Cable ties: a strange warning notice

[Steerpike]

I bought a bag of 100 cable ties; the usual black plastic ones with a kind of serrated surface on one side, that slides through a little rectangular window on the end, which has a one-way ratchet in it, so you can tighten the tie but not slacken it.

Now the weird part... the very ordinary plastic bag they come in is printed with a description (so its not the wrong bag) and a warning "Do not open before use!"

I want to know why! What happens if I open the bag now to use one, and only use the last one in one or two years time?

[audio-kraut]

That's easy - like pickles, they gonna go bad when opened and left to the oxidizing air.

Tseesh, some people just don't know anything.

PS - the actual reason: everything influences sound, so using cable ties that are not fresh out of the bag will influence the quantum behaviour of the metallic atom electron cloud in unpredictable and sound disturbing ways.

Just ask anybody with experience.

[mpmarino]

No mention of refrigeration?

[Steerpike]

the actual reason: everything influences sound, so using cable ties that are not fresh out of the bag will influence the quantum behaviour of the metallic atom electron cloud in unpredictable and sound disturbing ways.

I actually bough then to tie up the tv antenna co-ax. Being PAL it's much less fussy about quantum vibrations than NTSC.

You people up north might think I'm joking, but...

In Johannesburg, a major use of cable ties is to attach your hubcaps to the wheel rims, so they don't get stolen when you wait too long at a stop sign.

Use number 2: the police use the big ones instead of handcuffs.

[zigzagflux]

If they are made of nylon, they will dry out, become brittle, and lose their strength when being applied. It's the installation that places the most stress on them; once tied down and static, not a lot of additional strength is necessary to hold its bundle in place.

You can place a bunch of them in a zip lock bag and add a bit of water to rehydrate them in a few days.

http://www.cordscanada.com/catalogue/breakouts/161.pdf

[Steerpike]

Well I'll be jiggered! Thanks for that enlightenment.
I figured that they'd be ageless if kept cool and out of UV light.

[Geek]

Maybe the can of tennis balls the company also makes has a "UV Resistant" label on them and the labelling dept. was in a mischevious mood

I've never heard of this. My ties don't have such a warning. Perhaps the UV resistance chemical they used is damaged by air?

Cheers!

[audio-kraut]

If they are made of nylon, they will dry out,

Nylons brittleness and strength are different parameters, connect as an opposite.
Yes, you can decrease brittleness in nylon - to the detriment of its strength.
It ain's that easy.

This is the reason that most nylon materials have two data sheets—one for dry material and one for conditioned polymer. The strength and stiffness of the conditioned material is substantially lower, but the impact properties are significantly improved. If we take the time to measure some dimensions on a molded nylon part before and after moisture conditioning, we will also notice that the conditioned part is larger. This is a direct result of the water forcing its way between the nylon chains and pushing them farther apart than they would be in a dry

http://www.ides.com/articles/design/2007/sepe_05.asp

When you check further, you will find that UV and oxidization - depending on ambient temperature - effect the weathering of nylon.

[zigzagflux]

Originally posted by Geek
I've never heard of this. My ties don't have such a warning. Perhaps the UV resistance chemical they used is damaged by air?

I believe moisture and UV resistance are two different issues. The natural milky white nylon color is not specifically designed for UV resistance. The black colored ties are. They both are affected by loss of moisture, however.