Zipper Slider/Pull Replacement - Repair a zipper without replacing it
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- Опубліковано 17 чер 2013
- I'm leaving this video here because I don't want to lose all the helpful and encouraging comments left by viewers, but please go on to my new youtube channel dedicated just to sewing.
/ @angelatrenholm8805
A "broken" zipper does NOT always have to be replaced.
That's right! Of all the jacket zippers I see in my shop for replacement, I only actually replace about 20%. The other 80% simply need the slider/pull replaced. Replacing the slider will see that zipper back in operation in less than 5 minutes.
Please visit my blog post for more info.
willingworker.net/sewing
Great tip from a viewer: GaborBartal "Thanks, this was surprisingly easy. I watched other videos and almost gave up before trying. Your tip on the slider being the faulty bit is great. I'd suggest mentioning that it can be done without any purchase, at home. I'm sure everyone has some unused clothing with zippers. I removed the slider from it (your way). But on the actual clothing I removed the small bit by prying it open instead (with a Swiss knife I did), taking off the slider, putting on the working one, and reattaching the small bit by clamping it back on. It must go into a V shape when removing (prying open), and later simply clamped back to parallel. It was 3 minutes in total without buying any parts or the need for the new U shape bit."
I have done this myself on numerous occasions with metal top stops to preserve the same color. A note on prying open the top stop, though.This can only be done with metal ones, as the plastic top stops will just break.
Ma'am I am a 20 year old and I must say you have saved my favorite jacket from the trash, thank you so much.
Great to hear!
Me too. Thanks for taking the time to make this video.
OMG you know this is practically magical. How in the world were we never taught this in Home Ec?
Thank you!! The dry cleaners tried to sell me a whole new zipper. As you said, there was NOTHING wrong with the zipper - just a broken slider. My favorite (expensive) coat saved!
Thank you so much! I watched about a dozen videos on how to fix the slider, yours was by far the easiest! That dawgone top stop drove me nuts until you showed me how to just pull it off!
Hey! I called Carhartt & they sent me a replacement zipper slide for free. This video showed me how to do the repair. Life is good!!
That's great! I hadn't thought of suggesting that. I'm sure most "pricier" manufacturers will do the same. :)
Saved my wife and I's favorite jackets because of this video. Thanks so much! How funny these little things like this you can go your whole life and never know are so easy.
you win the internet! best video ever. my son will be insanely excited when I fix his favorite spiderman jacket.
Thank you! Your comment made my day. :) Making a munchkin happy is the best!
love the video I know how to fix my zipper problem now. I have watched so many and did not understand. so, thank you again!
Thank you for making it short and simple. Very easy to understand. Some other videos are 8 minutes long.
Thanks, this was surprisingly easy. I watched other videos and almost gave up before trying. Your tip on the slider being the faulty bit is great.
I'd suggest mentioning that it can be done without any purchase, at home.
I'm sure everyone has some unused clothing with zippers. I removed the slider from it (your way). But on the actual clothing I removed the small bit by prying it open instead (with a Swiss knife I did), taking off the slider, putting on the working one, and reattaching the small bit by clamping it back on. It must go into a V shape when removing (prying open), and later simply clamped back to parallel. It was 3 minutes in total without buying any parts or the need for the new U shape bit
+GaborBartal Excellent comments! I've actually had to do that, and save all operational zipper sliders from clothing or purses for just such a use. I have been thinking of updating the video, and you've given me ample good reason to do so, but for now, may I copy your comments and add them to the description. Thanks!!!!
+Angela Trenholm Hey thanks, I'm glad you like it and appreciated it :)
Sure, feel free to copy it!
All the best
Gábor
+GaborBartal Thanks so much!
Thank you so much! Without your tutorial I wouldn't have my favorite jacket back!
Thank you so much to show that someone is able to take off the zipper clip and replace it again once the zipper handle is put back on! You get right to the point! Thanks!!
Thank you so much! The zipper on my favorite boots broke right in time for me to go see Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys tomorrow. One less panic attack!!!
Glad to see a way where I don't have to cut part of the zipper off to detach the stopper!
thanks so much , just fixed TWO ! favorite jackets that I was about to toss. I used sliders from some old jackets (the nearest sewing store is 12 miles away)
That's what I love to hear! Thanks for posting!
thank you so much!! this worked I never would have thought about removing the topstop vs the zipper itself
Thanks! Perfect explanation, and simple!!
THANK YOU so much for explaining that so simplistically! i was watching several videos on repairing this and all the others made it seem so difficult!
thank you for simplifying this!
