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What Kind of Strapping Should You Use?
Steel Strapping:
Other than the obvious shortcomings
of steel (rust, sharp corners and ends, weight of a full-sized coil) there is
one big advantage of steel over some plastics - the lack of elongation. This is
a good thing, in that it will make one product in a bundle bear against its
neighbors quite strongly. The most common type of plastic strapping,
polypropylene stretches too much to accomplish this. The best way to understand
this concept is to read about the types of plastic strapping.
Polypropylene
strapping:
Commonly called PPY strapping, it is
the least expensive and most common type of strapping on the market. It also
requires a smaller investment in tools for the lighter sizes as compared to
polyester. PPY normally has an embossed texture on its surface, which improves
its holding ability in the seal or buckle. This seal can be done with wire
buckles, plastic buckles, metal seals, or a heat seal. The heat seal requires a
machine or tool, and you will invest a $1000 of more. The other three seal
methods are much more reasonable. The wire and plastic buckles require no tools
at all but can be used with a tensioner for increased tension if required. The
metal seals require the use of a tensioner and the use of a separate sealer.
The most important characteristic of
PPY is its elongation. It will elongate up to 25 percent of its length (4 feet
can stretch to 5 feet) before breaking. This is good if you have a load that
may settle or shrink because the band will remain tight. Wood and corrugated
especially can shrink in size. Stretch can conversely be bad in some
applications because it will not cause two objects banded together to press
tightly against one another. Visualize a dozen 1" x 1" x 48" items bundled
together with PPY with the strap quite tightly tensioned. You could still push
one piece or more right out of the bundle by pushing on the end. A
Polyester Strapping:
Commonly called PET strapping,
polyester strapping has stretch characteristics similar to steel...very little
- About 3 to 4 percent for PET. Unlike steel, it will return somewhat from a
stretched state, but very little. Not like PPY, however. The big advantage of
polyester, is it will do loads that PPY is not able to do. But not settling
loads. There is a lot more initial cost involved to get started in PET. The
joint can also be made with a heat seal or a metal seal only. Buckles do
not hold polyester well. Again, heat sealing (friction) will cost $2400 to
$2800 upwards just for the tool. A metal seal must be a special one with
'teeth' or serrations on the inside. This, in turn, requires the right kind of
sealer. The polyester is not yet available in kit form so you have to get a
full-sized industrial coil which requires a dispenser cart.
See our B Tool special
Polyester Cord
Strapping:
Polyester cord strapping is sometimes
called 'Home Depot Strapping,' I suppose because every Home Depot I have ever
been in uses it for their outbound loads, most, if not all of them, with the
3/4" size.
The advantage of PET cord strapping
are the characteristics of PET strapping, which is the low elongation necessary
for such jobs as bundling lumber. The way cord is wound on a coil eliminates
the need for a full-sized dispenser cart, as each layer is lightly tacked to the
layer underneath, so it will not become spaghetti without a box or a dispenser.
A broomstick through a milk crate will become a dispenser, or a broomstick and a
grocery cart like Home Depot does. Normally, PET cord is used with wire buckles
eliminating the need for a sealer. All in all, a very inexpensive startup cost,
although more expensive per foot than the other plastics.
So What Should You
Use?
I suggest determining which will work
for you using the characteristics above. Then toss out those which will not
work. Consider your usage per month of the strapping, and weigh that against the
initial cost to get into the method. The following will help with your
determination. I used 1/2" strap in all cases, so the comparison will be equal.
You may need heavier than 1/2", but the comparison will still be valid between
widths. Here is the cost per hundred feet of strapping and the initial cost:
Steel in Mini coils: $6.00 per 100
foot and $119 initial cost
PET Cord $3.26 per 100 feet and $65
or $115 with tensioner
Steel in 100# coils $2.40 per 100
feet and $269 initial cost
PPY in Mini Coils of 3000 feet: $.89
per 100 feet and $32 initial cost
PET $.88 per 100 feet and $445
initial cost
PPY industrial coils $.68 per 100
feet and $319 initial cost
Strapping Products
MACHINE or
HAND GRADE STRAPPING
If you have a question regarding interchangeability of strap products in power
equipment or Hand Tools, call us. Most brands are interchangeable, sometimes
with minor adjustments.
v
Distributor for
Polychem Strapping.
v
Full line of power strapping
equipment.
v
One source for all your
strapping needs.
v
Full line of Polypropylene
Strap ¼” (6mm) to ½” (12mm)
v
Full line of Polyester
Strap 3/8” to 1 1/4”
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Quick delivery.
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Product consignment
available.
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Hand tools, Dispensers,
Strapping Kits
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All core and face width coil
sizes.
Key Benefits
- One supplier for product and equipment service.
- Local - Wisconsin company.
- Quality professional service.
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