How to Use a Strapping Tool

Banding or strapping material is used to secure building materials together or on pallets to allow easier handling. Polypropylene and steel are two common materials used for shipping strapping, and each has a tool specially designed to tighten and secure the strapping to the materials. Both types of tool perform a similar function, but in a different way. You cannot use a strapping tool designed for steel strapping to tighten and secure polypropylene strapping, or vice versa.

Things You'll Need

• Steel and polypropylene strapping
• Object(s) to secure with strapping
• Strapping tools for steel and polypropylene
• Crimping sleeve
• Crimping tool

Instructions

Using a Steel Strapping Tool

1. Wrap a length of steel strapping around the object you need to secure.

2. Place the steel strapping on top of itself, creating a doubled-up thickness of steel strapping no shorter than 12 inches in length, and pull the steel strapping tight around the object.

3. Slide the doubled up steel strap into the steel strapping tool.

4. Place one hand on the sealing handle of the strapping tool and pull the tension handle toward you with your other hand.

5. Hold the strapping tool steady with the hand that is on the tensioning handle, and push the sealing handle forward until it hits the stop located on the front of the strapping tool.

6. Pull the sealing handle toward you until you feel the cutting blade of the sealing handle cut through the top layer of the steel strapping.

Using a Polypropylene Strapping Tool

1. Pull the polypropylene strapping around the object to be secured and feed one loose end of the strapping into the feeder wheels of the strapping tool. Refer to the operating instructions of your strapping tool to determine the proper feeding procedure for the strapping tool you are using.

2. Feed the other end of the polypropylene strapping through the strapping tool's cutting wheel, if so equipped, and then into the strapping tool's tensioning wheel.

3. Alternate pulling and pushing the tensioning handle of the strapping tool to apply tension to the polypropylene strapping.

4. Slide a crimping sleeve onto the tense polypropylene strapping and secure the sleeve by slipping the crimping tool over the sleeve and pushing the tool's handles together.

5. Squeeze the tensioning handle and the base handle together to cut the strapping and free the strapping tool from the completed strap.

References

• AllPack Direct: How to use a 2 piece strapping tool set for polypropylene.
• Joseph Kihlberg: Steel strapping tool