The Zip Tie Story

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In this captivating journey through history, we explore the evolution of cable management and the birth of cable ties, a seemingly simple yet revolutionary invention. The narrative begins in the late 19th century when electrical advancements were transforming New York City. Enter Robert M. Thomas and Hobart D. Betts, Princeton University students turned entrepreneurs, who paved the way for the future of electrical infrastructure.
Fast forward to the 1950s, where Maurus C. Logan, a Scottish immigrant working with Thomas and Betts, witnessed the intricate process of cable lacing in Boeing aircraft manufacturing. Cable lacing, a century-old technique, involved using waxed linen cords to neatly secure cable bundles, primarily in telecommunications. Logan, determined to simplify this labor-intensive process, spent two years developing what would become the modern cable tie.
Logan's breakthrough came in 1958 with a patent submission for a nylon strap with an integrated oval aperture, designed to loop around cables and secure itself through friction. Despite initial indecisiveness on the latching mechanism, Logan's design marked the birth of the cable tie. Thomas and Betts further refined the design, leading to the iconic Ty-Rap cable tie, patented in 1962, with lateral locking grooves and an embedded steel locking barb for enhanced security.
The cable tie's success led to legal disputes, as its design closely resembled a British patent by Kurt Wrobel. Nevertheless, Thomas and Betts prevailed in the market, solidifying their claim as the inventors of the cable tie.
The Ty-Rap cable tie evolved into specialized versions, including heat-resistant and space-grade variants. Offshoot products like Ty-Met, made of stainless steel, and Ty-Fast, a nylon tie with an integrated ratchet barb, gained popularity globally, earning the colloquial name "zip ties" or "tie wraps."
Today, over 45 companies globally produce cable ties, with an estimated annual production of 100 billion units. Thomas and Betts, now ABB Installation Products, continue to be a key player in the cable tie market, with ongoing developments for niche applications.
Maurus Logan, the visionary behind the cable tie, dedicated his career to innovation, filing six patent applications and rising to the role of Vice President of Research and Development. His legacy lives on as cable ties have become an integral part of our modern world, found everywhere from the ocean floor to the surface of Mars, silently playing a crucial role in powering our information-driven world and beyond.
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[@NewMind]

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[@zebdeming]

Cable lacing is flat out beautiful, having grown up in the time of zip ties and wire loom, the first time seeing cable lacing inside of an late 20's tube radio, I was blown away at how elegant it was.

[@pilotavery]

I still cable lace all my installations. Mostly for vanity. Like driving a twin stick 21 speed just cause

[@professorg8383]

In the early days of automation using relay logic, large bundles of control cables fed back wired control relays built directly on to heavy slate control panels. The carefully trained wires contained within the hand laced bundles, were a work of art! I can remember admiring the craftsmanship that went into building these panels. Ofen dozens of these panel were interconnected together using these hand laced bundles. I could only imagine the hundreds of hours that went into laying out and drilling the slate boards and then installing through posts that made up the relay contacts, and then these slate boards were all hand wired from the back side with the wires eventually trained into these hand laced bundles, This stuff was built to last many decades! Some of these slate boards were 1-1/2 inches thick weighing hundreds of pounds. All of the edges were bevel ground and everything bolted to steel frames. Each panel would typically have a dozen or so relays built onto it. Most of those I dealt with wee 250 VDC control. Most I have seen were made either by General Electric or Westinghouse. They often had large polished brass nameplates adorning a set of panels. All these panels wee configured to control continuous process lines that wee a quarter mile or more in length from one end to the other. The automations was pretty simple in theory but immensely complex in construction. This was how they did it 75 years ago.

[@davidrobertson5700]

It is called cable stitching

[@pilotavery]

@@davidrobertson5700 stitching or lacing soda or pop eh

[@professorg8383]

@@pilotavery Knowing guys who used to actually do it, they called it lacing. Sometimes it's good to be old enough to have actually witnessed something others just talk about!

[@jay_321]

Cable lacing is still widely used in telecom. Fiber optic cables are often bundled with velcro straps because they are easy to undo and redo.

