It is difficult to imagine modern outerwear without such an element of fittings as zippers. Their popularity and widespread use are quite understandable: they are practical, comfortable, look aesthetically pleasing, and protect the jacket owner from snow, wind or rain much better than buttons.
But they have one small drawback: with active use, they can “seize” or break apart, and at the most inopportune moment. What to do if the lock comes apart? The most important thing is not to be nervous and not to tug at him even more. In this article we will tell you only proven ways to fix a zipper on a jacket if it is broken.
Why does the zipper on a jacket come apart?
Manufacturers produce several types of sliders for different types of zippers
Slider for tractor zipper
Slider for metal zipper
Slider for spiral zipper
The lock may have an automatic design that does not allow the lightning to disperse; semi-automatic - unfastening with the pawl raised; haberdashery - there is no stopper, the links are not blocked, which allows the slider to move freely without being secured.
There are several reasons why a zipper does not fasten well or comes apart. This may be due to improper operation, constant tugging of the lock, or long service life.
Before starting repairs, it is necessary to identify the cause, which usually consists of the following problems:
- The runner is too weak and does not connect the teeth.
- The slider is tight, the zipper is tight or sticks.
- The zipper comes apart after being closed.
It is not always convenient to tear out a zipper and sew a new one, since you will have to rip out several seams, one of which is decorative. In this case, in order to sew it carefully, you need to have tailoring skills. In order not to spend money on repairs in the workshop, we will try to carry out repairs at home.
Rules for caring for a castle?
By following the rules of zipper care, you will keep it in its original form for a long time.
Such as:
- Do not let small children play with lightning.
- Do not make sudden movements; close and open slowly and carefully.
- If the zipper is metal and is located on shoes, it should be lubricated to normalize its functioning. Suitable only for leather shoes and bags on which the lubricant will not leave marks.
- Do not expose the metal fastener to water as it will begin to rust.
- Clean dirt from the zipper in a timely manner.
- If it is jammed and does not want to unfasten, do not tear the lock. Check to see if the internal tissue is stuck in the slider or if a tooth has broken off.
Take a little time so that you do not have to repair the product in the workshop by completely replacing the clasp.
The zipper on the jacket is coming apart, how to fix it
Using pliers, an easy way.
To use this method, you must:
- Lay the jacket out on a flat surface and straighten the sides of the zipper.
- Place one end of the zipper inside the slider and press with pliers.
- Try moving the slider up and down, if the zipper works, forget about the problem.
- If the zipper continues to come apart, place the pliers on both sides of the zipper and press.
- Pull the slider together with pliers several times in two directions - up and down.
If you are unable to repair the zipper with pliers, you can try using scissors .
To do this you need:
- Take one half of the castle in your hands.
- Find the lowest position of the slider.
- Make a cut between the teeth with scissors.
- Place the slider on the place where the cut was made and pull it up.
It is better to coat the area around the cut with glue, so the effect will be better.
Using a screwdriver. This method is suitable for metal zippers. You need to take a narrow screwdriver and insert it into the slider bosom. This is done in order to expand the device. After this, insert the device into the free half of the fastener and fasten the slider with pliers.
In addition, the slider can be rearranged. To do this, rub the zipper teeth with paraffin, straighten the stopper, and insert the slider. The lock can be used.
If the base of the lock is damaged, apply glue to the damaged area and leave to dry. Repeat if necessary.
If the dog does not slide well, lubricate the lock along the entire length with lard, candle wax or a soft pencil lead.
If the bottom is frayed: repairing the zipper using a cocktail straw and other options
If the tip of the lock is frayed, the latch will constantly pop out. Then repairing our zipper using a regular plastic cocktail straw will help us.
The frayed edge must be cut off, the edges must be melted over the fire of a candle or lighter and flattened. Cut a piece of straw about 1 cm long and place it in place of the latch.
Heat and flatten with pliers.
If you need to repair the edge, but there is no straw at hand, you can apply any instant glue to the place of the fastener, wait until it dries, and use a nail file or file to give it the desired shape.
The zipper on the jacket is coming apart at the bottom
At the bottom of any zipper there is a rivet, which is a limiter for the slider. If it breaks, the zipper will not fasten or will constantly diverge. To repair the zipper in this case, you need to select a new stopper that has the same shape and size. First, remove the old rivet using pliers or scissors. You must act carefully so as not to damage the fabric. If you can’t remove it carefully and the material is still touched, cut the threads or burn them with a match. After removing the fixing part, the lower teeth will be free and can be removed without any problems. But this is only if they are damaged.
