How to Put Two Slides on a Nylon Coil Zipper Chain
Zippers that open at both ends can be an unique addition to any item of clothing or a useful piece of hardware for gear like tents and sleeping bags. You can install a two-way zipper by adding an extra zipper slide to any size nylon coil zipper chain. Knowing what materials to purchase and how to get the parts of your zipper to work together will result a working two-way zipper for any purpose.
Things You'll Need
- Nylon coil zipper chain
- 2 zipper slides
- 2 zipper stops
- Needle-nose pliers
Instructions
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1
Lay the the nylon coil zipper on a table with the ends aligned. Open one end of the zipper tap approximately 2 inches to separate the zipper coils.
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2
Place about 1/4-inch of one side of the zipper tape into the curved end of the zipper slide. Repeat with the other side of the zipper tape.
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3
Hold the sides of the zipper tape so that they do not slide around. Grab the zipper slide and pull along the zipper tape until it catches the nylon coils on both sides evenly. If the zipper slide does not catch or makes a bulge in the zipper tape, try lining up the slide at the top of the zipper tape and sliding the pull again.
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4
Separate the other end of the zipper as you did on the first side. Repeat the process of inserting the zipper tape into the slide on both sides and pulling the slide until it catches the coils of the zipper.
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5
Take one end of the zipper -- with the zipper slides in the middle of the zipper -- and lay a zipper stop over the nylon coils at the top of one side of the zipper tape. Squeeze the zipper stop onto the coils with needle-nose pliers. Repeat at the other end of the zipper. This will keep your newly installed zipper pulls from falling off of your zipper when they reach the end.
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Tips & Warnings
Add 2 inches to your zipper measurement to allow for seams.
For nylon coil zippers #5 and #8, purchase #8 zipper stops. For #10 zippers, purchase #10 zipper stops.
References
- Photo Credit Ablestock.com/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
