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"Do regular humans actually buy zip-ties? Have you ever bought a zip-tie? If so, what did you use it (Original Post) Demovictory9 Jan 2021 OP
I have 6 or 7 difference sizes on my workbench right now. DURHAM D Jan 2021 #1
YouTube's ProjectFarm compared the top selling ones, both after 1 year UV exposure and Indoor Use. TheBlackAdder Jan 2021 #87
I bought zip ties to anchor a 3-tier shelf to a doorknob to keep the cats from tipping it catbyte Jan 2021 #2
Your cats chew electrical cords? PatSeg Jan 2021 #75
Once in a while. They're better now that they're adults. It got to the point with Otis that I catbyte Jan 2021 #80
Oh, I suppose PatSeg Jan 2021 #82
I have a cord chewer kcr Jan 2021 #99
Really? PatSeg Jan 2021 #101
Yes, I have bought zip ties as a separate item. TexasTowelie Jan 2021 #3
Use them all the time. 101 uses. Doodley Jan 2021 #4
Yabbut zipplewrath Jan 2021 #5
Yes Wawannabe Jan 2021 #6
They come with some large, construction-size, garbage bags, and... AmyStrange Jan 2021 #7
They come with PC power supplies and they're actually quite useful! Initech Jan 2021 #90
Tiny ones for tying up climbing rose bushes to a frame. fierywoman Jan 2021 #8
Zip ties. Gorilla glue. Duck tape KentuckyWoman Jan 2021 #9
All true, says this old lady. nt Hekate Jan 2021 #19
True dat sez this old guy. yonder Jan 2021 #25
Plus the Flex Seal line of products. n/t trackfan Jan 2021 #86
Guilty, I use them all the time for many of the aforementioned uses... wcmagumba Jan 2021 #10
Second only to duct tape for temporarily attaching shit to other shit. BusyBeingBest Jan 2021 #11
Yes. Niagara Jan 2021 #12
There are a bunch in the garage Retrograde Jan 2021 #13
They work well with keeping the 100 some cables you have in the back of your entertainment Doreen Jan 2021 #14
Halloween decorations lame54 Jan 2021 #15
Flex Cuffs are special type of zip tie LeftInTX Jan 2021 #16
I use them for zip tieing, naturally. n/t PoliticAverse Jan 2021 #17
Little ones for cords and such. Nothing at all big enough for handcuffs or around the body. Hekate Jan 2021 #18
I buy zip ties all the time. Caliman73 Jan 2021 #20
Those people didn't have regular zip ties. Bleacher Creature Jan 2021 #21
Cable management, Holding car parts in place in lieu of mechanics wire, wood joinery with glue. TheBlackAdder Jan 2021 #22
I've bought and used thousands of zip ties Mariana Jan 2021 #23
holding a string of lights to the patio railing n/t orleans Jan 2021 #24
Cable management. roamer65 Jan 2021 #26
I zip-tied a license plate on the car once. Budi Jan 2021 #27
Must've been a heck of a long zip tie. NT raccoon Jan 2021 #38
Lol.. haaahaa.. they said, "The plate must be visible". That's it. Budi Jan 2021 #79
Maybe I should do that. Somebody stole my license plate at the end of December. raccoon Jan 2021 #83
No i actually zipped it on the front where the plate goes, cuz the place that wrapped my vehicle ... Budi Jan 2021 #84
Tens of thousands back in the day. Quite expensive when they first came out. KY_EnviroGuy Jan 2021 #28
This message was self-deleted by its author geralmar Jan 2021 #29
Much like duct tape, 2 part epoxy and my sewing kit they sort of ... WePurrsevere Jan 2021 #30
They sure do hold the universe together, along with epoxy, duct tape & sweing kit SheltieLover Jan 2021 #34
Yeah, I'd heard they were actually flex cuffs... WePurrsevere Jan 2021 #46
Sometimes useful as camping gear for tying things down left-of-center2012 Jan 2021 #31
These aren't zip ties. They're Flex Cuffs. You can't buy these at Home Depot. SunSeeker Jan 2021 #32
Did you see that pix of "stolen" police backpack full of flex cutfs? SheltieLover Jan 2021 #35
Would have been helpful for the cops to have had that backpack at the barricades. SunSeeker Jan 2021 #57
At the least! SheltieLover Jan 2021 #58
You can't buy flex cuffs at Home Depot but WePurrsevere Jan 2021 #48
