my car for emergency purposes, you know, in case the last ones I used for the last emergency, break also.

I believe that if you need to resort to looking for zip ties to find fault with my stuff, you really need to look into getting glasses. Its much easier to find incorrect things on my stuff then having to look that hard.

I do try to limit the number of zip ties on my stuff to around 100. There are too many things they just don't work for.

Smile! Spring is coming! Gene

 

I try not to use them on my old cars. Sometimes I will if they're not visible.

 

Cable lacing.



Once you get going, it’s pretty quick to do.



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years ago a guy that hung around my shop worked at a place that made those zip ties the cops use for handcuffs. He'd bring a couple big bundles over when he wanted to trade for some labor. Talk about overkill, you could use those things to hobble a rhino. Big problem was the color. Any color you wanted, as long as it was orange.

 

Zip ties, like every other hardware item, come in a wide variety of price ranges and materials. Yes, they are all 'plastic' but not all plastics are created equal.

Ray

 

I did a twine wrap on my head light wires that run down the frame rail but once I got under the dash for all the wiring I used zip ties, the only reason I did was that the inside of the car is so small I could not get into it to do a twine wrap. I told my self that I wasn't going to use them because I have a 1950 cut off date for the parts. I guess it's better than wires flopping around.

 

Have used them in power plants as soon as they let us stop wax string looming. Whites rot and break and black seem to last forever out of the light. I always turn them so the ty point is behind and not seen. Cutting them with dykes (side cutters for you PC guys) will cut you as they leave a sharp edge.

 

I grind the side cutters thin on a belt sander, and it makes "flush cutters", no sharp tabs.

 

Thanks for the vid. You learn something new everyday. I agree that the use of zip ties doesn't really look that great IMHO if over used. I think I'll try the lace method and some simple aluminum or steel "P" and buckle clips.

 

Perhaps I am just tired but I have not figured that out. Looks good.

Ben

 

You just use one that loops over all the wires, then put one between each plug wire looping it around the main one that sort of pulls it together and creates spacers to keep the wires apart. It takes four total zip ties to do what holds the four wires apart in scotty t’s example not including the two others where he is just retaining two wires.

 

I stole that idea from buddy who stole it from a buddy who..........

 

Oh yeah,,,,,the old R E O help tip.
Heard it from a friend,,,,who heard from a friend,,,,,,heard it from another.
LoL.
At least it works,,,,,and it’s a good tip .

Tommy

 

I have a zip tied holding my bundle of zip ties together.

 

I use them exclusively to keep my Zips bundled...

 

I wrote I use them very sparingly myself and hide them the best I can, (and it didn't post). I use black ones 3/16's wide.

 

Wouldn't take a road trip with out them !

 

I have always called them tie wraps; never zip ties. Is that an age thing or maybe a regional thing?

 

You posted it on the garage tips Larry