Baling wire gauge guide

Wire gauge is a critical factor in the manufacturing and baling industry, as it corresponds directly to the thickness or diameter of wire. In North America, the American Wire Gauge (AWG) system is commonly used to determine wire sizes. The selection of the right wire gauge impacts tensile strength, load capacity, and the effectiveness of baling operations.

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Wire gauge works inversely with wire diameter; thus, a lower gauge number indicates a thicker wire diameter. The gauge number reflects how many times the wire has been drawn through progressively smaller dies in the manufacturing process. For example, a 12-gauge wire has been drawn through twelve dies, reducing its diameter with each draw.

Understanding wire gauge is essential for effective baling operations, as it influences how much pressure and weight the wire can withstand while binding materials together.

How to Choose Wire Gauge Size

When selecting the appropriate wire gauge, several factors should be considered, including the type of materials being baled (such as cardboard, plastic, or metal), the baling equipment used, and the size and density of the bales being produced.

For optimal results, it’s advisable to consult with your baling machine manufacturer. Here’s a list of commonly used wire gauges for different types of balers:

Vertical Balers

• Cardboard: 12-14 gauge
• Newspaper: 12-13 gauge
• Plastic Shrink Wrap: 13-14 gauge
• Other Plastics: 12-13 gauge
• Foam: 11 gauge

Horizontal Balers

• Cardboard: 11-13 gauge
• Newspaper: 12-13 gauge
• Plastic Shrink Wrap: 11-12 gauge
• Other Plastics: 11-12 gauge
• Foam: 11 gauge

Automatic Baling Machines

• Cardboard: 10-12 gauge
• Newspaper: 10-12 gauge
• Plastic Shrink Wrap: 10-12 gauge
• Other Plastics: 10-12 gauge
• Foam: 10-11 gauge

Tensile Strength and Load Strength of Our Products

When selecting a wire type and gauge, it is crucial to consider each product's tensile and load strength. The following chart illustrates the tensile and load strength ranges of our available baling wire products.

Baling Wire Gauge Guide Chart

Here is a chart displaying wire gauges and corresponding diameters for our premium baling wire products.

Gauge

Regular Galvanized Wire (inches)

Hi-tensile Galvanized Wire (inches)

Black Annealed Wire (inches)

Single Loop Bale Ties (inches)

Double Loop Bale Ties (inches)

9

NA

NA

NA

NA

0.148

10

NA

NA

0.135

NA

0.135

11

0.117-0.119

0.119-0.121

0.120

0.117-0.119

0.120

12

0.102-0.104

0.104-0.106

0.105

0.102-0.104

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0.105

12.5

NA

NA

NA

NA

0.099

13

0.088-0.090

NA

NA

0.088-0.090

NA

14

0.077-0.079

NA

NA

0.077-0.079

NA

Baling wire is available in various gauges tailored to meet different tensile and load strength requirements. The most widely used gauges range from 9 to 14, which are suitable for most applications and compatible with standard baling machinery.

Our Highest Gauge Wire

The thinnest wire we offer is 14 gauge. We provide 14 gauge galvanized wire, alongside black annealed and galvanized single loop bale ties. This gauge is ideal for light-duty baling applications, such as smaller plastic bales generated by manual vertical balers.

Our Lowest Gauge Wire

The thickest wire we offer is 9 gauge, which includes galvanized double loop bale ties. This gauge effectively handles heavy, dense materials and those that exert extreme outward force, such as copper, rubber tires, and foam.

Understanding Wire Gauge

Gauge is a measurement that originated within the manufacturing process and refers to the diameter or thickness of wire. Wire gauge is typically measured using the American Wire Gauge system, which serves as the standard method for confirming wire size in North America.

Wire gauge is instrumental in determining load strength, tensile strength, and the wire’s ability to support the pressure and weight of the materials being baled.

The wire diameter has an inverse relationship with gauge — meaning that a higher gauge indicates a thinner wire. This measure is based on how many times a wire has been drawn and reduced through smaller dies during production, with a 12 gauge wire being drawn through twelve dies, consistently decreasing its size.

Our Wire Size Chart

For more information, check out our comprehensive baling wire gauge guide.

Types of Baling Wire We Sell

Galvanized Wire

Our galvanized wire features a protective zinc coating applied through a hot-dip galvanization process, making it suitable for:

• Baling materials intended for outdoor storage
• Baling agricultural products like hay and grass
• Non-baling applications such as fencing and vineyard trellising

Galvanization enhances corrosion resistance, making this wire ideal for harsh environments. We provide both Class 1 and Class 3 galvanization; Class 3 offers a thicker zinc coating that lasts significantly longer than Class 1.

Our galvanized wire is available by the stem in gauges 11 to 14, in addition to galvanized bale ties.

High-Tensile Galvanized Wire

This type of wire is suitable for both baling and various non-baling applications. The increased tensile strength improves pressure resistance, allowing it to support heavier loads. High-tensile wire is typically used for:

• Binding dense materials like tires, HDPE plastics, and metal
• Two-ram balers, which apply more compressive force
• Baling materials for outdoor use
• Large animal enclosures, leveraging its enhanced strength and rust resistance

We sell high-tensile wire by the stem in 11 and 12 gauge.

Black Annealed Wire

This wire undergoes a heat treatment process called annealing, which enhances its ductility by softening it. Although it provides somewhat less rust resistance than our galvanized products, black annealed wire is excellent for:

• Bales stored indoors
• Materials prone to expansion
• High volume auto-tie balers

We offer black annealed wire by the box and stem in 10 to 12 gauge.

Single Loop Bale Ties

Single loop bale ties, also known as wire ties or tie wire, are used in manual tie vertical and horizontal balers. These are ideal for:

• Lighter bales
• Variable bale sizes
• Cost-effective operations

We sell single loop bale ties in both black annealed and galvanized finishes in gauges 11 to 14.

Double Loop Bale Ties

These ties are pre-cut for specific bale sizes, making them suited for:

• Heavier bales
• Expansive materials
• Uniform bale sizes
• Bales stored outdoors (galvanized finish)
• Retail environments (bright finish)

You can find our double loop bale ties in galvanized and bright (uncoated) finishes.

We are recognized as the premier hay baling wire supplier worldwide. We are your one-stop shop for all your baling needs, and our specialized staff is here to assist you in finding the right product.