Polyester banding strap??

[Bibbyman]

Is there anyone out there using polyester or nylon banding strap for banding BIG stuff like bundles of lumber?

We're using 5/8" steel banding strap but would like to cut our cost and get away for blue stain, etc.

[Tom]

I'm not, but the mill up in Hilliard uses the plastic strapping and it seems to work fine.   He also uses metal with no fasteners.  I don't know what he uses as the criteria for which to use.

[kderby]

Wow, I get to answer a question by the Maestro and Maestress ;D ??? ;D

I use the poly strapping and like it.  Figuring out the buckles took a few of us part of a day.  One of my friends said the buckles were the work of the devil.  Once we got it...we got it. Now the scrap strap goes in the burn pile (don't tell the EPA).  The opportunity exists to re-tighten the poly strapping.  There are not rust or stain issues on the lumber.

I do not know the strength comparison between the types but I have not had a problem with breakage.

DanG good question and I'll look forward to what others say.

K

[Furby]

The buckle type poly strapping can sometimes work loose with temp changes and movement. All depends on the item strapped.
The poly straps with crimped pieces stay tight.

[Brad_S.]

I use a transparent green 1/2" strap, I think its a nylon of some sort. I have a Bobcat that lifts about 3000 lbs, so my bundles are comparatively small. That translates to about 500 boardfeet of oak or 750 of pine. I use a strap every 4 or 5 feet apart. It keeps the bundles in line for transporting and stacking but if they are dropped or when they are slid off a dump there's a fair chance they will bust. More straps closer together are needed for rougher treatment.
My associate uses a 1/2" or 5/8" black plastic strap. Looks heavier but I don't know anything about its performance. He definitely bands bigger bundles than I do, so he must trust it.

[bull]

I have   used 1/2 in black  for about 5 years any scrap goes out with the trash... And if it snaps on you it doesn't slice you open great stuff..

[Frank_Pender]

I have been using a 1/2 " plastic strapping for burl shipping.  You might ask Jeff how the box held up going across 2/3rds of the country some time ago.  I used the strapping to hold his burl in its container. ;D I use the crimping tool for this plastic.  For my general Douglas Fir lumber I use a 5/8" galvenized strapping.  There is very little staining with the galvenized strap.

[Coon]

All we have ever used around our mills has been the 5/8" banding iron as that is all that we can usually get locally when we runout.  I have used the black nylon banding when I worked at another mill out in B.C. and it seemed to hold up well for us as it was used after the lumber was kiln dried, knot woods cut out, finger-jointed, laminated, planed, and then bundled ready to be shipped out.  Much of these products were rather light so it seemed to work fine.

[Bibbyman]

Ahhh!  Good!  We're gettin' some place. 8)

Anyone got brand names?  Part numbers?  Sources? Vendor web sites?  Kind of tensioners, crimpers?

[trim4u2nv]

Just started using the black polyester when steel prices skyrocketed.  Seems pretty tough and you can cut it with a knife versus snips.  We also found bolsters with a slot dadoed for the band helped also.  The bolsters prevent the package from fanning and also shaped packages better for stacking.   The only thing I miss is the ability to compress the bejesus out of a burst unit with the old signode and steel strapping.   If you ever have to pull a unit out of a straight truck with your forklift tensioning chains, you can't pull real hard on the polyester like the stronger steel.  Better put a nylon choker around the load or you will be spitting out chain links and teeth.

[ARKANSAWYER]

  Here the wholesalers will not take green lumber unless it is banded with steel.   Most of the truckers will not ship unless it is banded with steel.   The stain will plane out.   If you have ever busted a load while hauling you will not take any chances.

  I think Baileys had it and I know Uline does...    uline.com

[Bibbyman]

  Here the wholesalers will not take green lumber unless it is banded with steel.   Most of the truckers will not ship unless it is banded with steel.   The stain will plane out.   If you have ever busted a load while hauling you will not take any chances.

  I think Baileys had it and I know Uline does...    uline.com

Good point.  I can ask the truckers.  I see them but I don't see the wholesalers as it's not my lumber.  But I can ask the guy that owns the lumber if the wholesalers will take it or not.

