Reusable zip tie: "Strap Cinch" self-tightening clamp, buckle

I received a package in the mail. And it came bundled with these amazingly-strong straps. It seemed like a shame to waste them and just throw them away. So I made these reusable clamps to upcycle them into zip ties. Except they are stronger than any zip ties I've seen.

Update: These are 5mm PET packing straps. You can get wire buckles for 1/2" packing straps. And they will work, But they are a bit bulky for the job. (Metric ones are hard to find in the US.)

I included .stl files to accommodate 10mm, and 1/2" packing strap material. But I haven't tested those yet since I don't have any that size. If the strapping material turns out to be too thick, I may have to expand the orifices.

Post-Printing

Build instructions

• Take both ends of the strap, and bend them together into a loop. Fold the loop flat and insert the folded end through the bottom hole. Tuck the ends through the top hole (Figure 1). Place the movable locking mechanism inside the loop to lock it in place. Secure tapered lid with the slot facing away from the unit. The slot in the lid is for later opening with a screwdriver.

Figure 1. Loop pushed through hole at bottom. Ends tucked through hole at top.

Figure 2. Movable locking mechanism in place. Tapered lid has slot facing away from unit.

How I Designed This ===================

Original design in Blender. This is iteration three of a design.

Improvements over my first design:

• The lid is now tapered to fit tightly.

• The lid now has a slot in it for opening with a screwdriver

• Double-reinforced catch mechanism is practically unbreakable.

• Ends of the tie feed out in the same direction for easy tightening.

Custom Section

Usage

Pull on lever until it "clicks" into the open position. Tie is now unlocked. It may be pulled and adjusted to fit.

Push on lever until it "clicks" into the closed position. Tie is now locked. The self-tightening mechanism locks tight, no matter how much force is applied.

On the ones I tried, the strap broke before it budged at all. And it takes a lot of force to break one of those straps doubled-up. A single, half-inch strap is rated at 780 lbs. each!

Category: Outdoor & Garden

Design and description by Make it Reality , licensed CC-BY.