Zip ties are great for securing a huge range of objects and with the vast array of lengths and widths they come in, there's usually a zip tie for any job you need no matter how large or small.
An issue usually arises when the object you have to secure has a bigger diameter than the maximum bundle diameter of the zip ties you have available. One creative way of getting round this is by linking one zip tie to another. This will provide the extra length you need. There are however a few issues with extending zip ties in this manner:
- The largest issue is the loss of strength of the zip ties. When you attach one zip tie to another, the ties lose a huge amount of their tensile strength. There have been no studies conducted to determine exactly what the tensile strength is reduced to — it would also depend heavily on how many zip ties are used and the sizes involved.
- Another issue is that they may become less secure where the heads of the zip ties are. The heads are the weakest points of the ties and they won't lie flat on several points depending on how many are tied together.
Other than these two points, the zip ties should still do the job required if they are connected to each other to make them longer.
How to Link Zip Ties to Each Other
It is a very simple process to join zip ties together — just insert the end of one of the ties into the head of another. Once this is done, repeat the process depending on how many zip ties you want to join together. Finally, insert the end of the original tie into the remaining unused head and tighten to secure in place, just like any other zip tie.
Remember: while this might be a great shortcut to completing a job more easily, it will dramatically reduce the advertised tensile strength of the zip ties, making them less useful for any heavier duty task.