If possible, keep the removal of teeth to a minimum, but do not leave loose ones, as the zipper may break again. In their place, install a new limiter a couple of millimeters higher.
The limiter can be picked up in the store. It is not difficult to install it using pliers, the main thing is not to pinch it or leave it too loose.
Possible causes of failure
Before you think about how to fix a zipper on your jacket if it's coming apart, you need to know the factors that contribute to zipper failure.
- Active and long-term operation. Outerwear is bought not for one season, but for at least two or three, but sometimes your favorite things stay in the wardrobe for many years. In this case, it is difficult to avoid troubles with lightning - like any other things, it tends to wear out. And if you take into account the fact that jacket fasteners bear the greatest load (they are fastened and unfastened at least twice a day), then their failure after 3-4 years should not come as a surprise.
- Inaccurate use. Even such a simple item of clothing as a zipper must be used correctly and carefully. If you constantly pull the slider and apply force to fasten it, parts of the fastener will become loose and the teeth will fall out.
- Adverse weather conditions. Snow, wind and rain are additional factors that shorten the life of the zipper. We are not given the opportunity to influence the vagaries of nature, so outerwear for the off-season and winter needs to be bought in good stores.
- Improper storage. In the warm season, the jacket should be kept in a special bag, but folded so that the zipper does not bend. Violation of these rules leads to the fact that the tape and runners become bent, and dust and dirt accumulate under the runner.
- Poor quality elements. If the fittings are of poor quality or sewn incorrectly, they will soon come apart or break.
- Inappropriate item size. A similar nuisance often happens to representatives of the fair sex, who, in an effort to look slimmer, buy clothes that are too small or things that are too tight. The zipper may work well at first, but constant tension will soon cause it to break.
Following these simple rules will extend the life of the zipper and save the owner of the item from financial costs, but if the fastener is already coming apart, you can try to fix it yourself.
The metal zipper on the jacket comes apart, what should I do?
Metal zipper is considered the most durable, but it also has disadvantages:
- scratches fingers;
- the slider may often “stick”;
- the teeth cling to the threads of the fabric.
To properly repair a metal zipper, you need to determine the cause of the breakdown.
Slider repair
- Take pliers (pliers) or tongs that are not sharp.
- Examine the slider and determine the location of voids and partitioning parts inside.
- Use pliers to press both sides onto the zipper links.
- This needs to be done from below and from above.
- ZIP up.
- Squeeze the base of the slider (toward the center).
- Be careful not to break the lock by squeezing lightly.
Deformation of zipper links
- Lay out the jacket on a flat surface.
- Tap with a hammer all over the zipper on both sides (external and internal).
- Tap this several times.
The zipper only diverges in one place (this indicates damage to the teeth)
- First fasten the zipper;
- Squeeze the area where the broken links are located with your hands;
- Use pliers to align the links, pressing lightly.
- To change deformed teeth, select suitable ones from old clothes, remove them and insert them into the zipper of the jacket.
When fixing the teeth, keep the interval, otherwise the zipper will not close.
Teeth missing
- On a permanent zipper, sew up the area with the missing teeth, so the slider will rest on this place and the jacket will not unzip (only for breakage at the bottom).
- On the detachable one, you need to change the limiter, which is located at the bottom. To do this, replace it with a larger one and press it with pliers.
The runner flew off completely
- Support the zipper material.
- Pull the ends out on one side.
- Use scissors to straighten and remove one of the limiters - lower or upper, whichever is more convenient.
- Pass the ends of the braid inside the runner.
- Advance the slider.
- Install the clamps in their original place.
The runner fell off on one side.
- Unclench the slider with tongs and lower it down.
- Thread the teeth into the runner.
- Press the edges of the runner.
If you cannot release the walls of the lock, remove the stopper, thread the lock onto the teeth, and put the stopper back in place.
If the slider breaks, you need to replace it and buy a new one. Its size is indicated on the reverse side.
To avoid making a mistake when choosing, take the jacket with you to the store. The seller will select a suitable slider.
Replacing the slider
- Unzip the zipper all the way.
- Remove the stopper on one side.
- Fasten the zipper and bring the slider out on one side where the stopper was removed.
- Insert a new slider.
- Replace the stopper by pressing it with pliers.
It will be much easier to insert the slider if you lubricate it with sunflower oil, soap or paraffin candles.
To prevent normal operation of the zipper, lubricate it with beeswax or paraffin candles. In this case, the zipper can be unfastened or fastened. Filling the space between the teeth will allow the lock to slide better.
The stylus will provide better glide and protect against external factors, but may stain clothes.
