Help! My zipper's stuck!

cockroachfarm

cockroachfarm

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Jan 6, 2001
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Anything worthwhile I've ever learned, I learned in kindergarten - and Bladeforums. :)

I have an expensive sweater with a nylon "separating" zipper that opens from the top and the bottom. I guess I closed/opened it with too much force, and the plastic teeth misaligned. Now it won't separate! :(

Any magic "tricks" to fix this?

(Is there a link to a "Zipper Institute" website? :cool: )
 
The same thing happened to an expensive leather jacket I once owned. It ended up in a dumpster. Which reminds me to remind all of you never ever to shop at Wilson's Leather. Bad bad company. Sorry man, but it sounds like you're out of luck.
 
Lube the teeth with something you can easily wash (like soap), try to get the loose side out. It worked for me on several ocasions. If it doesn't work or the teeth are damaged, you can always replace the zipper. I hope it works.
 
flava said:
Lube the teeth with something you can easily wash (like soap), try to get the loose side out. It worked for me on several ocasions. If it doesn't work or the teeth are damaged, you can always replace the zipper. I hope it works.
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I agree with flava! Good idea with bar soap and if that doesn't work the zipper can be replaced and if you really want to wear it like NOW, turn the sweater inside out and duct tape it. Turn the sweater the right way and wa-la, it's just a quick fix. Love that duct tape. :D
 
Campmor has a couple of zipper care products. I bought this Zipper Rescue Kit years ago when a zipper on a leather jacket broke. I was able to repair it in a few minutes after reading the really excellent instructions.

I was so happy with the little kit that I wrote a thank you card to the maker. He was so happy to get a thank you, he sent me a follow up kit for lighter clothing. :D

This also looks like a good idea: Zipper Cleaner and Lubricant.
 
Thanks for all the suggestions - I _knew_ this was the place to get help for ANY problem! :)

Unfortunately - the zipper works fine. I just can't unhook the two sides when BOTH pulls are either at the top or at the bottom, because: the "teeth" are out of sync - by ONE. Let's see if I can explain this without posting a photo...

If, when "zipped" correctly, the two sides of the zipper meet so that the "teeth" are meshed A to A, B to B, C to C, D to D.........now they are meshed A to B, B to C, C to D...etc. Does that clarify the problem? IOW, the zipper works fine until the two pulls are all the way at the top OR all the way at the bottom. At that point, I can't separate the ends of the zipper to open the sweater because there are three or four teeth (covered by the two zipper pulls) that still lock perfectly.

:( :( :(

Oh, well - the dog could use another sweater anyway! :cool:
 
It would probably be cheaper to take it to a dry cleaner/tailor and have them replace the zipper.
 
My wife had the same problem on her coat. She took to the shoe maker and got it fixed for about $5. Hope you can too.
 
Thanks, everyone. I figured that "replacement" was my final answer; I just thought there might be some clever "home remedy" that someone had discovered.
 
I´ve fixed lots of zippers, and broken a few ones, here´s what you may try but I take no responsability if you break it, try at your own risk:

Take the pulls all the way to one end where they used to separate, I'll assume it´s the bottom, look at the sides of the pulls, there should be a slot along each side of the part that holds the teeth, it´s like two parts held together at the middle, the cross section is an "H" shape.

What you have to do is open a little bit the side of the pull where the zipper used to separate and take that zipper half out the side, you have to be gentle because the pulls break easily, in most pulls you can open one side a bit by pressing the other side very gently, sometimes it can be done by finger pressure, sometimes you need pliers, it´s like getting the front and back parts together so that the opposite parts separate, they only have to open up a very little bit, you then pull one side out starting at the top of the pull, get the slot in between two teeth and slide it out.

I f you manage to get it out, check the pulls to be sure that they are in good shape, generaly they are fine, but if they are assymetrical you may have to press very gently on the side that is opened more, if they are not right the zipper will likely get out of the pulls when it shouldn´t.

Here in Mexico city there are places that sell spare pulls in diferent sizes so if one breaks I can get a new pull, they are easier to put in than to get out, I don´t know about the U.S. or Canada.

I hope my explanaition is more or less clear and wish you good luck.
 
Fabric stores have zipper rescue kits that include new pulls.

I've used them myself with good results.
 
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