We still have a lot of other uses for it other than shipping lumber to the wholesalers.  Local lumber sales, survey stakes, slabs, etc.

[Jeff]

  Here the wholesalers will not take green lumber unless it is banded with steel.   Most of the truckers will not ship unless it is banded with steel.   The stain will plane out.   If you have ever busted a load while hauling you will not take any chances.

  I think Baileys had it and I know Uline does...    uline.com

The same went for our Mill. Our customers demanded the steel banding.

[trim4u2nv]

Kind of gave up on sawing, just buy dried and millwork it these days.  We package virtually all finished these days.  It is lighter and straighter than green lumber.  More and more of our import shipments are wrapped with polyester or the green nylon.  We still get lumber from mississippi with 5/8 steel though.  I have some surplus signode or felins tensioners for plastic looking to trade for a string tyer by bunn or felins if anyone is interested.  Have been using 1/2 steel signode lately as it is cheaper to use in conjunction with plastic for sub units within the package.  I have seen a black nylon that is hard to tell from steel until you cut it.  One advantage to selling domestic and imported is that you can recycle a lot of the packaging that is used within the import containers.  It goes out with the shipment instead of into your dumpster. 

[RMay]

Harbor Freight tools has a good price . I use there steel band . [shttp://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=42662

[beenthere]

Another source of both steel and plastic, is

McMasterCarr at    www.mcmaster.com/   and search under plastic strapping  or   steel strapping

Strapping equipment and accessories there as well.

[trim4u2nv]

The high strength green stuff is 'tenax' by signode.  Just about as tough as steel.  The kitchen cabinet guys around here love the stuff.  

[ScottAR]

I used to work at a lumber yard, and the plastic works good if you don't scuff it on the concrete.... it'll tear and bust nearly instantly.   We recieved PT lumber with plastic bands.  All our outgoing loads were with steel for the ability to squeeze the bundles as already mentioned. 

A sort of advantage to plastic; it's easier to bust a bundle with a well placed forklift fork.   8)

A disadvantage to plastic, ya can't break a bundle open with a claw hammer. 

While plastic won't cut ya, it will raise a welp you won't soon forget.   

[Bibbyman]

The high strength green stuff is 'tenax' by signode.  Just about as tough as steel.  The kitchen cabinet guys around here love the stuff.  

We can get the Signode Tenex strapping at our local Grainger store.  Model # 2040 HS is what they have in their catalog.  It's 5/8 wide by 4000' feet in a roll and has a strength of 1,400 lbs.  That's a little less than the 5/8 steel strap we're now using that comes in at 1,625 lbs and I feel that's marginal.

The price of the Tenex strapping is about half that of the steel but the tools are somewhat expensive. The seals are twice the price. 

I'd like to get it from the local Grainger store because if they don't have it, they will the next day and won't charge freight.  We also get a commercial discount with them.

[Larry]

Could you use Bundle Wrap[/b] for your smaller items?  I'm using it for moulding bundles, and stakes.  Faster and cheaper than strapping.  They recommend the heavy weight for lumber...for most things I can use the lighter weight.

Next step up for me is the cheap, but well made strapping tool from Harbor Freight.  One of the members sent me the name of a guy that sells strapping and clips at a good price...can't find the link.  I don't have a need for anything with a high tensile strength so probably not much help for ya.

[FiremanEd]

Biddy,

Try Grainger, they'll ship it to you.

We're still using 3/4 steel, the last time I compared it was still cheaper than the nylon/plastic. We have had the plastic before and it worked great on 800bf bundles, the tension strength is plenty strong. But it will abraid more easily as someone above mentioned.

Being able to cut it with a knife is NICE though. If you're using the steel, a guy showed me a neet trick for cutting it so you don't have to tote snips and it's sooo simple. Bend it over on it's self and beat it flat with the bottom of your tensioner, which you have to have with you. When you beat it flat, just open it back up and it'll snap apart.

Eddie