[@gtbkts]

Was gonna comment this.

[@PatrickPecoraro]

Zip ties are evil for repair technicians. Hook and loop for the win!

[@Chris_at_Home]

Cable lacing was the preferred method at the facilities I worked at for wiring and most FOC was run in split duct between racks. Usually us technicians used cable ties for a quick install but when the installation techs showed up and were adding multiple wires they would cut the cable ties and lace everything. With the number of cables on the back side of the equipment hook and loop would never work. We had about 800 satellite modems at the last place I worked and even had ladders on a rail to reach the top set.

[@normmcrae1140]

It's also widely used in Aircraft.

[@Chris_at_Home]

@@normmcrae1140 What’s funny is I worked on P-3 avionics and the plane used lacing and when I left the service I worked at EB and we used cable ties on submarines.

[@TheOtherBill]

The big downside of cable ties is untrained "techs" improperly trimming them by leaving the cut ends exposed. Long retired now but I still have scars on my hand and arm from the jagged cuts they cause when not properly trimmed, especially in tight spaces.

[@HansLiu23]

I remember working in a blind area and getting my hands shredded.

[@rm3141593]

I HATE when people think they are doing a great job when they crappaly use side cutters to trim the ends. Better off left untrimmed.

[@dexecuter18]

@@rm3141593 especially in places where no one but the one tech a decade will ever see the ties.

[@stevebabiak6997]

There is a hand tool (and probably a powered tool) that is used to both tighten and trim off the excess all in a single pull of the tool’s trigger (although longer cable ties might need multiple trigger pulls to tighten really long cable ties). That tool solved multiple “problems”: tightening, proper tensioning when tight, trimming excess, and leaving the cut end such that it wouldn’t slice your skin. Really the only tool to use, but techs always have their diagonal cutters in hand, so the “dikes” get used to cut cable ties after hand tightening.

[@TheOtherBill]

@@stevebabiak6997 They're not cheap and many companies won't spring for the cost. Techs who provide their own tools definitely won't.

[@georgemccune2923]

Let us not overlook the ability of a mere clipping of a zip tie carelessly discarded on the floor to render a creeper and an engine hoist completely immobile.

[@revolutionaryhamburger]

I am a simple man of twisted wires so, over the decades, I have sat for hours admiring the wondrous mechanics of the toothed plastic zip tie. I never thought to look into it's mysterious past. I always assumed zip ties were perfect and of such heavenly design they must have been there at the Creation of the Earth.

[@thebravesirrobin.]

"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth and the zip tie."

[@garrettgarcia2592]

Something so elegant and beautiful could only be created by humankind

[@davidinwashington]

The only problem with the standard zip-tie is the inability to open the latch so the tie can be released and reused. Otherwise, it's a pretty damn good design.

[@thardyryll]

@@davidinwashingtonI will admit to clipping an installed tie just behind the locking head and repointing the tie end so it can be reused. Of course, that only works with a tie that is fairly long. And yes, someone watching could say, “You just saved two cents. Are you happy now?”

[@davidinwashington]

@@thardyryll waste not, want not. 😀

[@Seelingfahne]

Having used almost every brand of ziptie, Thomas & Betts is still the best out there.

[@joseph_b319]

I work in the cable tv industry. Zip-ties hold a special place in all our hearts.

[@canoaslan1011]

People are definitely into different things, I like different spray can caps.

[@darksu6947]

​@@canoaslan1011I like hatchets 😂

[@canoaslan1011]

@@darksu6947 deadset. If you donbt have a gun which is a completely different category im into. And you dont have access to compressed air. Different caps are your only.chnace for a different pattern and fan shape :) and depending on job these have to change. If you spray everyjob. With the same.cap. at different temps and speeds etc. Your always going to fail.

[@NewMind]

@canoaslan1011 This is a very New Mind comment, love it.

[@1.4142]

This video ties everything together

[@Soupy_loopy]

They don't get it...

