Many different industries make use of baling wire. This is particularly the case for those within the recycling industry, where they compress recyclable materials ready for storage and distribution.
If you’re a newcomer to the world of baling wire, however, you likely have one question following that initial purchase: How do you tie baling wire? It’s something that needs to be done after all, and the process is not as simple as it may seem.
How to tie baling wire
First of all, you will need to select the baling wire that works best for your situation. When you go to buy baling wire, you will see there are various different options available, including single loop, annealed, and galvanized. There are also different gauges you have to take into consideration.
Once you have the right wire, here are the steps to take when using a baler machine to complete the process:
• Being safe is always important, so you want to wear eye protection and follow standard safety procedures.
• On the baler machine, locate the slot found on the bottom of the plunger or platen. Feed one baling wire through the slot. Note: don’t worry about which wire end you use – either is fine.
• With the bale in the machine, loop the other end of the wire around and through the identical bottom slot.
• When both ends are located at the front of the baler, feed the wire end through the loop end that has been pre-made and then pull out the excess slack. Note: some slack is okay as the bale expands and ultimately tightens said slack.
• With the free end of the wire, bend it back against the loop. Finish up by wrapping it around at least three times.
Keep in mind that only trained personnel should operate baling machines. It’s also important you only use high-quality wires to prevent the possibility of breakages.
How to tighten baling wire
Whether you’re using a baling machine or going the manual route, there are times when you want to further tighten the baling wire. This will ensure your recycled materials are fully compressed and secured.
To tighten the baling wire, you’ll need various tools. Here are the main ones:
• Wire cutters
• Pliers
• Hooks
• Tie tools
With these tools, there are different ways in which you can complete the tightening process.
As a starting point, wrap the wire around a hook, and then spin the handle so that the wire is twisted into a loop. Grab the free end, pull this through the loop, and finish by wrapping it around itself. This helps tighten the wire. Pliers can be used as opposed to hooks, although the latter are effective to quickly twist wire sections – particularly when compared to bulky plier handles.
If you want to utilize tie tools, first locate the opening within the tool. Now grab two sections of the baling wire, feed these through the opening, and then turn the rotating handle to twist them together.
