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#1
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zip dentistry
bogus address wrote:
I have just bought a leather duffle coat from a charity shop. The reason it was cheap was because of a problem with the zip; the large tooth at the bottom that first hooks into the closer doodad is half broken. I can get it to close, but not easily. I could put in a new zip, but it would be a lot of work stitching through umpteen layers of leather by hand. I was thinking it ought to be possible to do a bit of micro-sculpture to build up that first tooth to the way it was, using either superglue, Araldite (two-tube epoxy), fibreglass resin or car body filler, shaping the result with a needle file and carborundum nail file. The fabric is sound enough to hold it. Anybody done that? Only to a first order. Super glue by it's inherent nature will NOT do what you want - it is for thin layer bonding exclusively. Fiberglass resin is probably the best bet, followed by the car body filler, but none of these may bond well to the zipper material, and hence will fall off right away. Two questions: is the a metal or nylon zip? are you talking a separating zipper with the guide lead in, or a fixed end zipper? If the zipper is a fixed end, get the pull past the bad tooth and add a new stop just beyond the broken tooth. This can be thread, or better yet a piece of metal like a heavy staplegun staple. If this is a separating zipper, abandon all hope and put in a new one. You'll have fewer ulcers when you're done. Check the local shoe repair places for costs to have them do it if you don't want to wrestle leather - our shops aren't too outrageous (~$10). Bonding to a metal zipper is going to be much easier then to nylon, but even this really requires carefull effort. The surface must be absolutely clean (degreaser solvents come to mind). If you're really sure you want to try to fix this, solder on a metal zipper will probably work the best, and isn't too dreadful to shape. Good luck $.01 |
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#2
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bogus address wrote:
the large tooth at the bottom that first hooks into the closer doodad is half broken. I can get it to close, but not easily. I could put in a new zip, but it would be a lot of work stitching through umpteen layers of leather by hand. I was thinking it ought to be possible to do a bit of micro-sculpture to build up that first tooth to the way it was, using either superglue, Araldite (two-tube epoxy), fibreglass resin or car body filler, shaping the result with a needle file and carborundum nail file. The fabric is sound enough to hold it. Anybody done that? No, but I'd be interested in the results of your attempts to fix it. I don't think it would last for long, but I'd love to hear that I'm wrong. -- Kathy visit news:news.groups.reviews to read reviews of other newsgroups help for new users of newsgroups at http://www.aptalaska.net/~kmorgan/ Good Net Keeping Seal of Approval at http://www.gnksa.org/ OE-quotefix can fix OE: http://jump.to/oe-quotefix |
#3
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On 12 Jul 2003 15:32:05 GMT, bogus address wrote:
snip I could put in a new zip, but it would be a lot of work stitching through umpteen layers of leather by hand. snip I'd get a tailor or cobbler to put in a new zip. When the zip went on my boots, a local cobbler put in a new one, no problem, when I couldn't even poke a needle through the suede. Cobblers have the specialist punching equipment needed, but you could also try a dry cleaner that does repairs - they'd probably send it away, and it won't be cheap, but still cheaper than a new leather coat. Trish |
#4
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Have the cleaners or a shoe repair shop do it!!!
"Trishty" wrote in message ... On 12 Jul 2003 15:32:05 GMT, bogus address wrote: snip I could put in a new zip, but it would be a lot of work stitching through umpteen layers of leather by hand. snip I'd get a tailor or cobbler to put in a new zip. When the zip went on my boots, a local cobbler put in a new one, no problem, when I couldn't even poke a needle through the suede. Cobblers have the specialist punching equipment needed, but you could also try a dry cleaner that does repairs - they'd probably send it away, and it won't be cheap, but still cheaper than a new leather coat. Trish |
#5
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bogus address scribbled :
I have just bought a leather duffle coat from a charity shop. The reason it was cheap was because of a problem with the zip; the large tooth at the bottom that first hooks into the closer doodad is half broken. I can get it to close, but not easily. I could put in a new zip, but it would be a lot of work stitching through umpteen layers of leather by hand. I was thinking it ought to be possible to do a bit of micro-sculpture to build up that first tooth to the way it was, using either superglue, Araldite (two-tube epoxy), fibreglass resin or car body filler, shaping the result with a needle file and carborundum nail file. The fabric is sound enough to hold it. Anybody done that? I think you are nuts. Why not have a leather specialist re-do the zipper for you? AFAIK, once the bottom piece breaks off a zipper, it's new zipper time. It's not repairable. Penny S |
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