Creative uses: Actually, had to buy more to secure flexible orange plastic fencing Backseat Driver Jan 2021 #33
Ducklings are escape artists. Bantamfancier Jan 2021 #72
Oh; come on... EarthFirst Jan 2021 #36
Flex cuffs aren't zip ties. Straw Man Jan 2021 #37
I didn't even know of the existence of zip-ties or flex-cuffs until a few smirkymonkey Jan 2021 #39
I use them to hang my Christmas lights every year. Works great! cbdo2007 Jan 2021 #40
If you do a little Googling, you'll find there is a brisk business in handcuffs... Klaralven Jan 2021 #41
Just remember your safe word! FSogol Jan 2021 #62
Yes, they're useful in various sizes for lots of things, but they are NOT Denzil_DC Jan 2021 #42
This was inadvertantly amusingly elitist Sympthsical Jan 2021 #43
They had flexi cuffs, not zip ties obamanut2012 Jan 2021 #44
All the time. Just took some out of my coat pocket this morning fescuerescue Jan 2021 #45
I have packets of them in all my tool areas, drawers, Christmas box, everywhere. cwydro Jan 2021 #47
I buy cable ties all the time. They're quite useful. Goodheart Jan 2021 #49
Works great for Tazing. Kid Berwyn Jan 2021 #50
Most recently used them to help secure the cargo basket on the front of my bicycle. Roisin Ni Fiachra Jan 2021 #51
ID bands for our birds. Bantamfancier Jan 2021 #52
Zip-ties? Yes. Very useful. Speed-cuffs? Fuck no. apnu Jan 2021 #53
No, they are marketed to aliens. bluedigger Jan 2021 #54
The correct wort you are looking for is Flex Cuffs mercuryblues Jan 2021 #55
Cam a really strong person break out of those? Polybius Jan 2021 #74
As Others Have Mentioned... ProfessorGAC Jan 2021 #56
I have a bag of 500 of them in different sizes. MineralMan Jan 2021 #59
I bet you don't carry them into the Capitol. BainsBane Jan 2021 #85
No, of course not, but they're a standard hardware store item. MineralMan Jan 2021 #88
can they be used more than once? Demovictory9 Jan 2021 #92
Not really. Normally, you cut the plastic MineralMan Jan 2021 #98
Yes, I use them from time to time jobendorfer Jan 2021 #60
I keep a big jar of various sizes and use them all the time. lagomorph777 Jan 2021 #61
I'm a long haul trucker, I buy and use all sizes of zip ties. denbot Jan 2021 #63
I use them jcgoldie Jan 2021 #64
Zip ties are different than flex cuffs AnyFunctioningAdult Jan 2021 #65
I've used them around the house for various things. Marrah_Goodman Jan 2021 #66
I worked as a truck driver picking up containers in rail yards.. ariesgem Jan 2021 #67
Original teeet deleted. RichardRay Jan 2021 #68
I'm an old lady and I use them outside mainly Greybnk48 Jan 2021 #69
Sure, the regular ones. Buckeye_Democrat Jan 2021 #70
Stuff. Ellipsis Jan 2021 #71
All the time, who doesn't have zip-ties in their house? Polybius Jan 2021 #73
I routed some wiring in our basement and used them to bundle the wire Norbert Jan 2021 #76
My husband bought some to bundle computer cables Marthe48 Jan 2021 #77
I consider myself a regular human. I use zip ties for all kinds of things in my restaurant job. aidbo Jan 2021 #78
Yes, I have bought them multiple times. GoCubsGo Jan 2021 #81
Zip ties -- yes. Flex cuffs -- no. nsd Jan 2021 #89
Exactly. Me-too. mackdaddy Jan 2021 #95
I use them to keep electronic cabels together instead of a tangled mess. n/t twin_ghost Jan 2021 #91
Yep. To tie my pedals to my Holey Board. Iggo Jan 2021 #93
Absolutely! It is in my camping misc box, I use it to hang things up, Vivienne235729 Jan 2021 #94
We use them in our dungeon. usedtobedemgurl Jan 2021 #96
Soccer Coach/referee's friend seleff Jan 2021 #97
well, you usually don't see the length of the zip-ties that were gonna be used by the seditionists. IsItJustMe Jan 2021 #100
I use them all the time... Happy Hoosier Jan 2021 #102
I use them in crafting. xmas74 Jan 2021 #103
Yes regular humans use regular zip ties. The would-be kidnappers did not have Kashkakat v.2.0 Jan 2021 #104

