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Thread: Zipper snag

  1. #1
    New Member bigdiver's Avatar
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    Zipper snag

    Good Morning,

    My self and my girlfriend both have WBBB, and Love them. We only have been having one issue and would like some thoughts. My girlfriend has the 1.0 weight and twice now the zipper has "snagged" the fabric and caused a small run. Hasn't been a huge issue as it has been on the non weight bearing portion of fabric and I have just added a dab of silicone caulk to the runs/hole. Other than just slowing down on the zipping, what are some thoughts.

    Anyone else having this issue...thoughts...?

  2. #2
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    First make sure the zipper is installed well. A properly installed zipper should not snag very often. That said, a zipper which is used a lot or is dry can snag for seemingly no reason at all. Run a bar of soap along the teeth to give them some lubrication. Detergent bars do not work as well as they tend to remove oils instead of leave them. I know with all the body wash stuff now bar soap is getting harder to find. There is a zipper lubricant sold but I strongly suspect it's just a bar of soap outrageously overpriced.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

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  3. #3
    Senior Member ^shane^'s Avatar
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    Zip and unzip slowly...

    I added zipper pulls inside and outside of reflective cord. Outside pulls are just 6" loops. Inside pull for head end is about 8" long. Inside pull for foot end is a length of cord the runs from the zipper pull up to the ridge line. This helps with both shutting the zipper when you are inside and with opening it up wide without stressing the zipper itself while you are in the hammock.
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  4. #4
    New Member bigdiver's Avatar
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    @Ramblinrev
    Great idea with the zipper wax, I will try using some of my scuba drysuit zipper wax. I am guessing a nice light coat with help out.

    @^shane^
    Shane... I think you hit the problem on the head. "Zip and unzip slowly..." I will make sure that more time is taken when opening and closing the zipper. I will also add some zipper pulls to both my BB and hers.

  5. #5
    Senior Member Southpaw's Avatar
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    Zipping and unzipping slowly is probably the best answer. It's really because of the size of the zippers "tape" which is the fabric part of the zipper. If Brandon used a zipper with a really wide tape you wouldn't get snags, but it would increase the weight of the hammock and the zipper would be more ridged and less comfortable against your skin.

  6. #6
    all secure in sector 7 Shug's Avatar
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    The curse of zippers....they tend to do that. Maybe some Zipper Lube will help.
    Shug-z-z-z-z-z-z-z
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  7. #7
    Senior Member dragon360's Avatar
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    I have placed my index finger before the zipper pull (between the two zips) as a guide and a means of keeping it clear of fabric.
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  8. #8
    Senior Member lab72's Avatar
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    Pencil lead works a treat as lube.

  9. #9
    Senior Member Ramblinrev's Avatar
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    Paraffin is often used instead of soap. It won't get bubbly in the rain... but then you have to carry your soap with you instead of just being able to slide over the zipper.
    I may be slow... But I sure am gimpy.

    "Bless you child, when you set out to thread a needle don't hold the thread still and fetch the needle up to it; hold the needle still and poke the thread at it; that's the way a woman most always does, but a man always does t'other way."
    Mrs. Loftus to Huck Finn

    We Don't Sew... We Make Gear! video series

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  10. #10
    New Member bigdiver's Avatar
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    Thank you to everyone for all the suggestions. I think what I am going to take home is....zip and unzip SLOWLY, and I am going to try the finger in front of the zipper pull technique.

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