What is the Correct Spelling Baling Wire or Bailing Wire?

The correct spelling is baling wire, although if you search for bailing wire online, you'll get near enough the same results. This is because the two spellings have become somewhat (incorrectly) interchangeable, and many companies still refer to it as bailing wire. Baling and bailing are known as homophones, two words that have separate meanings, yet they sound exactly the same. Bear in mind, however, that currently, Google will suggest the correction of baling wire if you search instead for bailing wire. There is also no difference in the product that the words are describing, so one type of wire will not differ in function from another simply because of the name. The term bailing usually refers to either the releasing of a prisoner on bail, bailing out a bank or an institution (providing it with money to keep it afloat), or to leaving an area (informally). Baling, on the other hand, often refers to the bundling of goods, the primary function of what baling wire is used for. As a noun, a bale describes a tightly packed bundle of materials like hay, cardboard, or scrap metal. To find out more, you can check out this blog post on bailing wire vs baling wire.

Do You Have a Wire Gauge Chart to Choose the Correct Size?

Gauge refers to the thickness of a wire. Gauges operate on an inverse scale, which means the smaller the gauge number, the larger the circumference of the wire. Typically, baling wire starts at around 9 gauge, and can go all the way up to the incredibly thin 35-gauge variety. Choosing the right type of baling wire can be tough if you don’t know what to look for, yet it’s essential if you want to ensure maximum quality and functionality. You can find a reliable wire gauge chart by clicking here. You can find a wide range of different gauge baling wire online, but if you’re not sure which one will work best, don’t hesitate to contact the manufacturer of your baling machine; they should be able to give you advice on which size go for. For paper, it’s worth going for a lighter gauge, like a 14, but for tougher materials like plastics, you’ll probably need to go as low as 12. It’s worth noting that the properties of the wire can differ based on whether they’re galvanized or annealed, even if they’re the same gauge. Remember that it’s crucial to check your baler’s specifications before you start using the wire, as it may have limitations as to what gauge you can use.

Which Wire is Best for Cardboard Baling?

Generally, you'll want to use either an 11, 12, or 13 gauge wire for baling cardboard. The 11 gauge wire is the thickest and, therefore, more suited to packing denser bales. It is important to consider your baler, however, as this will likely determine the type of wire that you'll need. This can differ between make and model, and there will likely be a users manual that will have the right info. If not, you could always call up the manufacturer and ask them directly. You wouldn't want to risk damaging your baler by using the wrong materials with it. For example, a smaller vertical baler that generates smaller bales may need a smaller gauge, like a 14. In contrast, a horizontal baler that operates at a larger scale may require an 11, even though you're baling the same material. Cardboard baling wire is usually very tough, no matter the gauge, so the main point to concern yourself with is whether or not your chosen type of wire is compatible with the machine you're using. It's worth noting that this can vary extensively, so make sure you find the right wire for your specific machine and the type of material you hope to bale.

What is baling wire used for?

Baling wire is used to secure waste and scrap materials into neatly manageable bundles, making them easier to transport. It's perfect for aiding waste management in the recycling industry, and cutting down on wastage in general, no matter the area of work that you're in. Baling wire can come in many different forms, for example, galvanized baling wire is exceptionally strong and durable, and it's able to withstand the harsh conditions of the recycling process with ease. Galvanized baling wire is strong enough to survive being submerged into a molten liquid for some time, making it suitable for the galvanization of other types of metal. Black annealed baling wire is developed using the annealing process, a cycle of carefully measured heating and cooling, which is what gives it the increased level of ductility and elongation. Baling wire can be threaded through a baling machine to secure the scrap or waste material, or it can be tied by hand, as it's incredibly ductile, making it an extremely versatile material and an essential one in the recycling and agriculture industries. Baling wire has long been regarded as a fix-all type of material, so it's always handy to have some around the workspace.

Why is it called baling wire?