DURHAM D

(32,607 posts)
1. I have 6 or 7 difference sizes on my workbench right now.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:09 AM
Jan 2021

Use them all of the time. Christmas decorations and fall displays (outside). To keep the Coolaroo from blowing away.

Most recently I used them to help a friend attach a small plastic tray to her walker. She needed something to hold her phone but the bags and baskets made for walkers were too big and way too expensive for her.

TheBlackAdder

(28,179 posts)
87. YouTube's ProjectFarm compared the top selling ones, both after 1 year UV exposure and Indoor Use.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 04:20 PM
Jan 2021

.





.

catbyte

(34,358 posts)
2. I bought zip ties to anchor a 3-tier shelf to a doorknob to keep the cats from tipping it
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:10 AM
Jan 2021

over. I used the rest in the package to tie up electrical cords so the cats wouldn't chew them.

PatSeg

(47,351 posts)
75. Your cats chew electrical cords?
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 01:25 PM
Jan 2021

We had bunnies and we had to protect all electrical cords from them, but never had a problem later when we had cats.

catbyte

(34,358 posts)
80. Once in a while. They're better now that they're adults. It got to the point with Otis that I
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 01:35 PM
Jan 2021

had to paint them with Tabasco sauce and bitter apple. The package of zip ties I got from Amazon had several little ones and just a couple of long ones, which I used to anchor the shelf.

PatSeg

(47,351 posts)
82. Oh, I suppose
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 01:45 PM
Jan 2021

it could be more of a kitten thing then. I'll bet the Tabasco sauce and bitter apple really did the trick.

I've had dogs who chewed on stuff, especially when they were young, but the cats did more damage with their claws as a rule.

PatSeg

(47,351 posts)
101. Really?
Thu Jan 14, 2021, 11:08 AM
Jan 2021

I wonder if they taste different from other cords. Or maybe he didn't want you to spend so much time on your phone? It is so hard to imagine what the attraction is.

TexasTowelie

(112,056 posts)
3. Yes, I have bought zip ties as a separate item.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:12 AM
Jan 2021

I used them to tie up appliance cables and to tie up garbage bags when my brother bought the type where the flaps are tied. I've even used them when putting out Christmas lights on the balcony railing.

Aren't those legitimate uses for zip-ties?

 

AmyStrange

(7,989 posts)
7. They come with some large, construction-size, garbage bags, and...
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:15 AM
Jan 2021

-

they're also used for tying electronic cables together.
=============

KentuckyWoman

(6,679 posts)
9. Zip ties. Gorilla glue. Duck tape
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:16 AM
Jan 2021

The basis of every old lady's fixit kit.

Of course we aren't talking police handcuff zip ties.

wcmagumba

(2,882 posts)
10. Guilty, I use them all the time for many of the aforementioned uses...
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:19 AM
Jan 2021

power cords, holding parts of a project together and all kinds of things...as I understand it the ones drump's terrorists had on them were actually very heavy duty restraints used by leo...called flex cuffs and I don't even begin to know where you would purchase them. Flex cuffs really only have one use and in this case it was likely horrible...

Niagara

(7,589 posts)
12. Yes.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:20 AM
Jan 2021

Zip ties are handy to organize cables and string lights. The zip ties are a camping lifesaver if a hook breaks on a tent or other camping gear.



