Where to buy zipper parts

If this information is missing, be sure to call the manufacturer to confirm the particular size. Want to learn how to repair zippers on everything from luggage to clothing to outdoor gear like sleeping bags and tents? Step 1: Check the zipper for the correct slider replacement type and size in the Zipper Repair Kit.

Step 2: If there is a metal zipper stop present on the top of the zipper, remove it using needle nose pliers. If, however, it is a plastic Vislon zipper, you will need to cut the top stop off with nippers. When accessing the top of the zipper becomes difficult, use a seam ripper to remove fabric stitching.

Step 3: Remove the old zipper slider by moving it to the top of the zipper and sliding it off. Step 5: Crimp a new zipper top stop on the top of the zipper using needle nose pliers.

When the zipper slider is sewn in on a closed-loop zipper, the repair is slightly different than a top stop, but still repairable with some know-how and a Zipper Repair Kit. Step 1: Like with a top stop repair, check the zipper for the correct type and size and then find the replacement zipper slider in the Zipper Repair Kit.

Step 2: Using the seam ripper in the repair kit, remove stitching on the lower end of the zipper. Step 3: Remove the old zipper slider, and, if present, pry off the metal stop at the bottom of the zipper. Be careful not to tear the fabric at the base of the zipper teeth. A broken zipper slider is a drag. Without the slider the whole zipper is rendered useless. So it's no wonder that we receive a lot of phone calls and inquiries from customers looking for replacement zipper sliders.

To help guide you in your search for a suitable zipper slider replacement, we're breaking down a couple different methods for how to identify what size and type of zipper slider you have. When looking to replace a zipper slider, you need to make sure you have the right type of slider to correspond with the teeth of your zipper tape.

The slider needs to match the zipper teeth in both size and type. A 5 metal zipper needs a corresponding metal slider, and so on. These markings can be hard to see, so we recommend using a magnifying glass to make it a little easier.

On the small piece on the very top of the zipper, you might see a number above an initial. The number indicates the zipper size 10, 5, etc. Metal zipper sliders are easy to determine because of their appearance, but you will need to match the size of your replacement slider to your metal zipper chain using the same method mentioned previously.

If your zipper doesn't have any markings, then you'll need to determine what size and type of zipper you have by examining the zipper tape. Start with the size. To find the size of your zipper, measure the width of your zipper teeth when they are closed in millimeters if possible. The measurement might not neatly line up with a zipper size, as the actual size of the zipper tape can vary, but it should roughly correlate. Here's a chart that shows how the exact sizes of the zippers at Sailrite compare to their zipper size.

Next, examine the teeth on your zipper. A coil zipper, while also being made of plastic, has smaller teeth that look like a continuous coil. Zippers with metal teeth are popular in the garment industry and we stock a selection of these here at Sailrite.

When you're searching for zipper sliders, you'll also see they are labeled as locking and non-locking.