Zip stuck

[25931]

Is there any way to remove the aluminium salt (?) ~which is holding the slide part ? The zip itself is plastic ?

 

[sailorman]

perhaps hot / boiling water & silicone spray

 

[Talulah]

From experience brute force is the only way.
I had this happen on a Baltic Lifejacket.
It was replaced free of charge when it went in for a service.

 

[agurney]

perhaps hot / boiling water & silicone spray

+1

be patient, and resist the temptation to use pliers

 

[Thistle]

Aluminium salts will usually dissolve in both acid or alkaline solutions so perhaps a little vinegar carefully dribbled (or injected) into the slide and left for an hour or so will do the business. Be careful not to get the vinegar or whatever else you use onto other parts of the lifejacket and rinse it off thoroughly when finished.

 

[nigelmercier]

perhaps hot / boiling water & silicone spray

+1

 

[claymore]

Candle wax freed off a zip on my sailcover once

 

[omega2]

+1

++1

 

[Iliade]

I don't think vinegar will be strong enough. See http://nautarch.tamu.edu/CRL/conservationmanual/File4.htm

 

[stooibrown]

Vinegar has worked well for me in the past when I've had the same problem.

 

[AndrewB]

I've found Coca-Cola will sometimes do it, and washes out easily afterwards. But if the corrosion has gone at all far, you've had it. Replace it with an all-plastic zip.

 

[Thistle]

I don't think vinegar will be strong enough. See http://nautarch.tamu.edu/CRL/conservationmanual/File4.htm

With anything stronger than vinegar I'd be concerned about damaging the fabric of the lifejacket or the remaining metal parts of the zip.

 

[Thistle]

I've found Coca-Cola will sometimes do it, and washes out easily afterwards.

Coca Cola AKA phosphoric acid (as your dentist will tell you!)