Whether it's simply moving goods or boxes across towns to new places, or hauling goods and heavy equipment across the country, tie-down straps are an important part of completing any job safely.
Below is an overview of 2 common buckles and their uses.
Ratchet buckle
The ratchet buckle is probably the most famous of all tightening belt mechanisms. The ratchet buckle is composed of a circular rotating gear, a pawl, and a lever, which provides a simple method for tightening and fixing the load during transportation. Although the ratchet buckle provides better tension than other buckles, the ratchet buckle frame may come into contact with the side of the cargo or vehicle, causing damage to it during movement. In addition, it is easy to over-tighten the load with the ratchet buckle, which may cause further damage to the cargo and the cargo to which the cargo is anchored.
Common uses: fixing large furniture, building materials, and recreational vehicles.
Surprising use: tighten and fix the beehive for relocation.
Cam buckle
Compared with ratchet buckles, cam buckles are little known, and they are most commonly used to securely secure light and fragile goods. The user presses and opens the "cam" mechanism, passes the strap through the bottom of the buckle, then pulls the strap to the desired tension, and then releases the cam to fix the strap in place, thereby operating the cam buckle. Therefore, cam buckles are generally not suitable for larger loads because their tension depends on the user's ability to tighten the belt.
Common uses: fixing glass and ceramic objects, small antiques, and some courtyard debris.
Surprising use: fixing bicycles and canoes to cargo racks.
