When you’re shopping around for baling wire, it’s easy to become confused about the different options available. You’ll see references for everything from single-loop bale ties to black annealed box wire.
Another product option that can cause confusion is galvanized wire. The question posed by this article is one that consumers often ask: is galvanized wire the same as baling wire? Well, let’s explore the answer.
What is baling wire?
As the name indicates, baling wire is a versatile product that is used for baling – along with various other uses. In its simplest form, it is a wire that is made from either iron or steel. Yet this form often takes on a different appearance, where it is enhanced and refined to create a better product.
One way of doing this is via galvanizing.
What is the galvanizing process?
As mentioned, iron and steel are the base material for baling wire. There’s just one problem with this: they’re susceptible to corroding.
Well, galvanizing helps to rectify this issue. This is a process where a layer of zinc – or a different non-corrosive material – is applied over the iron/steel. Zinc is known for being much better at standing up to any environmental changes. As a result, it can protect your baling wires against different environmental conditions and ensure it’s good for use on a long-term basis.
There’s an added benefit of galvanizing the baling wire: it becomes more resilient overall. This means you can put it into a baling machine, apply some significant pressure and demanding conditions, and still expect the galvanized wire to come out of it unscathed.
Whether it’s due to weather or baling conditions, galvanized wire is a much stronger and durable product when compared to standard baling wires.
So, is galvanized wire the same?
Simply put: yes. Galvanized wire is classified as a variation of baling wire. The only confusion stems from the name. As the baling wire undergoes the galvanizing process, it is simply renamed galvanized wire to reflect the properties it now possesses. As noted in the previous section, galvanized wire features an additional protective coating that defends against rust and corrosion.
This is the same story for annealed wire. While it is baling wire at its foundation, the annealing process means it receives the distinction of being annealed wire. As for the process, this is a different one to galvanizing. This involves the wire first being heated, and this is followed up with a slow cooling procedure. The result? The microstructure of the wire is changed for the better, with it gaining additional strength and being less brittle.
As these two examples help demonstrate, the names are simply to prevent any further confusion. By being labeled ‘galvanized stem wire‘ or ‘black annealed box wire’, consumers are clear about what process the bailing wire has gone through. Admittedly, you first need to know what these processes are and their differences – which is where this article provides a helping hand.
