How to Choose the Right Baling Wire Gauge

When you shop for baling wire at Vulcan Wire, you’ll quickly notice that we have a number of wire gauges available. It’s always nice to have options, but do you know which is right for your needs? In this post, we’ll teach you how to choose the right baling wire gauge for you.

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An Intro to Buying Wire

If you are new to buying wire, you may need a little clarification on what we mean by “gauge.” Simply put, the gauge of a wire is its thickness. Some tasks require a relatively thin wire, while other jobs need a thicker product, so it’s always smart to pay attention to gauge before placing your order.

It’s important to note that wires actually get thinner as the gauge goes up. This is counter-intuitive for some people, but smaller numbers equal thicker wires. For example, 10 gauge wire is thicker than 12 gauge wire, which is thicker than 14 gauge. You may be a little confused by this point at first, but you’ll get used to it soon enough as you order more wire.

What Kind of Machine?

There are a few different types of balers on the market today, and the machine you are using will play a role in picking the right wire gauge. Often times, vertical balers will demand a slightly thinner wire than horizontal balers, as they are usually meant for lighter-duty work. So, you will probably find yourself in the 14-12 gauge range when shopping for a vertical model, while a horizontal model may go as thick as 10 or 11.

Consider the Material

Another factor to note when picking out your wire is the material that you will be baling. Newspaper and cardboard are two items commonly packaged up in a baler, and both of those materials can be managed with relatively thin wire, often around 14 gauge (depending on the machine). On the other hand, a material like foam can cause trouble for a thinner wire, so a thicker 11 gauge is usually appropriate.

Making Adjustments

To get started, it’s a good idea to consult the owner’s manual for your baler to determine what wire gauges it can handle. That information will point you in the right direction and will help you place your first order. From there, you may need to go through a bit of trial and error until you dial in your wire selection just right. If you notice your wires are struggling to handle what you are trying to bale, the obvious next step is to try a thicker wire and test the results. After a short period of making adjustments, you should land on the perfect wire for all of your baling projects.

Order from Vulcan Wire Today!

Now that you know how to choose the right baling wire gauge, it’s time to place your order! If you have any questions about wire gauges or anything else related to our products, please feel free to contact us right away for assistance.

According to the American Forest and Paper Association, 93.6% of OCC (old corrugated containers), or cardboard, was recycled in , making cardboard one of the most successfully recycled materials.

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Cardboard balers compress sorted cardboard into dense bales for transportation and storage. The cardboard recycling industry bales materials to reduce transportation costs and storage space requirements. The cardboard baling process follows these steps:

1. Sorted cardboard feeds into the baler’s hopper.
2. Once the baler chamber is full, the baler compresses the cardboard to the desired density and weight.
3. Operators use bale ties, or auto-tie balers secure the bales with baling wire.
4. Finished bales are ejected from the baler and sent to recycling centers for processing.

Balers help remove cardboard and other recyclables from the waste stream, promoting sustainability and the circular economy.

What is the cardboard recycling process?

Besides baling, cardboard undergoes the following recycling process:

1. Collection: cardboard is collected from curbside bins, businesses, and other sources.
2. Sorting: cardboard is sorted into different types. Corrugated cardboard is separated from boxboard (thinner material) and any coated or waxed cardboard is set aside for specialized recycling.
3. Baling: depending on the operation, sorted cardboard is baled and sent to other processing facilities or storage sites.
4. Shredding and pulping: sorted cardboard is shredded into small pieces. It is then mixed with water and chemicals to break down the fibers, creating a slurry known as pulp. This pulp is sometimes blended with virgin fibers to enhance strength.
5. Filtering and cleaning: the pulp is filtered to remove tape, glue, staples, ink, and other contaminants.
6. Drying and finishing: cleaned pulp is dried and formed into sheets of paper.
7. Converting into new products: finished sheets are used to manufacture new cardboard materials, which are ready for redistribution.

Cardboard can undergo recycling 5–8 times before the fibers become too short for further use.

Best baling wire for cardboard

We carry several wire options for baling cardboard boxes and other OCC products. The best type of wire and wire gauge for baling cardboard depends on whether you have a vertical or horizontal baler and whether it is automatic or manual tie. Storage conditions and duration also affect wire choice. Here are some of the best options:

• Galvanized wire is less commonly used for baling cardboard. But if your bales require long-term storage, galvanization offers increased resistance to rust and corrosion to keep bales safe and secure.
• Black annealed wire feeds smoothly through the high-volume automatic baling machines commonly used in cardboard recycling. Annealing improves wire’s ductility for baling expansive cardboard.
• Single loop bale ties can be tied to different lengths to accommodate inconsistent bale sizes. They work with manual horizontal and vertical balers. We offer both black annealed and galvanized single loop bale ties.
• Double loop bale ties are pre-cut to length and feature a loop (hook) at both ends. The double loop configuration accelerates the tying process, increasing productivity.

What types of cardboard are recyclable?

Most types of cardboard waste can be baled, including:

• OCC: known as the most commonly recycled cardboard, OCC has one or more corrugated sheets sandwiched between two outer walls. Additional fluted sheets can be added to increase protection and durability. OCC includes shipping boxes, pizza boxes, shoe boxes, impact protection pads, dividers, and retail displays.
• Chipboard: thicker than paperboard, packaging, dividers, protectors, book covers, and product displays are made of chipboard.
• Paperboard (solid cardboard): a thin, compact cardboard sheet suitable for high-quality printing. It is used for packaging and retail displays. Paperboard products also include food packaging, retail packaging, cereal boxes, beverage carriers, and some tissue paper products.

Most types of cardboard can be baled and recycled. Cardboard coated in wax, contaminated by food or other substances, or saturated with moisture cannot be recycled.

Benefits of recycling cardboard

Some of the benefits of recycling cardboard include:

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• Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
• Production of 50% less sulfur dioxide
• Job creation in collection, sorting, and processing
• Reduced volume of cardboard waste that goes to landfills
• Conservation of natural resources
• Community engagement around environmental impact awareness