5
Reducing the risk of jamming fabric in the zip ~
•
When using the zip, hold the pull-tab between your thumb and forefinger with your
thumb facing you.
•
As you are closing the zip clear the way in front and under the zip slider using the back of
your hand, and cup the zip slider underneath with your remaining fingers.
Use this action for opening or closing. Keep the fabric clear of the zip slider - zip and
unzip slowly.
What to do when the zipper gets caught ~
•
Pull the fabric bit by bit out of the slider. Do not try and pull all the fabric in one go. Do not
force the slider, or use pliers on either the fabric or the zip.
If the slider does not close the zipper properly ~
•
With use, the jaws of the zip slider can open ever so slightly. When this occurs the slider
does not compress the zip teeth or coil together tightly enough and the zip bursts open or
does not close.
•
Undo the zip and with the slider at the end of the zip lightly crimp the jaws of the slider
together. Try top to bottom axis first and then side to side axis.
Crimping A Zip-Slider
A
B
C
The most common reason why zips
burst open is that the zip slider does
not close the coil tightly enough.
Metal fatigue and production
variances cause the gap marked A to
open up.
By simply ‘crimping” the slider
together at points B & C with a pair of
pliers, this solves the problem most
of the time. Crimping in other planes
is worth a try if B & C does not work.
This is to be done when the zip slider
is still attached to the zip in the open
position.
ZIPS