[@mrflamewars]

🥁 *rimshot*

[@andersjjensen]

Get out! :P

[@NewMind]

When does your Netflix special drop?

[@hitchmille]

🤣 I've only just now seen your comment, it might be better next time if you send me a cable.

[@billmullins6833]

As a USAF electrics installer I mastered what we call "sewing" cables together using lacing twine. I spent many hours sewing cable bundles together. I also welcomed the coming (to us) of zip ties. Not only were they easier to use, but you could sew a form MUCH faster using zip ties. The damage to my pinky fingers aside, I found sewing cable together with lacing twine to be almost meditative. It was very zen. I got so proficient I could sew forms twice as fast as my co-workers.

[@Nevir202]

How do you sew using zip ties? Some process using them plus twine to maintain spacing? Or were you just using the same term, even though zip ties are single point instead of continuous?

[@billmullins6833]

@@Nevir202It is not "sewing" In the traditional sense but we still referred to it as "sewing forms". (Even sewing with lacing twine isn't sewing in the traditional sense. That's just what I was taught to call the activity.) When we switched over to cable ties from lacing twine we did things differently than before. You can still make a very neat, functional cable bundle using zip ties.We even had a tool that could tension the ties uniformly and cut them off at the ratchet. For attaching cables to a solid surface we used a device that let us run the zip tie through it that we called "portable holes".

[@Nevir202]

@@billmullins6833 Thanks for the info!

[@vonBeurling]

In my work as a avionics system technician, cable tie are mostly prohibited. Single spot "wax" string tie are the only ones that meet airworthiness requirements. In some cases, lacing is allowed such as in conduits. Cable ties are only allowed where FOD is less a concern or where space is too limited to use spot ties. As for my DIY stuff, cable ties all the way :)

[@billparker8954]

I worked avionics on RCAF CP-140, Sea King and Hercules. All laces there too. Cable ties were a fantasy. Oddly, I can't quite remember how to tie it after about 5 years off the job.

[@Miata822]

What a wonderful piece of historical research. Retired now, I spent a career designing things, from simple to the complex. This video illustrates the process of invention and product development that is often neglected. Young minds are often exposed to invention as a "TA-DA 💡Eureka" moment, where in reality such simple devices as wire ties emerge over time when people are able to access their accumulated knowledge as a starting point for the creative process. I have met many young engineers who are too quick in reaching for a "close enough" catalog solution without considering whether there is a better way than "that's how we always did it" as Logan did. Sometimes stepping back and looking at the bigger picture can change a whole industry.

[@dittilio]

The cable lacing stitch (chain stitch, linked hitches etc) are also incredibly helpful ways of pulling cable through conduit, especially as it bundles up the tip to make guiding it super easy.

[@iteerrex8166]

So much we take for granted. Even the simplest of things today, has a long story usually. The invention of nylon and injection molding that made the invention of the zip tie possible, has a history of themselves. Lol so cool 👍

[@kaptainkaos1202]

I am an EWIS SME, Electrical Wiring Interconnect System Subject Matter Expert for the USN, USMC and some USAF aerospace platforms. I’m the wiring expert for aircraft basically. With VERY FEW exceptions zip ties are verboten. There’s a few reasons for them being forbidden which include damage to wire bundles, specifically COAX, FOD from UV degradation and improper installation. Without the prescribed installation took technicians frequently just pull the wrap until it’s over tightened which leads to insulation damage. In the case of COAX not only does the insulation get damaged but can lead to compression thereby changing the electrical characteristics such as impedance. A huge concern is FOD, Foreign Object Damage, from UV degraded nylon wraps. When exposed to UV they become brittle and when bumped pieces get flung. On a commercial aircraft while the resultant FOD is an issue it’s not even close to the issues of high G loading, inverted flight and mind jarring arrest meant aboard ship. Lastly the pain and wounds one feels when bumping against the end of a wrap that the last technician cut at a 45 degree angle. I have a faint white scar about 4” long on the inside on my right arm from an improperly clipped wrap cut when I had gotten shocked while troubleshooting and jerked my arm back hard. Unfortunately the new P-8 Poseidon has zip ties thru out the aircraft from Boeing. It’s a commercial derivative aircraft so we had to accept it with wraps already installed but I’m hearing from colleagues the wraps are already degrading and becoming FOD. Thanks for an informative video!