A normal person wouldn't purchase them with the intention of binding and kidnapping other human beings.

Retrograde

(10,132 posts)
13. There are a bunch in the garage
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:21 AM
Jan 2021

mostly used for keeping computer cables neat. We used one to repair a recycle bin recently. I don't take them with me when I go sight-seeing in capitols, though.

Doreen

(11,686 posts)
14. They work well with keeping the 100 some cables you have in the back of your entertainment
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:22 AM
Jan 2021

system from taking up the entire space and getting intertwind with each other.

LeftInTX

(25,201 posts)
16. Flex Cuffs are special type of zip tie
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:27 AM
Jan 2021

I love zip ties.

Bundling and hanging campaign signs from rails! We put up large 4 by 8s on rails. We use the heavy duty (we put 2 together) for the rails because the rails are like 5 inches in diameter. Awesome!

Hekate

(90,616 posts)
18. Little ones for cords and such. Nothing at all big enough for handcuffs or around the body.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:28 AM
Jan 2021

Some ass in full tactical gear charges in with special loops on his camo gear for great big ties, and my assumption is not that he’s come to fix the telephones.

Especially not after Malcolm Nance comments that the guy looks all dressed up for “catch and kill.”

Caliman73

(11,726 posts)
20. I buy zip ties all the time.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:33 AM
Jan 2021

They are great for organizing cables and I also use them to cinch together my outdoor Christmas decorations. Last time I checked I was a regular human.

That is why it is important to be accurate with what you are talking about.

Have I ever bought Flex Cuffs? No. I am neither Law Enforcement, Security, or a serial killer. I have no need for Flex Cuffs.

Bleacher Creature

(11,256 posts)
21. Those people didn't have regular zip ties.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:34 AM
Jan 2021

They were flex cuffs, which are tactical grade zip ties used by law enforcement and the military.

Mariana

(14,854 posts)
23. I've bought and used thousands of zip ties
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 03:53 AM
Jan 2021

for many mundane purposes around the house and garden.

I've never even seen zip tie style restraints for sale, and I've never owned any.

roamer65

(36,745 posts)
26. Cable management.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 04:05 AM
Jan 2021

The ones they had were law enforcement type. Never seen those before and would have no use for them.

 

Budi

(15,325 posts)
79. Lol.. haaahaa.. they said, "The plate must be visible". That's it.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 01:29 PM
Jan 2021

That's funny...

Zippied it like a pizza hut sign in the roof of the car



raccoon

(31,106 posts)
83. Maybe I should do that. Somebody stole my license plate at the end of December.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 04:03 PM
Jan 2021

Maybe I should do that. Somebody stole my license plate at the end of December.I reported to the cops and report it to the department of motor vehicles, requesting a new tag. I’ve got it now. I’m pretty sure it happened during the night at my apartment complex.

 

Budi

(15,325 posts)
84. No i actually zipped it on the front where the plate goes, cuz the place that wrapped my vehicle ...
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 04:14 PM
Jan 2021

..took the front plate off & left it on the front seat with NO bolts!
Dummies.
So i just zipped it as a temporary hold.

But for someone stealing plates maybe they'd hesitate if it was in the damned roof.

Wonder what they needed a decoy plate for?
Theft of something else or a drug deal, so the cops would come up with your name instead of theirs?
Shitheads do that.

Sorry that happened to ya.

KY_EnviroGuy

(14,489 posts)
28. Tens of thousands back in the day. Quite expensive when they first came out.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 04:07 AM
Jan 2021

Panduit, 3M and Thomas & Betts were the major players until the Chinese flooded the market and then they got cheap. We called them wire ties or tie-wraps. Before those were invented, in electronics we used flat nylon cord to bundle cables, called cable lacing. Yep, I'm that old.

Thankfully, I've never had any applied to my wrists!

KY..........

