What's the shelf life for zip ties?

[mnev]

Seems like whatever I buy turns brittle before I get halfway through them.

I'm just DIYer but always busy puttering around the house, garage, and yard, so it's not uncommon for me to grab a zip tie to apply for long term use or to hold something till I cut it.

Done Home Depot, Loews, etc. Last batch was highly rated off Amazon and just went through over a dozen of them to find one that didn't snap, to hold something together that's going in the mail.

Are there "pro level" zip ties I can get that'll last? Or do they have a shelf life and just need to buy small quantities at a time?

Thanks

 

[Mattilac]

When I need/want nice zip-ties that won't get brittle, I buy polypropylene ones from McMaster-Carr.

Polypropylene > nylon

 

[swsman]

I keep mine stored in garage (out of sunlight), as needed they are put to use. Have not bought any in a long time...

 

[mreisner]

Soak them in water, that seems to help.

 

[PCustoms]

Stop buying junk no name or house brands

Make sure it has UV inhibitors (usually all the black ones do)

 

[ohhimark]

Usually buy US made ones from Epsteins, Parts Express, Cripes, etc and not experienced that. Also have a hand me down tube of zip ties from HF maybe 20 years ago that still work fine. Maybe the desert climate is to blame?

 

[jblnut]

I’ve been using PowerPhase zip ties for a loooooooong time and some of them have been doing their thing for easily 20yrs.

I agree with the “stop using cheap stuff” comments.

 

[RTM]

I have some, most bought at Ace or HD, and know the bag I'm working out of right now is 10+ years old. But as others said, maybe the climate, cuz here is really temperate.

I've left a bag of brightly colored ones out in the sun, and the color faded, but did not get brittle after almost a year.

Cheap ones from the Dollar Store might not last as long.

 

[seber]

Get good quality black only. Colored zip ties are guaranteed to fail.

 

[drmarkr]

If I have a few break on me when I try to install them, I buy a new bag and throw all of the one's that length out. I also buy in smaller quantities because I was throwing quite a few out, when I did.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

I’ve never had a zip tie fail on me. At work we get the cheapest bulk packs from the parts stores and at home it’s all Harbor Freight. I didn’t know there were people who spent big bucks on zip ties. Maybe it is climate related.

 

[Pinne]

The answer, as with almost all consumables, is to spend more money.

If you live in a very dry climate, which it looks like OP does, then the plastics dry out more quickly and the zip ties crack - if you're not using them quickly it's probably less expensive to buy better quality zip ties as you'll be able to use all of them (versus throwing out half a bag of cheap ones).

 

[mm08822]

Have have zip-ties from ~1980 and newer. Some were forgotten about sitting in the basement. Those were Panduit, ITT Holub and T&B. They are still decent to use today for wiring needs. I'm sure they would fail as a substitute for bailing wire.

Buy namebrand and check the specs first to be sure you are buying for the right usage.

Anything I use outside are only black UV rated.

 

[woody 73]

Mine live in my garage and that just kills them, super cold in the winter to boiling hot in the summer, plus all the rain and humidity is not good for them. Like others have said spend the big bucks for better made brands.

 

[Jim greengo]

I've used the white 8" ones from menards for 30 plus years, I buy the bags of 500 I think they are anyway.
Never have problems.

 

[nadogail]

My Zip Ties must be from another universe, some of them date from the middle '80s. The Harbor Freight ones seem to hold up as good as the name branded ones.

 

[mnev]

Every post: THANK YOU.

 

[Firebrick43]

The best zip ties are Thomas and Betts Nylon 12 Ty-rap

The strength and longevity are insane compared to most of the cheap ties. The lock tabs are stainless steel and not plastic.

Their regular tie is nylon 6/6 and still an excellent tie

UV stabilized and PP ties are available for out door full exposure use

 

[KnurledNut]

Stainless steel zip ties work much better than plastic in certain applications.

 

[bonneyman]

These are the brand that I bought for years when doing HVAC. Never had any problems with them. They have kinds of styles, lengths, color, UV resistant, etc.

Heavy-Duty Wire Ties

Heavy-Duty Wire Ties

www.jttproducts.com

 

[vssjim]

Buy only Thomas and Bett's they invented them and make the best

 

[alfadan]

We use Panduit Pan-Tys (lol ******* )

They are UV rated and last 20 years or so outside.

 

[scooby074]

Black TyRaps with the metal tab are the industry standard for ties that last. The price will bring tears to your eye. I keep cheap plastic tab for day to day and Tyraps for the good stuff

 

[ItwastheChad]

Stainless steel zip ties work much better than plastic in certain applications.

^ THIS They are strong and stay strong. Word of caution though is they can be super sharp on the sides so if you're gonna yank it tight wear gloves or use pliers.

 

[xjfish]

10-30 years. Quality defiantly varies, a lot.

 

[finn]

I have some Harbor Freight zip ties holding a steel mesh fence to the Javalina fence in the Tucson sun that are pretty brittle after two years. The ties still in the bag in the garage are still good.

The name brand ties last maybe five years. I get them at the Iola swap meet from the electrical supply vendors, Menards, or Home Depot.

 

[NHtoolguy]

The best zip ties are Thomas and Betts Nylon 12 Ty-rap

The strength and longevity are insane compared to most of the cheap ties. The lock tabs are stainless steel and not plastic.

Their regular tie is nylon 6/6 and still an excellent tie

UV stabilized and PP ties are available for out door full exposure use

I agree on the T&B recommendation. They have been the industry standard for many years.

 

[PCustoms]

I agree on the T&B recommendation. They have been the industry standard for many years.

Can I get those at HF?