Modifying zip ends
- Thread starter pcatterall
- Start date
Poignard
Well-Known Member
Sailrite have several videos dealing with zips that might help, for example:
VicS
Well-Known Member
Yes you can ... Google will find .. look for zipper starter box
They will be metal to crimp on, You want them corrosion resistant ... I found some nickel ones ... Maybe stainless are also availabe ????
Happy Googling .... but it may be better to simply order what you really need and learn from your mistake
Stemar
Well-Known Member
If the zips are long enough to allow it. just zip it and sew them together, but you'd need a few inches of zip beyond the material to allow it to separate enough.
Neeves
Well-Known Member
We have done as Stemar suggests. Fit over long zips, sew up both ends, then the slider will not fall off. You can go a bit further and sew tape round the zip end, its neater and ensures protection of your sewing together of the 2 ends.
But they are not difficult to 're-feed'. If you end up leaving one end open you do need to seal one side of the zip to stop the slider falling off and, as inevitable, falling into the sea.
Jonathan
But they are not difficult to 're-feed'. If you end up leaving one end open you do need to seal one side of the zip to stop the slider falling off and, as inevitable, falling into the sea.
Jonathan
VicS
Well-Known Member
But the OP appears to require an open ended zip.
He may also want to fit stops to the other end .. These are also avaialble
,
Neeves
Well-Known Member
He WILL need to ensure one end is closed -permenantly. If he has a zip open at both ends it is inevitable the slider will be lost. So the OP needs one end closed and then when the boom cover is open the zip slider will be safely secured. Ideally he also needs to ensure the slider cannot fall off, on one side - there must be a way to secure slider on the zip (or have an endless supply of sliders). Normally such zips would be extra long 50/100mm too long at both ends.
He could retain the slider on one side, at each end - but this would be perverse and unnecessary.
Sailmakers buy zips as simply long toothed tapes. They often supply sails in bags as long tubes with very long zips (this is how we have received sails for the last 40 years). One end of the zip is simply sewn closed (and is extra long) and crew do not find it difficult to engage the slider using only an alignment of the teeth. It does not matter if the alignment is slightly out - the bags are not a fashion statement (and the extra length of the zip accepts a slight misalignment). A stack pack is no different. mark the two teeth to be aligned - if you are out by a couple of teeth - it simply does not matter.
Its not rocket science and its common place.
I'm assuming use of large, toothed zips. Micro toothed zips - different issue but unlikely on a sail bag or stack pack
.Jonathan
VicS
Well-Known Member
He WILL need to ensure one end is closed -permenantly. If he has a zip open at both ends it is inevitable the slider will be lost. So the OP needs one end closed and then when the boom cover is open the zip slider will be safely secured. Ideally he also needs to ensure the slider cannot fall off, on one side - there must be a way to secure slider on the zip (or have an endless supply of sliders). Normally such zips would be extra long 50/100mm too long at both ends.
He could retain the slider on one side, at each end - but this would be perverse and unnecessary.
Sailmakers buy zips as simply long toothed tapes. They often supply sails in bags as long tubes with very long zips (this is how we have received sails for the last 40 years). One end of the zip is simply sewn closed (and is extra long) and crew do not find it difficult to engage the slider using only an alignment of the teeth. It does not matter if the alignment is slightly out - the bags are not a fashion statement (and the extra length of the zip accepts a slight misalignment). A stack pack is no different. mark the two teeth to be aligned - if you are out by a couple of teeth - it simply does not matter.
Its not rocket science and its common place.
I'm assuming use of large, toothed zips. Micro toothed zips - different issue but unlikely on a sail bag or stack pack
Jonathan
Not necessarily provided stops are fitted to the opposite ends to the starting box.
If one end ( the aft end ) is closed the end fittings the OP is asking about won't be necessary but end stops will be and can be made by folding webbing around the zip ends and stitching it in place.
.
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wilkinsonsails
Well-Known Member
If the slider is locked on one side by fitting fabric stops then melt the first four teeth flat on the other side and feed into the slider .
You will need another way of holding both sides of the zip together at this point ( Velcro flap or poppers) other wise it can easily pull apart without the box there . It’s not as long life as a box and slide in but will work .
You will need another way of holding both sides of the zip together at this point ( Velcro flap or poppers) other wise it can easily pull apart without the box there . It’s not as long life as a box and slide in but will work .
VicS
Well-Known Member
You may find the sections of the video here which describe fitting the zip useful / of interest
How to Make a Sail Pack
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Stemar
Well-Known Member
Thanks for that link - the job's on my to do list.
dunedin
Well-Known Member
Er, No. Perhaps how you like it but thousands of us manage with different arrangements. We sail with our stackpack completely separated, so the cover can be well out of the way of the sail.
But to zip up the cover we have a long string (circa 80cm) attached to the zipper, which aids closing. When remove sailcover this string is coiled and tied to the end of the sailcover with the bit of rope which helps close the end of the cover. All neat and shipshape, and no risk of losing zips. Only 20,000 nm so far, so will wait and see if works