[@DMSparky]

I have used well over 10000 t&b ty-rap cable ties in my career as an electrician. They still make the best quality cable ties that I have used. Although I will say zip ties have almost no place in a datacenter. Speaking as an electrician who works in datacenters. Velcro for data, and ideally busway for power.

[@BinaryBlueBull]

Datacenter infrastructure engineer here. Yup, that's precisely how it's done in our datacenter as well. Making sure cable management is done well and according to the specific function of the cables and the environment they're in, saves so much time and frustration when there's an issue and you have to figure it out and repair it. The frustration of having to figure out a spaghetti mess of cabling while under immense pressure because there's an issue causing downtime, is really grinding. It's always such a relief when I start working at a new company (I'm a datacenter consultant) and a professional such as yourself has taken care and professional pride to do the cabling properly, orderly and to spec. I always make sure to thank them if the people that cabled everything properly are still working there

[@sirBrouwer]

I do see them use the zip ties to sart with and after having the cables bundelt well. then replace those ties with Velcro or in some cases rubber bands. The zip ties are easier to apply with one hand. and will let you then replace the Velcro very neatly.

[@chrisdsanders]

I agree fully with the use of Velcro cable ties for networking. As a former industrial electrician, I have used my fare share of zip ties when working in electrical panels or when BUILDING said panels. Zip ties and panduit make a panel look SO GOOD. I've seen people refer to some networking pictures as "Cable Porn" but if you've ever worked in the industrial space and seen a large panel or multiple cabinets built out, it looks SO DAMN SEXY!!

[@thebravesirrobin.]

Velcro is very underrated for cable management.

[@namAehT]

Agreed, unless it's a finished product/machine you should definitely use velcro ties instead.

[@tommunyon2874]

My first encounter with cable ties was when I was assigned to work on a prototype system in the mid-1970s. We had more of an open purchasing policy, and could get more of the 'nice-to-have' items for our shop. Lacing was less expensive, but more time consuming. I learned to use a jeweler's screwdriver to release the ties, so they didn't need to be cut off.

[@CruelViper88]

10:40 in Datacenters...We are actually slowly removing those things from our datacenters. Because in a datacenters those bundle of wires often need to opened because of new traces or removing. Constantly cutting and adding new zip-ties is just wasteful, and annoying....and those cut ends can be sharp and cut/scratch you up. We are replacing them with strips of Velcro. We only use Zip-ties for 'permanent' cables, the ones that replacing/fixing/change has the lowest odds of ever happening.

[@Rob2]

I wanted to comment the same! For dynamically changing cabling we only use velcro, ty-raps are only for things like power wiring that remains in place at all times.

[@presidentpoopypants1448]

My wife does electronic assembly (as do I) for a living. She is Cambodian, so instead of calling them Ti-Wraps (Thai Wraps). I like to call them Cambodian Wraps to tease her :)

[@mrflamewars]

Zip ties are a critical part of the "it moves and it shouldn't" repair triad - That being Zip Ties, Duct Tape, and Wire Coathangers. When I worked at FedEx years ago the ramp agents used zip ties to attach the paperwork to the ULD containers / "Cans" that were loaded on to the planes.

[@creid7537]

That repair triad is also the essential kit for kidnapping.

[@Flyby-1000]

I'm very familiar with Tie Straps / Ty-Rap / zip ties. There are the most common wire bundle organization used in the aviation industry. I know how to do the knots for the lacing tape, but like mentioned, after a short while, your hands get really sore from securing the ties properly. I have thousands of multiple sizes zip ties in my garage from system modification kits for the Airbus A320 aircraft. The kits had so much extra for the projects.... My Grandmother, who turns 100 in Aug of this year ('24), lives in Seabrook Villages. When we go to celebrate her 100th, I'm going to ask her if she by chance knew Morris Logan. The only thing I need to know is if my G'parents moved to Seabrook before he passed...That Seabrook Village place is actually pretty neat for a self sustained retirement community. I found out on my mothers side that my great G'pa was Edison's plumber...lol

[@TracksideViews]

A zip-tie can stop a pallet jack dead in its tracks

[@ineptwizzard]

Almost anything can stop one of those fuckers.

