Plastic Cuffs

jbcohen · 09-29-2015, 11:35 AM

In all of the books I have read in the last four years the characters use plastic cuffs not metal or any other materiel. Why plastic? Whats the advantage of palastic in cuffs? This is not a subject that I know anything about.

Dazrin · 09-29-2015, 11:41 AM

Cheap, lighter to carry around, take up less space (concealable I would think), make less noise, don't need a key, still plenty strong (can use multiple sets on stronger people).

I don't think they should be used by everyone or in every case but they make sense for some characters to have instead of metal ones. If they are being used as the default by a general cop on the street then I think the author needs to examine why they are being used. They are more wasteful, not as secure, and could easily cause damage to someone if not used properly so a real-world police force wouldn't use them in most situations.

AnemicOak · 09-29-2015, 11:56 AM

Cheap & easy to carry in quantity. Usually carried by police & military for situations when the possibility of multiple arrests are likely (demonstrations, riots, tactical raids). They also are disposable so there is no worry about cleaning them or any kind of communicable disease transfer.

http://www.code3tactical.com/double-...-100-pack.aspx

faltradl · 09-29-2015, 11:58 AM

Perhaps the writers don't know anymore somthing about "costume jewellery" or other words für imitatet jewellery. If we talk about cuff links.

Or do they write about shirt/trousers cuffs? Then it's very curious. Perhaps they are meaning sleeve guards, which are realy more then old fashioned. I never saw them in real live.

P.S.
My god, we are talking about bracelets / handcuffs. (The problem when you are using short forms.) Then it's right. In real live this cable strap handcuffs are also often used. So why shold it be in books different?

Dr. Drib · 09-29-2015, 08:26 PM

Moved out of Reading Recommendations.

Don
(Moderator)

Cinisajoy · 09-29-2015, 08:32 PM

Oh zip ties. Good for tying up cables, wires and humans.

cromag · 09-29-2015, 09:27 PM

There are disadvantages.

(And duct tape isn't any better.)

Gunnerp245 · 09-30-2015, 03:23 AM

The zip ties in the video are standard ones not the heavy duty ones law enforcement uses.

cromag · 09-30-2015, 04:13 AM

Agreed. If you view the video at Youtube you get an annotation that acknowledges that these are standard, not metal-reinforced ties.

Still, it's something to keep in mind if your characters are kidnappers.

Barbara1955 · 09-30-2015, 06:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cinisajoy

Oh zip ties. Good for tying up cables, wires and humans.

And here I thought that's what Duck Tape was for

John F · 09-30-2015, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbcohen

In all of the books I have read in the last four years the characters use plastic cuffs not metal or any other materiel. Why plastic? Whats the advantage of palastic in cuffs? This is not a subject that I know anything about.

I'm guessing it depends? Are you reading Romance or some other genres?

Cinisajoy · 09-30-2015, 10:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

And here I thought that's what Duck Tape was for

Duct Tape is good for attaching babies and their misbehaving toys to walls.
Actually saw a picture of that one on Facebook.
Duck Tape is good for making prom dresses.
Lol.

theducks · 09-30-2015, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Katie1

And here I thought that's what Duck Tape was for

Duck tape

(is a trade name that made use of a common misquote)

Duct tape (the silver stuff) was for sealing air duct joints.
When I WAS IN THE Navy, the Olive drab stuff was Ordinance Tape
The dull Black stuff is Gaffers tape

Anything that kept your race car parts from flapping, was called 100MPH tape

Cinisajoy · 09-30-2015, 12:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theducks

Duck tape

(is a trade name that made use of a common misquote)

Duct tape (the silver stuff) was foe sealing air duct joints.
When i WAS IN THE Navy, the Olive drab stuff was Ordinance Tape
The dull Black stuff id Gaffers tape

Anything that kept you race car parts from flapping, was called 100MPH tape

Duct Tape is also wonderful for sealing a draft. Note that was a temporary fix 10 years ago. Still holding.

My family has used many miles of duct tape. They were and some still are in heating and air conditioning. My dad's job when I was born was sheet metal mechanic. When he died, he was shop foreman and his brother was the sheet metal mechanic.

ApK · 09-30-2015, 01:53 PM

In a Jane Whitefield book I just finished, a bounty hunter used the plastic zip-cuffs because he could carry them past metal detectors in airports, etc.

