General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region Forums"Do regular humans actually buy zip-ties? Have you ever bought a zip-tie? If so, what did you use it
Link to tweet
DURHAM D
(32,607 posts)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).
.
catbyte
(34,358 posts)over. I used the rest in the package to tie up electrical cords so the cats wouldn't chew them.
PatSeg
(47,351 posts)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)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)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.
kcr
(15,315 posts)He particularly likes apple phone charger cords.
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)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?
Doodley
(9,076 posts)zipplewrath
(16,646 posts)Normal ones, not the type meant as cuff replacements. That's some sick shit.
Wawannabe
(5,641 posts)Used all the time. For pc cords. Ummmm.
Not human size. Who the fuck does that? Oh. tRumpers!
AmyStrange
(7,989 posts)-
they're also used for tying electronic cables together.
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Initech
(100,054 posts)fierywoman
(7,679 posts)KentuckyWoman
(6,679 posts)The basis of every old lady's fixit kit.
Of course we aren't talking police handcuff zip ties.
Hekate
(90,616 posts)yonder
(9,662 posts)trackfan
(3,650 posts)wcmagumba
(2,882 posts)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...
BusyBeingBest
(8,052 posts)Niagara
(7,589 posts)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)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)system from taking up the entire space and getting intertwind with each other.
lame54
(35,277 posts)LeftInTX
(25,201 posts)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!
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Hekate
(90,616 posts)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 hes 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)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)They were flex cuffs, which are tactical grade zip ties used by law enforcement and the military.
TheBlackAdder
(28,179 posts)Mariana
(14,854 posts)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.
orleans
(34,043 posts)roamer65
(36,745 posts)The ones they had were law enforcement type. Never seen those before and would have no use for them.
Budi
(15,325 posts)It worked !
raccoon
(31,106 posts)Budi
(15,325 posts)That's funny...
Zippied it like a pizza hut sign in the roof of the car
raccoon
(31,106 posts)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. Ive got it now. Im pretty sure it happened during the night at my apartment complex.
Budi
(15,325 posts)..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)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)
geralmar This message was self-deleted by its author.
WePurrsevere
(24,259 posts)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)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)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.
left-of-center2012
(34,195 posts)SunSeeker
(51,545 posts)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)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)They should have been cuffing everyone who was pushing on the barricades outside the Capitol.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)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)was a bit surprised to learn that they're easily found at two major online shopping sites.
Backseat Driver
(4,385 posts)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!
Bantamfancier
(366 posts)Its like they can vibrate right thru the pen.
EarthFirst
(2,899 posts)Yes; regular folks buy zip ties.
I cant get behind the message behind this one.
Do regular folks buy flex cuffs?
No.
Straw Man
(6,622 posts)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.
smirkymonkey
(63,221 posts)days ago.
cbdo2007
(9,213 posts)Klaralven
(7,510 posts)FSogol
(45,464 posts)Denzil_DC
(7,227 posts)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)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)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)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)They come in very handy.
Goodheart
(5,318 posts)But I don't carry them around with me in public places.
Kid Berwyn
(14,848 posts)The perp cant hit back, either.
Roisin Ni Fiachra
(2,574 posts)They are very useful household gadgets, and most everyone who works in a trade uses zip ties.
Bantamfancier
(366 posts)When were 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 youve got 50 white calls, it can be hard to pick out your top 3. Or figure out which ones youre willing to sell.
apnu
(8,749 posts)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.
bluedigger
(17,086 posts)Filed under "Really dumb tweets".
mercuryblues
(14,526 posts)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.
Polybius
(15,364 posts)Say The Mountain for example.
ProfessorGAC
(64,951 posts)...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)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.
BainsBane
(53,026 posts)They intended to take hostages.
MineralMan
(146,281 posts)All kinds of them are available, including ones that could be used as restraints. Someone asked where a person could buy them.
Demovictory9
(32,443 posts)MineralMan
(146,281 posts)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)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)None are suitable for cuffing anybody though.
denbot
(9,899 posts)Mostly to secure wiring, and small air lines together, or to route along a certain path.
jcgoldie
(11,623 posts)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.
AnyFunctioningAdult
(192 posts)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)I have some 12 inch ones on my dresser that I just use to attach my bedframe to the headboard.
ariesgem
(1,634 posts)You need them to secure the locks to the chassis. I never had any other need for them.
RichardRay
(2,611 posts)I think zip-tie Karen got owned.
Greybnk48
(10,167 posts)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.
Buckeye_Democrat
(14,853 posts)Never the bigger ones used to bind people.
Ellipsis
(9,124 posts)Polybius
(15,364 posts)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.
Norbert
(6,039 posts)Marthe48
(16,926 posts)I'm sure I have some left from that time
aidbo
(2,328 posts)GoCubsGo
(32,078 posts)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)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).
mackdaddy
(1,522 posts)twin_ghost
(435 posts)Iggo
(47,545 posts)Vivienne235729
(3,381 posts)usedtobedemgurl
(1,130 posts)seleff
(154 posts)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)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.
Happy Hoosier
(7,248 posts)But I don't get the hand-cuff type.
xmas74
(29,673 posts)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)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.