It's called baling wire because it refers to the job it's used for, securing bales of scrap material like hay and cardboard. The word bale might have its roots in the old Germanic language, relating to ball. Bales are the bundles of material compressed in a baling machine, and the wire is what binds this material together, holding it in place for easier maneuverability. Baling wire has been used extensively since the 1800s (this is likely when the term began gaining widespread popularity), but it's come a long way since then in both form and function. From humble origins, baling wire has become a critical material in the recycling and agricultural industries, largely due to the phenomenal rise of modern machinery like advanced baling machines and tractors.The words baling wire are often interchanged (incorrectly) with bailing wire, yet searching for either term on Google will likely still send you to the right place. By galvanizing either stainless steel or iron wire, manufacturers can make baling wire tougher than ever before. This process involves submerging the wire in a molten metal coating (usually zinc) in order to make it more durable and corrosion resistant. Baling wire can also be developed using the annealing process, which is when the wire is exposed to a cycle of heating and cooling over time.

What kind of wire is baling wire?

Baling wire is ultra-strong, highly durable, galvanized steel or iron wire. The galvanization process refers to the act of hot dipping (submerging) stainless steel or iron wire in a bath of molten zinc.The resulting metallurgical reaction causes the zinc to bond with the steel, creating a protective coating, enabling it to withstand erosion with ease. This process enables the baling wire to become exceptionally resilient and able to resist even the harshest weather and wear and tear for extensive periods of time. You can also find baling wire in the form of black annealed wire, an incredibly sturdy and versatile material that's created using a meticulous cycle of heating and cooling, causing it to increase in ductility for maximum ease of use. You can find out more about the properties of this wire here. Due to its many unique properties, including its ability to stand up to harsh conditions, baling wire is essential in the recycling and agricultural industries, and it's generally found in any type of baling application, include office recycling. Its main purpose is to secure bales (compact bundles of waste and scrap material) and hold them in place, making them easier to store, handle and transport, greatly aiding the waste management process.

Galvanized vs. annealed baling wire

Galvanized and annealed baling wire each have distinct properties, advantages, and disadvantages. To choose the right type of baling wire for your application, check your baler, the material you’re baling, and the bale storage conditions. Then, consult the following table on galvanized versus annealed baling wire.

Feature	Galvanized wire	Annealed wire
Finish	Class 1 or Class 3 zinc coating	Black oxide coating with wax finish
Corrosion resistance	High	Moderate
Tensile strength	High	Moderate
Ductility	Moderate	High
Elongation	Moderate	High
Common uses	Outdoor applications, humid conditions, harsh environments	Indoor applications, expansive materials

About galvanized baling wire

Galvanized wire undergoes a hot-dip galvanizing process, which involves coating the steel wire in a protective layerof zinc. This zinc coating acts as a sacrificial layer, protecting the underlying steel from rust and corrosion. Galvanized wire is known for its:

Corrosion resistance: galvanized iron wire resists rust up to 100 times better than uncoated steel, making it highly durable and long-lasting.
Versatility: many industries, including recycling, agriculture, and construction, use galvanized wire due to its high tensile strength, formability, and corrosion resistance.
Durability: the zinc coating is extremely durable and resistant to scratches from abrasion.
Long shelf life: hot-dip galvanized steel has a long life, reducing maintenance costs and offering a low long-term cost.

Learn more about the pros and cons of galvanized wire.

Common Uses

The recycling industry uses galvanized wire for baling recyclable materials that require long-term outdoor storage or experience exposure to wet conditions, such as:

Vineyards and orchards also use high-tensile galvanized wire for trellising and tree support; farms use it for fencing and animal enclosures.