Also, good metal cuffs can be expensive. If you're turning someone over to police, you don't have to worry about getting your cuffs back.

09-29-2015, 11:35 AM	#1
jbcohen Wizard Posts: 3,030 Karma: 11196738 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: Where am I? Device: Kindle Paperwhite Signature edition and a Samsung S24 Ultra	Plastic Cuffs In all of the books I have read in the last four years the characters use plastic cuffs not metal or any other materiel. Why plastic? Whats the advantage of palastic in cuffs? This is not a subject that I know anything about.

09-29-2015, 11:58 AM	#4
faltradl Guru Posts: 602 Karma: 1712372 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: germany Device: PocketBook Touch	Perhaps the writers don't know anymore somthing about "costume jewellery" or other words für imitatet jewellery. If we talk about cuff links. Or do they write about shirt/trousers cuffs? Then it's very curious. Perhaps they are meaning sleeve guards, which are realy more then old fashioned. I never saw them in real live. P.S. My god, we are talking about bracelets / handcuffs. (The problem when you are using short forms.) Then it's right. In real live this cable strap handcuffs are also often used. So why shold it be in books different? Last edited by faltradl; 09-29-2015 at 12:14 PM.

09-30-2015, 01:53 PM	#15
ApK Award-Winning Participant Posts: 7,383 Karma: 68329346 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: NJ, USA Device: Kindle	In a Jane Whitefield book I just finished, a bounty hunter used the plastic zip-cuffs because he could carry them past metal detectors in airports, etc. Also, good metal cuffs can be expensive. If you're turning someone over to police, you don't have to worry about getting your cuffs back. Last edited by ApK; 09-30-2015 at 01:57 PM.

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09-29-2015, 11:41 AM	#2
Dazrin Wizard Posts: 2,720 Karma: 75825105 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: PDXish Device: Kindle Voyage, various Android devices	Cheap, lighter to carry around, take up less space (concealable I would think), make less noise, don't need a key, still plenty strong (can use multiple sets on stronger people). I don't think they should be used by everyone or in every case but they make sense for some characters to have instead of metal ones. If they are being used as the default by a general cop on the street then I think the author needs to examine why they are being used. They are more wasteful, not as secure, and could easily cause damage to someone if not used properly so a real-world police force wouldn't use them in most situations.

09-29-2015, 11:56 AM	#3
AnemicOak Bookaholic Posts: 14,391 Karma: 54969924 Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Minnesota Device: iPad Mini 4, AuraHD, iPhone XR +	Cheap & easy to carry in quantity. Usually carried by police & military for situations when the possibility of multiple arrests are likely (demonstrations, riots, tactical raids). They also are disposable so there is no worry about cleaning them or any kind of communicable disease transfer. http://www.code3tactical.com/double-...-100-pack.aspx

09-29-2015, 08:26 PM	#5
Dr. Drib Grand Sorcerer Posts: 45,328 Karma: 59447733 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Peru Device: KINDLE: Oasis 3, Scribe (1st), Matcha; KOBO: Libra 2, Libra Colour	Moved out of Reading Recommendations. Don (Moderator)

09-29-2015, 08:32 PM	#6
Cinisajoy Just a Yellow Smiley. Posts: 19,161 Karma: 83862859 Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Texas Device: K4, K5, fire, kobo, galaxy	Oh zip ties. Good for tying up cables, wires and humans.

09-29-2015, 09:27 PM	#7
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,009 Karma: 459735575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	There are disadvantages. (And duct tape isn't any better.)

09-30-2015, 03:23 AM	#8
Gunnerp245 Gadget Freak Posts: 1,169 Karma: 1043832 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: US Device: EE, Note 8	The zip ties in the video are standard ones not the heavy duty ones law enforcement uses.

09-30-2015, 04:13 AM	#9
cromag Surfin the alpha waves ~~ Posts: 26,009 Karma: 459735575 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey Device: Jetbook Lite & Mini, Nook STR, Kobo, Hanvon N516, Kindle 2, Androids	Agreed. If you view the video at Youtube you get an annotation that acknowledges that these are standard, not metal-reinforced ties. Still, it's something to keep in mind if your characters are kidnappers.

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