[@nathanguyon7620]

Half of my life is held together with zip ties. The other half is a combination of bailing wire and stainless aircraft wire. Everything else is details.

[@JoeStrohmeyer]

Thanks for your effort. I never knew they were the first til now but knew Thomas & Betts were the best since the 80s. Aside from the steel insert and phenomenal holding power, there are no and I mean ZERO sharp edges on them....until they are cut wrong.

[@914Mike]

Not one mention of the greatest advancement since the original? Referring to the releasable variety that let's the tie be taken off and re-used. Installers call them Temp Ties, they usually have a contrasting color so the techs can recognize them. Nice to be able to open them to add cables then zip 'em up again.

[@jasonjohnson1690]

That was really interesting. Great topic, nice production. Thanks.

[@TahoeRealm]

I have a couple spools of the waxed string/cord used for lacing the big telecom switches produced at GTE's Northlake facility near Chicago. My father-in-law ran all the clean room air filtering, heating, and air conditioning for the huge plant. High quality, strong, very handy- I think of him every time I use it.

[@deerfish3000]

Used to work in the AT&T building in downtown Detroit as a cable installer. Some of the old cable runs used the old twine sewing method... they were like perfectly bundled works of art!

[@rickoneill4343]

Thank you for your hard work producing this.

[@HelloKittyFanMan]

Hmm, this was more interesting than I really thought it would be! And here we are, watching a video that's likely coming to us, before meeting any wireless lengths of the internet, over cables that are bundled by a countless number of these ties right now!

[@robestey5628]

Very neat history. Thank you.

[@garbo8962]

Retired industrial electrician and can state the best in class cable ties or what we call ty rabs are made by Thomas & Betts hands down. Just hope nogoodnic ABB that bought them out don't ruin or reduce their quality. Back in the early 1970's they always sent out a salesmen with free samples & latest catalog. T & B also make the best in class sta kon wire connectors. Still have my T & B think its a #WM100 wire crimper with a wire cutter that my company gave me 40 years ago. Have a couple of the orange colored T & B ty ran cutters but if I only have a few to install use my linesman pliers to twist ( & not cut a sharp edge ! ) tail of ty Rapp to supply a dull edge.

[@chefchaudard3580]

I learned cable lacing at school… and never used it in my professional life. Cable ties started to replace cable lacing even in professional designs at that time.😊

[@organfairy]

The same here. I learned cable lacing as late as 1992 and the teachers at technical school was like "cable ties are just a fad, it will never catch on." So they taugh lacing with wax thread instead.

[@the_hate_inside1085]

I worked at a medical industrial company making machines that sort proteins. I assembled the medical instruments, and we would build a cable stem around the pneumatic line, adding more, and more cables to it as we attached more components. For each new cable, we would add new cable ties, and remove the old ones. In the end for each instrument we had a massive pile of cut cable ties lying on the floor. I used to have a pouch of cable ties on my person at all times. I can still find them in my car...

[@zoobie2000]

Great video thanks

[@diraziz396]

Great Story. Thanks Logan

[@GlenGlenervo]

you should include a watermark on Ai generated images so they aren't confused as real sources or documentation

[@qzorn4440]

The reusable cables zip ties are practical. 🥳 Thank you.

[@65gtotrips]

As just one off the top example of the my various uses of Ty-Wraps is using one 24” or several shorter ones to hold my brake calipers up out of the way when performing brake service. - I’ve used them for just about anything where I need a temporary or permanent hold of an object.

[@EthanLaek]

Background music is distracting and implies emotion not mirrored in this really awesome and well-edited piece

[@TahoeRealm]

Agree. This isn't a fast food restaurant.

