Zipper Alternative

[IDSmiths]

Hello All

The work is progressing well on our 1979 Starcraft Starmate and all your info has been EXTREMELY helpful. THANKS

So we have a couple of zippers that arent cooperating and probably should be replaced in fact the whole canvas could probably stand to be replaced but were not ready to spend 800 bucks on a camper that we just paid 300 for just yet plus we dont want to lose 6 to 8 weeks of camping season waiting on canvas. So we are trying to find a temporary quick fix. We bought her at the end of last season and only got to camp in her once our soulution there was some industrial strength velcro along the zipper it worked well considering it was raining. We thought if we used that again and did a real good job of cleaning the canvas and maybe sewed the velcro on for a little reinforcement that it would get us by for the season.

Any thoughts or suggestions

Thanks
Rydell and Lonni

[flyfisherman]

Hello All

The work is progressing well on our 1979 Starcraft Starmate and all your info has been EXTREMELY helpful. THANKS

So we have a couple of zippers that arent cooperating and probably should be replaced in fact the whole canvas could probably stand to be replaced but were not ready to spend 800 bucks on a camper that we just paid 300 for just yet plus we dont want to lose 6 to 8 weeks of camping season waiting on canvas. S

Thanks
Rydell and Lonni

Are the zippers still in some kind of working order and maybe just not working smoothly?




Fly

[SpeakEasy]

There are a couple things you can do to improve the functioning of old zippers, unless they are completely shot.

One thing is to use a pair of pliers and pinch the movable part of the zipper to make it grip the teeth tighter.

Another thing is to provide some lubrication on the teeth of the zipper. I'm sure folks here will have a variety of ideas of what the best lubricant is, but I like spray silicone. You just need to be careful about the overspray, and clean it up after you spray.

-Speak

[IDSmiths]

We have two zippers that are in good shape and two that are missing teeth in various spots and one is missing teeth and missing the pull. I will definately lube the two working ones to keep them in shape.

Any thoughts on an alternative?

Thanks

Rydell and Lonni

[ScouterMom]

for fixing them - depends on what they 'zip'

On my old starcraft, the zippers are on the corners where the bed ends meet the sidewalls, and on the windows.

If  the corner zippers are missing teeth, I'd zip tham as best i could and simply hand sew them shut - they really don't need to be opened and closed anyway. they are kinda like the zippers on a couch cushion - more to allow you to get the thing on and then, once zipped, left alone. You can raise and lower the camper fine without ever touching them again, unless you plan to remove the canvas. You can hand stitch thru the ZIPPER FABRIC, holding the edges together, and not thru the canvas itself.  That way you won't run the chance of making the canvas leak, and the seam/ zipper should have enough strength to hold under pressure of the top.

If it's a zipper on a window - I'd see if i couldn't zip it shut and leave it alone.  You don't have to open EVERY window - especially if it's not particularly hot out yet. If you DO want to open the window and close it for privacy - rather than zip and unzip it constantly while camping, I'd hang a curtain over it for privacy, and only zip it up if it looked like rain. For temp coverage / seal you can even use duct tape over the zipper to hold it shut and keep the water out.

Glue-on Velcro strips aren't a bad alternative either - but they won't stop water much.

If the zippers are really bad, and you need to be able to use them on a regular basis - you can take that section of canvas OFF the camper and take it to a boating store or leather/ shoe repair place and they can probably sew on a new zipper for you. However, BEFORE you remove the canvas, call and tell them what you need, and measure the length of the zipper.  If they have to order the zipper, have them order it FIRST and make sure it's in fbefore you take the canvas off - otherwise you could get stuck waiting for weeks with one side of your camper missing.

For lubricating zippers, you can use soap, or a candle rubbed on the teeth and zipped up and down.  But I agree that the silicone spray is probably the best.

LAura