Response to Demovictory9 (Original post)

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
30. Much like duct tape, 2 part epoxy and my sewing kit they sort of ...
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 04:29 AM
Jan 2021

hold the universe together around here. We use them for a variety of everyday purposes and there are always a bunch in a drawer around here.

I just admit that didn't pay much attention to them before my husband the engineer & tech type came along almost 30 hrs ago. Now, much like him, I can't imagine NOT having them around.

SheltieLover

(57,073 posts)
34. They sure do hold the universe together, along with epoxy, duct tape & sweing kit
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 06:12 AM
Jan 2021

But what the terrorists had were police/military flex cuffs.

I wouldn't even know where to buy those creepy things.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
46. Yeah, I'd heard they were actually flex cuffs...
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:15 AM
Jan 2021

Being the curious type, I was wondering where on earth they'd find such things so googled 'flex cuffs' and was a bit surprised to see how easy they are to find, even on major online selling sites.

SunSeeker

(51,545 posts)
32. These aren't zip ties. They're Flex Cuffs. You can't buy these at Home Depot.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 05:15 AM
Jan 2021

I read that some think he stole them from a Capitol Police storage cabinet on Capitol grounds. But it sure looks like he has plans for those Flex Cuffs. They aren't stuffed in his backpack. He has them out like he intends to use them any minute. Looks like he came there with these to kidnap Congressional representatives and/or Mike Pence.

SheltieLover

(57,073 posts)
35. Did you see that pix of "stolen" police backpack full of flex cutfs?
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 06:14 AM
Jan 2021

Last edited Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:19 PM - Edit history (1)

Said to have been kept in a storage closet.

SunSeeker

(51,545 posts)
57. Would have been helpful for the cops to have had that backpack at the barricades.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:18 PM
Jan 2021

They should have been cuffing everyone who was pushing on the barricades outside the Capitol.


SheltieLover

(57,073 posts)
58. At the least!
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:22 PM
Jan 2021

Probably not practical due to numbers.

Only "shock & awe" would have backed them off, imo.

Of course, opening & holding doors for terrorists is on the opposite end of the spectrum.

WePurrsevere

(24,259 posts)
48. You can't buy flex cuffs at Home Depot but
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:19 AM
Jan 2021

was a bit surprised to learn that they're easily found at two major online shopping sites.

Backseat Driver

(4,385 posts)
33. Creative uses: Actually, had to buy more to secure flexible orange plastic fencing
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 05:32 AM
Jan 2021

around the bottom half-way of the sides of large metal dog cage to secure and protect rapidly growing baby duck escapees after they graduated from the cardboard brooder box and keep would be visitors and predators out; think we used them to secure kids college stuff wrapped beneath grommetted tarps on the rooftop car-carrier along with bungie cords and rope; many of the cited uses above as well. They're pretty handy to have around the house for DIYers!

EarthFirst

(2,899 posts)
36. Oh; come on...
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 06:21 AM
Jan 2021

Yes; regular folks buy zip ties.

I can’t get behind the message behind this one.

Do regular folks buy flex cuffs?

No.

Straw Man

(6,622 posts)
37. Flex cuffs aren't zip ties.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 06:54 AM
Jan 2021

They work on the same principle, but they have a double loop -- one for each hand, y'know ...

I used zip ties all the time for various things around the house. Flex cuffs? Not so much.

Denzil_DC

(7,227 posts)
42. Yes, they're useful in various sizes for lots of things, but they are NOT
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 07:59 AM
Jan 2021

the same as Flex Cuffs. You could probably improvise a restraint using them, but they're not difficult to loosen if you know how.

Sympthsical

(9,054 posts)
43. This was inadvertantly amusingly elitist
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 08:18 AM
Jan 2021

Regular humans use zip ties all the times for all kinds of household projects. All my computer/gaming console/tv cords are held with zip ties. Shelving is secured in the garage with them. Outdoor items. Any time I just need to keep something together and stable for a bit. We have boxes of them at work for all kinds of things.

There are a billion uses.

I'm guessing Lauren isn't the type to find herself at a Home Depot on Saturday morning.

As others in this thread have noted, that guy had flex cuffs. Different grade of zip tie.

