How to Repair a Metal Separating Zipper

A neatly alligned metal zipper.

Metal zippers are incredibly useful devices, used in items as diverse as jackers, handbags, sporting goods and tents. A zipper is fitted with a slider, which is a small mechanism that allows users to open or shut the object as required. Metal zippers are usually fairly reliable, but the sliders can fall out of alignment, resulting in the zipper teeth separating. Fortunately, separated metal zippers can usually be repaired in a matter of minutes.

Things You'll Need

• Razor blade
• Pliers
• Needle and heavy thread
• Sewing scissors

Instructions

1. Identify whether your zipper is actually separated. Some zippers simply become jammed due to loose thread fragments getting caught in the teeth. Clip away any loose threads with a razor blade, at the point where they connect to the zip slider. Run a bar of soap along the zipper teeth if it remains jammed. This makes the sliding mechanism slippery, and hopefully restores the zip to working order.

2. Take out the zipper stop. The stop is the horizontal metal segment at the bottom of the zipper teeth, where the slider is situated before you zip up a coat or jacket. Grip the stop in one hand and pliers in the other. Fasten the pliers to the zipper stop and move it in a back and forth rocking motion, until it comes loose. Repeat this process on the underside of the zipper until you remove the zipper stop.

3. Push the slider down the length of the zipper once the zipper stop is removed. Push the zipper teeth back into the slider as you push it down. Draw the zipper back up to the top of the garment. The fabric should now be evenly aligned on each side of the zipper.

4. Replace the zipper stop. Zipper stops are extremely difficult to reattach, but you can form a makeshift stop with a needle and some thick, heavy thread. Thread the needle and sew six to eight stitches along the base of the zipper. Use a double knot on the final stitch, to tie off the thread beneath the zipper. Sever the thread with sewing scissors. Your zip should now be fully functional again.

References

• Tutorials: Learn 2 Fix A Zipper