[@thenextension9160]

Great video thank you

[@Dr.K.Wette_BE]

Where I work, we still use lacing to tie cables meant for aero/astronautic. Because it allows the wires to slide along each other, while zip ties block them, creating stress, tension and wear.

[@FirstLast-vr7es]

I incorporate wire lacing into my designs whenever possible. I absolutely love the way it looks, and it is very effective. I saw it used in a backup satellite on display at the Tellus Science museum and fell in love.

[@donperegrine922]

Apart from aesthetics, what advantage is there? I see that NASA also does it, so I am real curious. I've never even heard of it, but I don't work in manufacturing

[@FirstLast-vr7es]

None really in my case. I just like the way it looks. And most all of my stuff is vacuum tube-based, so it fits the overall look of the circuit. It could be a weight and bulk thing with regard to spacecraft though. @@donperegrine922

[@unknownhours]

​@@donperegrine922 It's low profile, doesn't leave sharp edges, has better vibration resistance and won't bite into the wires like cable ties do.

[@andersjjensen]

@@donperegrine922 Everywhere in a car where you see cable-bundle sheeting (that isn't the of the heat management variety) lacing would be the superior option, as it weighs less and allows for tighter control over how the bundle naturally want to sit, while also putting less tension on the wires. But it's something we still can't make robots do, so zip ties, sheeting and electrical tape it is, as that is faster in man-hours.

[@george9615]

Mixing historical and AI images together?!

[@shiddy.]

I still have 2 oscilloscopes and a couple other smaller instruments with original, beautiful wire lacing inside - they really cared about how their work looked, it's artistic and I love seeing it every time I need to open one up

[@ebaystars]

great storey thanks

[@ianphillips2443]

I love the way cable lacing looks, and did a lot for GCHQ in my early 20's, our inspector used to hold the looms up in the centre, if they sagged by more than an inch, we had to do it again! I remember the cut fingers too, skin soon toughened up tho. Cable ties are great, so quick and easy, especially with the correct Ty Rap tool, I use them all the time in my job as a maintenance engineer. I still think for sexy looms, it has to be lacing! 😍

[@RandallSoong-pp7ih]

Thank you!

[@ajosefrancos6694]

As a former Sr Design Engineer for Ty-Rap (ABB) I can confirm the facts on this video, are spot on. Just some minor corrections. The tie that NASA buys is not PA based is FluroPolymer. Also the F&B tie is so popular because a proprietary detectable and antimicrobial material.

[@StephenRansom47]

Bravo … 👏 These little inventions are the best observation points for see the Historical Moment when innovation finds a home in a single idea. When Fate & Destiny shake hands and get to work. 🙏

[@jackaffeldt6799]

Nice video man

[@seadogharris2102]

Fascinating

[@blaster-zy7xx]

I love that I can get a pack of them in various sizes at the dollar store.

[@robbiemer8178]

Zip ties are handy things but this video has me wanting to learn some basic cable lacing and using that for cable mgmt in my next pc build. Not for any practical reason but just because of how it looks.

[@andygozzo72]

nice, i have a box of 3.2mm T&B tywraps , with the metal locking piece, most others use an integrated nylon locking tab and coarse ratchet moulding,

[@t0mn8r35]

Very interesting video.

[@code3responsevideos872]

About 10 years ago, roughly I came across several T&B tie wraps in a dumpster. My life was forever changed. I have not nor will I ever buy zip ties from my local big box store again. Do yourself a favor out there and get some of the original T&B Tie wraps they are life-changing.

[@sergiorestrepo6657]

Thank you

[@zenkoz3158]

This just happened to hit my feed as my plant was having new equipment installed. Inside the cabinets I noticed the product being used to route the wiring was "Ty-Duct by Thomas and Betts". You can imagine my excitement and intrigue when I heard this being the beginning of the story for zip ties as well 😅

[@marty639]

How can a wire be bigger than outer space itself? You sound crazy

[@zenkoz3158]

@@marty639 wrong comment brother, said nothing of the sort.