Still, this is just one of those hilarious things. Person says something on Twitter and accidentally reveals something about themselves. Harmless, but funny.

obamanut2012

(26,049 posts)
44. They had flexi cuffs, not zip ties
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 08:25 AM
Jan 2021

I have lots of zip ties I use in crafting and DIY stuff, but have never bought flexi cuffs like the cops use, and which is what these traitors in the Capitol had.

You can buy them on Amazon and many other retail sites.

fescuerescue

(4,448 posts)
45. All the time. Just took some out of my coat pocket this morning
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:12 AM
Jan 2021

I usually use them to secure wires and cables.

Last night I used one to secure a vacuum unit onto the wall of a mobile trailer.

They are used in many electrical and IT trades.

 

cwydro

(51,308 posts)
47. I have packets of them in all my tool areas, drawers, Christmas box, everywhere.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:17 AM
Jan 2021

They come in very handy.

Goodheart

(5,318 posts)
49. I buy cable ties all the time. They're quite useful.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:20 AM
Jan 2021

But I don't carry them around with me in public places.

Roisin Ni Fiachra

(2,574 posts)
51. Most recently used them to help secure the cargo basket on the front of my bicycle.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:24 AM
Jan 2021

They are very useful household gadgets, and most everyone who works in a trade uses zip ties.

Bantamfancier

(366 posts)
52. ID bands for our birds.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:25 AM
Jan 2021

When we’re sorting them, use different colors to group them so next time we only need to check the blue group or the red group. Saves us a lot of time not having to handle each bird every time.
When you’ve got 50 white calls, it can be hard to pick out your top 3. Or figure out which ones you’re willing to sell.

apnu

(8,749 posts)
53. Zip-ties? Yes. Very useful. Speed-cuffs? Fuck no.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:26 AM
Jan 2021

I'm not a fascist jock sniffer.

Cops have them but the local cop shop acquires them for the cops, so they don't buy them or carry them unless expressly ordered to.

mercuryblues

(14,526 posts)
55. The correct wort you are looking for is Flex Cuffs
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:32 AM
Jan 2021

Even though they work like zip ties and made from the same material, the design is different. They are often called zip tie hand cuffs.


ProfessorGAC

(64,951 posts)
56. As Others Have Mentioned...
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 09:34 AM
Jan 2021

...flex cuffs & zip ties differ.
Functionally, they are the same, but the material of construction differs.
Zip ties will simply break with sufficient linear force, and even easier with angular force (twisting).
The very purpose of flex cuffs makes that "flaw" of zip ties, a problem.
Flex cuffs very likely have a substantial amount of a urethane elastomer that increases flexibility, strain resistance, and typically increases tensile strength.
So, lots of people use zip ties, but flex cuffs, by the chemistry used to make them, are designed for one purpose.
We don't need those, as folks just living their daily lives

MineralMan

(146,281 posts)
59. I have a bag of 500 of them in different sizes.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:25 PM
Jan 2021

If you actually do things, they are very useful. If you do not, they are not.

They are the fastest way to hold two things together temporarily or even long-term.

MineralMan

(146,281 posts)
88. No, of course not, but they're a standard hardware store item.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 04:26 PM
Jan 2021

All kinds of them are available, including ones that could be used as restraints. Someone asked where a person could buy them.

MineralMan

(146,281 posts)
98. Not really. Normally, you cut the plastic
Thu Jan 14, 2021, 10:35 AM
Jan 2021

to remove them. I suppose it would be possible to insert a thin strip of metal to release the plastic catch, but nobody does that. You just use some sort of cutting pliers or other tool to cut the plastic.

jobendorfer

(508 posts)
60. Yes, I use them from time to time
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:29 PM
Jan 2021

I'm a fine art portrait photographer.
I use zip ties (as well as tape) to secure cables to reduce trip hazards and avoid accidental unplugging.
I have also used them as backup to keep light stands from falling over.
I am sure they have many other mundane uses, but that's what I use them for.