Our galvanization process

We use a meticulous hot-dip galvanization process to produce superior-quality wire. The process involves:

Surface preparation: we clean the wire to remove impurities
Pickling: we immerse the wire in an acidic solution to strip oxides and residue
Fluxing: we soak the wire in a flux solution to prevent oxidation and form a uniform zinc coating
Molten bath: we dip the wire into a bath of molten zinc at around 450°C (850°F)
Alloy formation: iron-zinc alloys form for excellent adhesion and corrosion resistance
Extraction: we slowly withdraw the wire from the zinc bath to produce an even coating
Quenching: we rapidly cool the coated wire to solidify the zinc layer

Galvanization classes

Galvanized wire comes in different classes based on the thickness of the protective zinc coating. We offer both Class 1 and Class 3 galvanization:

Class 1 galvanization offers a basic zinc coating of 0.28 ounces per square foot, providing 2–11 years of corrosion protection, depending on the environment
Class 3 galvanization features a premium zinc coating nearly three times thicker than Class 1, using 0.80 ounces of zinc per square foot, resulting in 13–30 years of corrosion protection.

While both classes provide rust resistance, Class 3 galvanization is the best choice for harsh environmental conditions and heavy-duty applications.

About annealed baling wire

Our black annealed wire undergoes a treatment process, which involves heating and slowly cooling the wire to relieve internal stresses and increase ductility. The annealing process results in a black oxide coating on the wire's surface, providing annealed wire with moderate corrosion resistance. Annealed wire is known for its:

Improved mechanical properties: annealing improves the structural integrity, flexibility, and elongation properties of wire, making it more workable and better suited for baling applications that require flexible, ductile wire.
Increased wire efficiency: enhanced elongation properties can reduce the amount of wire operations use.
Stress reduction: by relieving internal stresses built up during the drawing process, annealing reduces the risk of fatigue, fracturing, or cracking over prolonged periods of use.
Enhanced electrical and magnetic properties: the heat treatment process improves conductivity and magnetism, making annealed wire a good choice for electric fencing.

Learn more about the pros and cons of black annealed wire.

Common uses of annealed wire

Recycling facilities use black annealed wire for baling expansive materials or materials that require short-term indoor storage, such as:

The increased ductility and elongation of annealed wire adapt it for baling expansive or awkward materials that require the wire to bend, twist, or conform to awkward shapes.

Our annealing process

Our black annealed wire undergoes a precise annealing process to enhance ductility and elongation. The process involves:

Heating the wire to a specific temperature above the recrystallization temperature
Maintaining the temperature for a designated time
Slowly cooling the wire to relieve internal stresses and improve ductility

The annealing process gives black anneal wide an elongation of up to 25%, compared to the 12% elongation of galvanized baling wire.

Our galvanized and annealed baling wire products

Baling Wire Direct sells high-quality galvanized and annealed baling wire products manufactured from premium-grade US steel. Our wire undergoes a meticulous manufacturing processto provide superior performance and durability.

Galvanized baling wire products

We sell the following galvanized baling wire products:

Galvanized wire: multi-purpose wire for baling and non-baling applications, sold by the stem
High-tensile galvanized wire: manufactured from high-carbon steel for enhanced tensile strength and heavy-duty applications
Single loop bale ties: for manual-tie horizontal and vertical balers, featuring a single loop for variable-size bales
Double loop bale ties: for manual-tie horizontal and vertical balers, featuring a convenient double-loop hooking configuration for quick tying

Annealed baling wire products

We sell the following black annealed baling wire products:

Black annealed stem wire: for high-volume automatic balers, sold in 1,900 lb stems
Black annealed box wire: for lower-volume auto-tie balers, sold in 50 and 100-lb boxes

Single loop bale ties: for manual-tie vertical and horizontal balers, featuring a single loop for variable bale sizes

Baling wire products we offer

Baling Wire Direct sells the following high-quality baling wire products.

Baling Wire FAQ

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Galvanized vs. annealed baling wire

About galvanized baling wire

Common Uses

Our galvanization process

Galvanization classes

About annealed baling wire

Common uses of annealed wire

Our annealing process

Our galvanized and annealed baling wire products

Galvanized baling wire products

Annealed baling wire products

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Baling Wire FAQ

Is galvanized wire good for outdoor use?

What are the common types of galvanization?

What is the difference between process annealing and full annealing?

Is annealing the same as age hardening?

Why is tensile strength important for baling wire?

What is elongation?

Does baling wire rust?

Why is zinc used in galvanizing?

What wire gauge sizes does Baling Wire Direct offer?

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