Types
The types of zippers are determined by the functional features of the locks: the presence or absence of protection against spontaneous unfastening.
There are locks:
- auto-lock, A/L – automatic;
- pin-lock, P/L – semi-automatic;
- non-lock, N/ – haberdashery.
The use of locks depends on the type of fastener.
Auto
The A/L lock has a slider mechanism that engages the links and prevents them from moving apart, regardless of the position of the suspension. The brake is served by spring-loaded spikes located inside the runner. Disengagement occurs when a pulling force is applied to the key fob. Automatic locks are used on detachable models with large teeth.
Semi-automatic
The P/L lock has a slider with spikes located in the key fob. When the tongue is lowered, the spikes fit between the teeth and prevent the pawl from moving. To unfasten the zipper, you need to lift the puller. Semi-automatic devices are used in detachable types.
Haberdashery
Clasp with N/L lock: the slider does not have an automatic mechanism or stopper, it moves without being secured. Such sliders are installed on permanent connections.
How to unfasten the zipper on a jacket if it comes apart
If the zipper on the jacket comes apart, the reason may be in the slider, in its slight compression. To deal with this problem, you just need to squeeze the lock with pliers or pliers from each edge. You shouldn't squeeze too hard, as you risk the slider not moving at all. The plastic zipper should be lubricated with rosin, dissolved in alcohol, and left for three hours to dry.
A metal zipper can be tapped with a hammer along its entire length several times on both sides; this action will reduce the gaps. To do this, place a hard object, such as a board, under the zipper. To avoid hitting the middle part of the slider, the upper stop is used. This method is good for metal zippers.
A broken slider must be replaced; it is removed from the zipper by removing the stoppers using small scissors. The slider size is printed on the reverse side (1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10, etc.).
Replace the old slider with a new one, choosing the right size.
Step-by-step photo repair instructions if the zipper constantly diverges:
The clasp does not lock
When the zipper slider doesn't lock onto your jeans, you can end up in a very awkward situation. If you need to go out urgently and have nothing else to wear, you can do this: thread a key ring into the slider, put it on a button, and then fasten the loop. You can use an elastic band for the same thing.
If the zipper periodically comes apart and pressing the slider does not help, you need to replace it. First, use wire cutters to remove the old zipper and metal zipper stops. Then put a new slider on the zipper and use pliers to secure the stoppers.
The plastic zipper on the jacket is coming apart, how to fix it
If the plastic zipper comes apart, try to close it by tilting the zipper lengthwise.
If you still can’t fasten it, the lock may have worn down to such an extent that it can no longer be repaired.
Have your pliers ready.
Find an empty space inside the slider. This is usually the part closest to the jacket.
Squeeze the edge with pliers so that the lower and upper walls touch each other with the edge.
When you release the pliers, the edges will straighten out a little, but the gap will be smaller.
Now you need to try to button your jacket. If it still doesn't fasten well, press the lock again.
If during the repair process the lock breaks, do not worry about it. Buy a new one from the store that matches the size and insert it yourself.
Repairing teeth is much more difficult, but you can try. Take a thick fishing line and secure it to the zipper fabric so that it does not interfere with the slider.
Prevention of good work
- Make sure that the lock is not subjected to strong “tugging”.
- Brush your teeth periodically with an old toothbrush;
- carry out wax treatment;
- When washing, fasten the zipper and turn the jacket inside out;
- You need to iron a jacket with a plastic zipper carefully so as not to damage the teeth.
Damage Prevention
To prevent lightning damage, you need to follow a few simple tips:
- When washing the jacket, all zippers should be zipped and the item should be turned inside out.
- When ironing clothes with zippers made of non-heat-resistant materials, avoid getting the iron into the zipper area.
- To extend the life of the lock, it must be periodically treated with special care products, such as hydrophobic lubricant. This substance provides the fastener with water-repellent and windproof protection.
- Before pulling the slider from below, you need to insert both parts into the lock all the way.
- It is sometimes necessary to treat the teeth and lock with a soft pencil lead or other substance to lubricate the surface.
- You need to fasten the zipper without haste or force; at this moment the tape should be in a taut position.
To prevent wear, all parts of the zipper should be cleaned periodically using a small brush. It is recommended to use a toothbrush, as its fibers are quite soft and small. With careful and careful handling, any item can last for many years without a single repair.
When washing, fasten all zippers and turn the item inside out.
When ironing, avoid getting the iron into the zipper area.
To extend the life of the lock, periodically treat with care products.
Insert both parts of the slider into the lock until it stops
Treat the teeth and lock
Fasten without haste or force