[@bertjesklotepino]

Hmm, you say certain zip ties have been manufactured in such a way to be capable of enduring the intense radiation and vacuum in space. As for the vacuum bit, i dont think you need to make big adjustments to the design. But how would they make sure such zip ties are able to endure the intense radiation in space? And, which radiation in space? Where do we find such intense radiation? How intense are we talking about if i may ask? Btw, where can i find such information about that radiation?

[@karlschuneman7960]

Catgut was used long ago to group cables together and Hamburger hands still exist today when flush cutters are not used to remove unwanted cable tie lengths the cut end is sharp and will cut you.

[@40cleco]

Lacing still used in aerospace today...along with ty-wraps.

[@VictorLaMonde]

And lets not forget how law enforcement has grown to love cable ties. For some people, their first experience of zip ties is having them clamped around their wrists.

[@professorg8383]

One of the coolest things is learning how to break these! It hurts, but it works amazingly quick.

[@chris24hdez]

i'm trying to find the name of the type of bread-bag tie used in the 80's with the serrations on the side of a very flexible flat strap, like a soft sawtooth blade and was very easy to undo.

[@DrorF]

This was an interesting historical review of an item most people wouldn't realy care about. I like to learn about this kind of things. That said, it was rather dry and uninspiring, in my opinion. Though, I'm glad I learned some interesting facts here.

[@Goalsplus]

Excellently composed video.

[@RodrigoRodriguezowl]

i have worked the past couple years as a HVAC technician and just last week i was making an instalaltion and using zipties for some cable managment, never came to ming how big their impact has been in everything

[@naps1saps]

Remember my grandpa telling me about making wire jigs at Boeing.

[@riley8839]

Aliens will visit mars, find cut off zip ties and automatically assume electricians were there before they were

[@dickslocum]

Cable lace was a week of training when I went thru USAF Avionics Maintenance Tech school in 1969. I came in contact with mu first Zip Ties in the USAF at DaNang RVN in 1970.

[@prolarka]

Velcro and releasable zip ties are the best.

[@jeffrey1312]

For wire bundles that might have to be opened again split braided-wire-loom is a better option. There are lots of options, it works well enough and is easy to install and remove.

[@wd9ekv]

No mention of Panduit in this presentation? I think the engineers at Panduit would really have an issue with some of the "history" of this story. It would have been interesting to hear about how Panduit became the largest cable tie manufacturer in the US (and the legal actions between T&B and Panduit over the patents).

[@gavendb]

thomas and betts. nice to know where the name came from. ive used their tools and supplies for decades.

[@I_Dont_Answer_Questions]

Right... nobody would have ever thought it was two guys names. Man wait until you hear about Hewlett Packard, Ben & Jerry's, Dave & Busters...

[@gavendb]

​@@I_Dont_Answer_Questions ​ well no shit. what is meant in this is the actual origin of the two people. I bet you are fun a parties and lots of people like you.

[@miinyoo]

Does that half light year estimation include the wiring inside integrated circuits? I'd be keen to know what percentage of all wiring ever developed is comprised of the tiny sub micron size wires which make computing possible.

[@JoeMagillacutty]

I used to work at Thomas & Betts south of Memphis in Southaven, MS

[@leephil100]

I worked in manufacturing in the early 70s as a manufacturing engineer. I was always amazed at the speed of line workers who could lace a cable harness very quickly and perfectly. They were very skilled. We had cable ties but were not allowed to used then for aviation as the early cable ties would cut into the wires over time because of all the vibration in aircraft.

[@antoy384]

What did you use in aviation then?

[@leephil100]

It was a wax covered cord and was installed in a lockstitch

[@redcat9436]

Cessna uses the wraps. They don't cause any chafing.

[@corneliusvanbreukelen4753]

Cable ties are called in the Netherlands Ty-rap. I know these sinds the 1978 working on off-shore oil rigs. Before sinds the late 6”60s we used Consol cable ties. stil available at Le Grand. This was a more strechable tie cam with a special tool. I still has the tool and som ties from the ‘60s in my electrical tool en material cabinet.