John

lagomorph777

(30,613 posts)
61. I keep a big jar of various sizes and use them all the time.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:30 PM
Jan 2021

None are suitable for cuffing anybody though.

denbot

(9,899 posts)
63. I'm a long haul trucker, I buy and use all sizes of zip ties.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:32 PM
Jan 2021

Mostly to secure wiring, and small air lines together, or to route along a certain path.

jcgoldie

(11,623 posts)
64. I use them
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:33 PM
Jan 2021

You can use them in all sorts of situations to fasten things and the are quicker and easier than wire for a lot of things on the farm but the kind most folks use is not the type these guys had that are used specifically to handcuff ppl.

65. Zip ties are different than flex cuffs
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:34 PM
Jan 2021

Maybe based on the same concept (one way movement through the lock), but yes there are a ton of uses for actual zip ties (IT cable management is a good one). Actual flex cuffs? No.

Marrah_Goodman

(1,586 posts)
66. I've used them around the house for various things.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:45 PM
Jan 2021

I have some 12 inch ones on my dresser that I just use to attach my bedframe to the headboard.

ariesgem

(1,634 posts)
67. I worked as a truck driver picking up containers in rail yards..
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:49 PM
Jan 2021

You need them to secure the locks to the chassis. I never had any other need for them.

Greybnk48

(10,167 posts)
69. I'm an old lady and I use them outside mainly
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 12:52 PM
Jan 2021

but inside as well. My husband always has them in white and black. For example, I've used them to zip-tie braces to bird feeder poles to hold them upright all winter in the wind and snow. Not a versatile as duck tape (duct), but really handy.

Polybius

(15,364 posts)
73. All the time, who doesn't have zip-ties in their house?
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 01:22 PM
Jan 2021

I can't imagine not having them. They are extremely useful for me because I work on cars and computers, but they are great for everything. I used them last month to hold up a fence temporarily until I get a replacement.

GoCubsGo

(32,078 posts)
81. Yes, I have bought them multiple times.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 01:41 PM
Jan 2021

Back before Dumbya killed my career, I used to buy them to keep on had repair equipment out in the field. I have bought them for home use, for things like attaching a retractable clothes line to a tree, so I didn't have to pound nails into it. I also use them to "lock" plastic storage bin lids. They're almost as useful as duct tape.

nsd

(2,406 posts)
89. Zip ties -- yes. Flex cuffs -- no.
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 04:38 PM
Jan 2021

Zip ties are useful for organizing computer cables and electrical wires.

Flex cuffs, which is what those rioters had, are just for restraining people. Unless you're in law enforcement or the military, I can't think of a good reason to have them (except maybe for some consensual sex thing).

seleff

(154 posts)
97. Soccer Coach/referee's friend
Wed Jan 13, 2021, 11:46 PM
Jan 2021

I use them to either attach soccer goal nets to the posts/crossbar or quick repair of holes in the net. A hole in the wrong place and you can have a mess with disagreement if a goal was scored

IsItJustMe

(7,012 posts)
100. well, you usually don't see the length of the zip-ties that were gonna be used by the seditionists.
Thu Jan 14, 2021, 11:06 AM
Jan 2021

That size (length) can be used to hand cuff people. Beyond that, that length of zip-tie could also be used to tie a large drain pipe to a Television cable for safety and cosmetics.

xmas74

(29,673 posts)
103. I use them in crafting.
Thu Jan 14, 2021, 12:18 PM
Jan 2021

Sometimes I don't have enough clamps to hold something in place while the adhesive cures and I'll use a zip tie. I also have them in my car along with a few bungee cords.

They are not the size of what was shown.

Kashkakat v.2.0

(1,752 posts)
104. Yes regular humans use regular zip ties. The would-be kidnappers did not have
Thu Jan 14, 2021, 12:27 PM
Jan 2021

regular zip ties though They had specialized zip ties for use as handcuffs. So your question is a bit irrelevant.

But, regardless - yes I have used regular zip ties. I've used them to attach plastic deer fence to poles to build my cat enclosure (aka "catio" ). I use them to wrap filter fabric around the pump I use in my pond.

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