Zipper Repair

[Callee's Dad]

Hello All,
I have been an avid "reader" for about a year but this is my first post.  Our last outing of 2005 was pretty cold and when I zipped up part of the camper the zipper pulled loose from the canvas.  I have a sewing kit but I wondered if there was a certain kind of thread or if there was some kind of adhesive that I might put on the zipper before I sew it back.   Thanks for any help..

[flyfisherman]

Welcome C-D! No use in lurking forever!

Did'nt see your post until this morning and then I had to find my "notes" that were passed on to me when I had a simular situation happen on my previous camper,  a Coleman "Yukon" - some one pulled on the zipper too hard or it got caught-up in the  setting-up or taking down process. Anyway, passing along to you as it was passed on to me:
Use a "sungard" polyester thread, which will resist the sun's effects to breakdown the thread. DO NOT use cotton or a coated cotton as it will mildew and rot. When sewing by hand, use a single strand of thread, don't double it as you might when sewing on a button. Threads come in different strengths (and sizes):
Size A = 3#
Size B = 7#
Size D = less than 10#
size  E = 10.5#

I used a size "B" thread and in a beige color. Worked great and never gave me another problem, plus, with the beige color, you would have to look had and long to see my amature sewing!


Fly

[wavery]

These are great for canvas repair. You can make a neat, strong, professional looking repair with just a little practice.

http://cgi.ebay.com/SEWING-AWL-Kit-STITCH-LEATHER-CANVAS-TENT-TOOLs-THREAD_W0QQitemZ8271395916QQcategoryZ28133QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=91812

[flyfisherman]

I have & tried the awl,  but it looked like crap. The best job, on the zipper anyway, was for me to stand outside and have someone inside, and we threaded back and forth though the orginal holes. The size "B" thread was a little heavier than the orginal so it made for a tight fit. Afterwards, used some canvas seam sealer that I use for the dome tent seams and never had a bit of trouble.


Fly

[wavery]

The thing about the sewing awl is that you can achieve a "Lock stitch". That makes your repair much stronger.

As I stated before, it does take a little practice to get a nice looking stitch. I agree, my first couple of attempts with the awl looked pretty awful also. I would suggest practicing on scrap material first. If you are careful with the awl as you would be with a regular needle, you can have an equally as neat stitch but the awl is much easier to use IMHO. I did canvas and sail repair professionally for several years, I used the awl on a regular basis for on-site repairs, when getting the material into a machine was not an option.

You can use any thread in the awl. You don't have to use the supplied thread. The supplied thread tends to be a bit heavy and makes the repair stand out. I also agree that a good polyester thread of a matching color is best.

[Callee's Dad]

Thanks their fly a wavery. I think I will be much better off doing it with the wife inside and me outside.  I would not have thought about the cotton thread mildew thing. Thanks again.  Hey Wavery I need to stick to the simple method because my Grandfather had one of those awls in some tools that I inherited from him.  I sold it about a year ago in a yard sale because I had no idea what it was.  :-)  If you can't laugh at yourself I don't who can you laugh at.

[flyfisherman]

C-D: the way we worked it was Sweetie started from the inside, poking the threaded needle through the already exsisting hole of the older thread to me on the outside; I then went over one notch and threaded it back to her and she then tied the thread off completing the first notch. After tying the thread snug, she then threaded it back through the Same hole I had just passed it through to her, I then moved over one notch and threaded it back to her,  which she then looped it back to the previous notched thread and returned it back to me through the same hole I had just made to her.

Now, if your following all this (I'm starting to get confused myself!) - the end result is that our sewing duplicates exactly the already existing stiching. And I have to admit ... Sweetie knew just how snug to make the stiching.

Hope this helps a little ...


Fly

[SpeakEasy]

This reminds me of something I was told once about the military. Now, I was never in the military, so this may be just a "tale." But anyway - what I heard was - when a couple of recruits couldn't seem to get along, the remedy was to put the two on opposite sides of some windows and give them the task of cleaning the windows. Having to work together to accomplish the task tended to help them work out their differences.

I say, a man and wife who can sew a zipper on a tent like you've described must have a pretty good marriage!