How To Remove A Cable Tie

Cable ties are small but mighty.

They support immense loads, hold steady in harsh weather and conditions, are reliable enough to depend on when it counts, but are cost-effective and convenient enough to stop counting how many of them you've used.

So whether you're on your final bag or your first attempt, it's never too late to learn how to remove cable ties.

Cable Ties Basics

Cable ties are the ultimate to-do list champion. They go everywhere, do everything, stay where you put them, and always hold up their end of the deal. These handy, helpful, multifunctional fasteners are as powerful as they are portable.

Durable nylon 6.6 construction gives general-purpose cable ties their strength, versatility, and resilience with just the right amount of flexibility for looping and locking in place. Specially designed with a self-locking mechanism and ratchet-and-prawl style head and tail for the safest, most secure hold.

Did you know that zip ties are only designed for forward movement of the tail that tightens its loop? As soon as the tail is through the head, the pawls, teeth, and tail are engaged and there's no going back…or is there?!

Shocking Ways To Remove Cable Ties You Never Even Knew

Cable ties are practical, light to carry, and versatile enough for every job, project, problem, and idea you have. From home decor and repairs to electronics, auto, art, and everything in between, cable ties are always ready to help

So when your project, location, plans, or mind changes, you can remove your heat shrink and bring it, too. Here's how.

Method 1: Cut

Okay, so this method you've heard about. That's because cutting is the fastest, easiest way to remove a zip tie. This method is well-known and most frequently used, but is not the only way.

Cutting to remove a zip tie is straightforward, simple, and easy to get done in confined spaces or awkward angles. Cutting off a zip tie is irreversible. Chopped-off and chopped-up cable ties are bound for the trash. This is the least sustainable way to remove a zip tie.

This method is the best standard of care at the end of a zip tie's life though. So when your zip ties finally grow older than they are useful, appear discolored, wiggly, brittle, or loose—it's time to cut your losses.

Carefully and with sharp scissors or utility knife.
Cut it off, toss it out, and grab another, new, replacement cable tie and give it another go.

Method 2: Squeeze

Squeezing is slower than cutting but faster than separating. Nothing sharp and you'll be able to preserve and reuse your original zip tie. One piece. No waste.

Squeezing to remove a zip tie is a super simple method, even for a beginner. Grab a pair of pliers (lineman or tongue & groove will work well, but any pair will be effective). Locate the head of your zip tie, the bigger, fatter piece where the tail is fed into it. Open and position your pliers on each side of the head, perpendicular to the zip tie's path. Give it a really hard, long squeeze, and about 3 seconds into squeezing, gve the tail a gentle tug.

You're not trying to kill it, just apply enough pressure to deform the interior walls of the head. That's where the prowl-lock, teeth, and tongue are all hanging out together. A nice, solid squeeze on a closed zip tie usually creates just enough chaos and new space to allow you to pull the tail out.

If you want to reuse that same zip tie, you'll have to verify that your "squeeze" method didn't do too much damage to the self-locking mechanism in the head. To find out, reinsert the tail into the head, and as you pull it through listen for each audible "click" on each ridged section. No click means no good anymore, dispose of it and grab a new one.

Method 3: Separate

Separating is the slowest method, but it allows a fine-tuning precision that the first two methods don't. So if this is your style or you happen to have a utility knife (like an Exacto) with a sharper, thinner blade, go this way.

For this method, you'll be using your knife like a little tiny pry bar. Face the closed zip tie toward you so that the extra tail is pointing at you. Carefully position the tip of your knife between the bottom of the prowl-lock and overtop of the grooved ridges on the tail. Nudge your knife forward so it acts like a pry bar, separating the two pieces. Doing this will disengage the self-locking mechanism acting against the tail and you'll be able to slide the tail right out.

Let's Start Again

No matter which method you choose, it might help you to keep in mind that the lifespan for indoor cable ties is about 5-10 years and outdoor cable ties are 1-2 years. Remember that outdoor cable ties need to be black if you want them to have UV protection.

For an even more satisfying experience on your next project, upgrade your cable ties to a heavy-duty option like our 175-lb-rated nylon ties. Capable of toting barges and hauling loads that weigh a lot more than the common man's zip tie. Carry on heavy duty cable ties. Carry on.