[@izalman]

Used to go to the Hellerman Insuloid factory where they made nylon cable ties. The recycle scrap skip was full of sheets of ties mis moulded during machine set up / die change over. Didn't buy a cable tie for 20 years...

[@ExcavationNation]

You know what would have added to the wow factor of the amount of cable. "To put that into perspective if you would have got on the space shuttle traveling at its full speed of 5 miles per second it would take you 18,600 years to travel the distance of all the wires produced"

[@HurricaneHeather]

The Ty-rap name became the equivalent to Kleenex. We rarely referred to cable zip ties as such; it was always ty-raps. Must have used a million of those things in 30 years as a telecom field tech.

[@tiagoferreira086]

These zip ties were truly a game changer in almost every industry and even in our daily lives without question.

[@Sam-hj5ok]

I'm doing some research on this topic for my project and I'm looking for the sources you used for this video. Any way you could help me out?

[@knutzzl]

We (myself included) still use lacing to ty the coils of electric motors and sensors onto them. Coting the lot in resin (or paint primer) to permanently secure the knots

[@DestinysComputer]

I work on aircraft harnesses and use cable lacing all the time. I put tape on my fingers to protect them from blistering.

[@Rob_Mike_Litterst]

like all your videos, seconds into it suffices to reel me in with no click bait or ads. Keep up with free and educational quality content online 🙏 You make the net better

[@NewMind]

I appreciate that!

[@andrewradford3953]

I've used most of these in the solar industry. Mainly stainless and UV stabilised. I've come across tens of thousands in green waste from gardens which I use to make compost on my farm. They are in the majority of the plastics that are included in garden waste that shouldn't be there in the first place, when hemp twine/jute would do the same job.

[@herculesrockefeller8969]

Wonderfully elegant solution, like Velcro, to so many problems. Thanks, New Mind!

[@roselima1741]

You failed to mention a critical use as a improvised belt or waistband extender.

[@reallyfurious]

I keep a few reusable Zip Ties in my pack. They're incredibly handy for a plethora of uses...

[@Consequator]

plastic tie wrap on cables that are subject to movement and are not be solidly locked in place will slowly end up cutting into the wires they are wrapped around.

[@DrorF]

I always thought these were invented to ease securing things together, like, securing one thing to another, with all kinds of items (like I've been using it in my home for various installation, maintenance, repair and electrical jobs). When I watched videos about cable-managing PCs and saw that people use zip ties for tying cables together (as pretty much an exclusive option) I thought it was kinda strange at first, sort of like a hack, a kind of improvisation that just works and saves effort, and I always thought there must be a more "appropriate" way. It's very interesting for me to learn that this was actually _the_ original intended operation for this product.

[@akhilaryappatt7209]

now I'm interested in cable lacing

[@paulwatson6013]

Just wish the buggers would put more different colors in many of the wiring bundles I have had to deal with. Hard to find ties with mounting hole in my part of the world these days. Recon they are the way to go.

[@boblordylordyhowie]

Maurus was born in Dalmuir, pronounced Dal-myour. I used cable ties since they were available and on some jobs have consumed 500000, using them to keep cables roughly in place before removing them and cable tying them properly and neatly.

[@Kinann]

Where did you get the half a LY figure for the length total of all wire on earth? I'm having a hard time finding it.

[@michaelwebber4033]

I can buy Thomas and Betts cable ties here in New Zealand. Depending on what I'm doing I'll sometimes buy them and I have used the stainless ones before

[@scottkasper6378]

i didnt expect the guy to have died in basically my back yard

[@flinkiklug6666]

where you have the Clip 3:33 and further? You have it linked in the dodelydo but I would like to see the name of the Chanel directly in the corner of the Video.

[@whoeveriam0iam14222]

I hope Brilliant soon adds a way to pay without a credit card because the intro I got was very interesting but I have no payment method that they accept I forgot that these things were originally intended to strap cables together instead of literally everything that has come loose. they're like strips of duct tape