Thank-you that was really well explained!You deliver your message very well.
thank you!!! fixed my husband's work jacket😁😁
Thanks! Other videos made it seem tedious but this was simple!
Thank you so much for making this video simple.
Thanks for posting this. I was able to save a windbreaker that I liked where the slide somehow got bent and wouldn't work anymore. Only problem I ran into was that I ordered a replacement slide with the same number (5) as the one on the jacket . . . but the ones I got were a bit bigger and wouldn't close the zipper on the jacket. I ended up just removing one of the other zippers on the jacket's pockets since I really didn't need those as much and I swapped it onto the main zipper.
+tahusker That's great! Did the slider you ordered come from a "like" zipper? ie. sliders meant for plastic teeth zippers must almost always be used for plastic teeth zippers, and sliders meant for metal zippers likewise. On rare occasions I've used sliders meant for a different type of zipper, but sliders are usually zipper type specific.
you make it look simple. Thanks.
Thank you you made so quick and simple!
Thanks a lot for the video. I was able to replace my Jacket Zipper Slider.
thank you! I am hoping to use your video to fix my ski jacket for another year!
Great to hear!
brilliant! thank you! I have a sweatshirt I'm gonna do this to
Thank you!
Do you have any tips for a zipper pull that's stuck all the way at the bottom? I think it got bent out of shape and now won't slide up, so I'm not sure how to replace it. The pencil trick doesn't work since it's not a matter of lubrication but rather damage to the zipper pull. Thanks!
Hi Deirdre! I usually just try to wiggle the slider up. It might only happen one tooth at a time, but can usually be done. If that doesn't work, I try to break the slider apart using vise grips, scrunching on side till it snaps, then removing the pull from the other side. Hope that helps.
Thank you :)
How do you know the new slide will work with the zipper you have on the garment? Are replacement slides pretty generic so that they will operate with any existing zipper? Thank you.
It is important to know what type of zipper you have and the packages should have the details for what zipper the slider is for. The one in the video is a plastic tooth zipper, which is standard on most garments today; however, there's a lot of sports type clothing that have the plastic coil zipper - different slider needed. Metal zippers require their own as well. When going to the store, bring the garments with you, look at replacement zippers to find the matching zipper type and size. (The one in the video is a #5 plastic tooth.) Then look at the available packages to find the match. Hope this helps!
thanks for acccurate video
I need a way of identifying the size of the broken slider in order to know which replacement size to buy.
+Afrocanuk Good comment! If you look at the back of the slider, there is almost always a number. For most jackets, it will be a 5.
Also observe where the slit is on the side of the slider. Plastic and metal teeth zippers will have the slit in the middle, whereas coil zippers will be at the bottom near the back of the slider. You must get the slider with the slit in the same position, or it won't work. Most jacket zippers are the teeth type, but some sports wear have coil, which looks like a thin continuous plastic rope.
Definitely ask more questions if need be! :) I want to update my video, and there's some good questions I'd like to incorporate, like yours.
We have a zipper on a big love sac type of giant floor pillow that doesn't work. It doesn't have a top stop. The zipper teeth are just sewn into the fabric at each end. Is there a way to fix the zipper? The teeth don't look damaged . Help!
@jandyman22 Hi! Thanks for watching my video and for the questions. Depending on how the seam is put together, it should be fairly easy to take out a few stitches so the end of the zipper is free, slide off the old slider, and put a new one in by easing one side of the zipper, about a half inch or so, in the top of the slider (the wider part), then follow with the other side. It may take a couple minutes, but it will go in if you have the right size slider. Looks like this one needs a video. I will try to do one up, and put the link in here.
thanks mom
may I ask how do I repair the reinforcement tape? Mine has came off and I have no idea how to repair it.
Marko, I'm not exactly sure what you mean. Can you explain a bit more and I'm more than willing to help if I can. :)
Where do you get a new stopper for the bottom of the zipper?
Hi Susan. If it's a separating zipper (like a jacket zipper), bottoms cannot be reapplied. That's factory done and I've never seen the parts available, nor would I know how to do it. Sorry.
Very easy tutorial. hahaha Thanks
Did that little metal thing you crimped on come with the repair kit?
+Luke Martin - Yes, the "top stop" comes with the repair kit. :)
+Angela Trenholm What about the pin at the bottom that goes into the zipper?
Any idea where those can be purchased?
I think the technical term is box pin.
+AKBuilder762 Not that I know of. :( I just did a web search to make sure, and a zipper manufacturer says no. Sorry.
Can I replace the box and pin?
+MrMagnumrtawd Not that I know of. :( I just did a web search to make sure, and a zipper manufacturer says no. Sorry.