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09-08-2017, 01:17 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,445
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Zipper Lube! Who knew??
Well, many of you may have known, but I didn't.
My 4 seasons old PUP has seen a lot of use. And PUPs have about 10 miles of zippers.
My bag awning zippers, in particular, were getting very tough to operate. Last weekend, as a big thunderstorm came through, we had to break down the awning in one hell of a hurry. And with a HW, it requires a ladder (I keep one in the PUP). So, here we are, teetering on a ladder while trying to roll the awning and zip the bag. The wind is ripping at everything, including the bag, and I was struggling to zip without ruining the zippers. Success, but just barely.
I wondered....how could I lube the zippers? I should have known, but I had never heard of zipper lube. Amazon offers a ton of options.
https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb...ds=zipper+lube
I bought the Zip Care (first on the list) for all of 6 bucks, and tried it on the bag awning zippers. Wow...like new!
Heading out this weekend, and I plan to use it on all the window and bed-end zippers, too. The biggest window, over the sink/stove, has become a bit reluctant, and I can't wait to get it working smoothly again.
All of you "old hands" are probably chuckling at my ignorance, but maybe this will help someone else before s/he ruins a good zipper.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
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09-08-2017, 01:25 PM
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#2
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Weekend Warrior
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Vevay, Indiana
Posts: 129
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candle wax will work in a pinch
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09-08-2017, 01:25 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2014
Location: Northern KY
Posts: 5,724
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CAUTION
Zipper lube been around for a looong time. It works well on metal zippers, BUT I ruined a tent 20+ years ago that had the newer style nylon zippers. The teeth mesh, but would pull apart without hardly any pull at all. I thought I was doing good, but in fact ruined the door zipper to where it was worthless.
You can also use a bar of soap lightly scrapped over the zipper teeth.
If the slider ever gets broken get one of these in the correct size to fix it in 5 minutes on the spot.
https://www.fixnzip.com/how-to-use/
__________________
"nothing can now be believed which is seen in a newspaper. Truth itself becomes suspicious by being put into that polluted vehicle."
Thomas Jefferson to John Norvell pg. 2, June 11, 1807
2014 Shamrock 183
2014 RAM 1500 Bighorn Crew Cab, HEMI, 3.21 gears, 8 Spd, 4X4 TST TPMS
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09-08-2017, 01:28 PM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: North Georgia
Posts: 2,910
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If you ever run out of lube, and need something right away, rub a white candle over the zipper. The candle wax will lube the zipper enough to get it moving....
__________________
Wayne
2024 Sunseeker 2150SLEF / Ford E-350 chassis on order.
2024 Coachmen Northern Spirit 1943RB
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09-09-2017, 01:17 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: ALASKA (World's Biggest Campground)
Posts: 6,631
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Many, Many years ago, the Army issued "zipper-ease" with your field gear. It was basically bees wax in a 6" long round half inch diameter paper tube with a clip to fasten it to a zipper tab. Stuff worked pretty good.
__________________
'07 K3500 Silverado LT Crew Duramax (LBZ)
2016 Salem 27RKSS
1984 CHEV SCOTTSDALE K20 2GCGK24J0E1XXXXXX (Chevrolet Legends-Class of 2019)
"...exhaust fluid? We don't need no stinkin' exhaust fluid"
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09-09-2017, 01:53 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Maurice, LA
Posts: 4,095
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimmoore13
Well, many of you may have known, but I didn't.
My 4 seasons old PUP has seen a lot of use. And PUPs have about 10 miles of zippers.
My bag awning zippers, in particular, were getting very tough to operate. Last weekend, as a big thunderstorm came through, we had to break down the awning in one hell of a hurry. And with a HW, it requires a ladder (I keep one in the PUP). So, here we are, teetering on a ladder while trying to roll the awning and zip the bag. The wind is ripping at everything, including the bag, and I was struggling to zip without ruining the zippers. Success, but just barely.
I wondered....how could I lube the zippers? I should have known, but I had never heard of zipper lube. Amazon offers a ton of options.
https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb...ds=zipper+lube
I bought the Zip Care (first on the list) for all of 6 bucks, and tried it on the bag awning zippers. Wow...like new!
Heading out this weekend, and I plan to use it on all the window and bed-end zippers, too. The biggest window, over the sink/stove, has become a bit reluctant, and I can't wait to get it working smoothly again.
All of you "old hands" are probably chuckling at my ignorance, but maybe this will help someone else before s/he ruins a good zipper.
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Back in the day we used bees wax..........softer and better than candle wax....
__________________
2012 Wildcat Sterling 32RL, Gladiator Qr35 ST235/85R16 Load rating G, TST 507 TPMS w/ Flow-thru Sensors & Repeater, Reese Sidewinder 16K Pin Box, PI EMS HW50C
2009 Chevy Silverado 2500HD CCSB LTZ Diesel, Fumoto Oil Drain Valve, Turbo Brake activated, 39 gal Aux Tank W/ Fuel Pump transfer, Air Lift Loadlifter 5000 air bags.
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09-10-2017, 07:54 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Mohnton, PA
Posts: 206
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We keep a small block of bees wax in the tool box.
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09-11-2017, 08:42 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,445
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Thanks, all!
I keep a "crayon" of "Screw-Ease" in my tool box. It looks like a lumber crayon, but it's bees wax. A bit on the tip of a wood screw will allow it to be driven far easier...especially in hardwood. I have bees wax in my camper kit, too, but I didn't think of using it on the zippers. I use it on the bed rails.
Thanks again.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
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09-11-2017, 09:15 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 5,712
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I always had two carpenter pencils in our pup. Run the tip of the pencil back and forth along the zip and let the Graphite do it's work. Nothing sticky to collect dirt, dust, fuzz, seeds, sand, gravel, or the occasional boulder.
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09-11-2017, 09:26 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 8300 Feet - Rocky Mountains
Posts: 2,445
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TheWolfPaq82
<<snip>> or the occasional boulder.
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Yes, I'm always pulling boulders out of my zipper...oh, wait!
Speaking of which, if you have teenage sons, don't tell them about zipper lube.
__________________
Jim & Renee
2020 Jayco Jay Feather X-213
previously 2014 Forest River/Rockwood HW 277
2006 Ram 1500 4WD Crew with Firestone Airbags
Every weekend boondocking in the National Forests or at Lake Vallecito.
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