How to use a banding tool

A banding tool securely fastens metallic or plastic strapping around objects that need to be held together firmly in place. You might use a metal banding tool on the job to secure large, heavy loads for transport, or to fix road sign brackets to poles.

In this article we’ll walk you through how to use a typical, manually operated, handheld steel banding tool, like the drop forged BAND-IT C001 tool with built-in cutter.

It is important to follow safety precautions when working with tensioned steel banding. Use protective gloves, steel-reinforced boots, safety glasses and appropriate workwear.

Just as importantly, choose quality, fit for purpose tools when tensioning and cutting.

How to use a metal banding tool

Before you start, you will need a buckle or wing seal, a roll of metallic banding, a metal banding tool to perform tensioning and cutting, and a hammer.

• To reduce strap wastage, apply banding to objects straight from a bulk roll.
• Hold the buckle with the “ears” of the buckle pointing up and facing away from you.
• Keeping the buckle in place, slide the end of the band through the buckle and loosely around the objects that you are binding. Leave space between the object and the band. Slide the band back through the buckle, under the band that has already been threaded through it, to form a loose loop around the objects you want to bind.
• To increase radial compression, continue to wrap the band around the objects and through the buckle a second time. As before, leave a gap between the band and the objects.
• This time, pull the band only a few inches past the buckle after sliding it through.
• Bend the end of the band that was just passed through the buckle in towards the objects being bound, and bend the strap back on itself, hooking it around the bottom of the buckle.
• Slide the length of band that extends from the bulk roll to the buckle into the slot on the tool nose and gripper block as far as possible.
• Tension the band by turning the handle of the tool - hold a finger on the buckle’s bridge while turning the handle. You can feel the band move as it is tensioned. Stop turning the handle when you feel the band stop moving.
• Roll the tool over the buckle, while releasing tension by reversing the turning handle motion. This prevents the band from breaking.
• Pull the cutting handle on the tool to cut the band. If using 3/4 inch clamps, disengage the band gripper and push the tool nose a quarter of an inch away from the buckle before cutting.
• Remove the tool, and push a thumb down on the band stub sticking out from the buckle to fold it over and flatten it.
• Finish by hammering down the wings of the band.

Your metal banding is now secure and you can be confident the strapping will stay in place for the long haul.

Jaybro has all your banding equipment needs covered

There are strap banding tools and machines for all types of applications.

Banding tools can be manually powered or automatic. They can also be pneumatic or hydraulic, battery-powered or corded. Handheld and portable strapping tools move from site to site. Fixed position strapping machines exist for bulk strapping operations.

Each of these types of banding tools can cater to strappings of varying widths and thicknesses for jobs ranging from road sign fixing to securing intermodal shipping containers. Banding material comes in a variety of metallic options with coatings that offer degrees of weather resistance, and with safety or standard edging.

Banding straps can be made with plastics such as polypropylene, polyester or nylon. Plastic-based strapping is generally more suited to lighter boxes, or when there is a need to open and check the load easily. Some tools seal straps and bands with heat or affix them with friction welding.

Manually operated, unpowered banding tools can use levers, screws and springs to assist tensioning. Jaybro stocks a full range of banding tools and accessories.

Our online catalogue includes bulk steel banding rolls, cutters, tensioners, buckles, seals, banding kits and tools.

Don’t hesitate to get in touch with our qualified professionals at Jaybro to talk to the experts about your steel or plastic banding equipment needs today.