zippers
- Thread starter bill c
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Re: A zipper lube.
It is really hard to beat McLube's Sailkote aboard. Zippers, snaps, slides, shackles, locks etc. Dries hard with no residue or staining of fabrics. Ok for Sunbrella, dacron cotton, etc.
http://www.mclube.com/frames/sailkote/index.html
It is really hard to beat McLube's Sailkote aboard. Zippers, snaps, slides, shackles, locks etc. Dries hard with no residue or staining of fabrics. Ok for Sunbrella, dacron cotton, etc.
http://www.mclube.com/frames/sailkote/index.html
Bees wax.
I would suggest that any zippers are throughly washed with fresh water to remove any dirt and salt first. Then you can use any of the mentioned products.
Hopefully we are NOT talking about any metal zippers.
I would suggest that any zippers are throughly washed with fresh water to remove any dirt and salt first. Then you can use any of the mentioned products.
Hopefully we are NOT talking about any metal zippers.
Just.
Just a word of caution around using McLube near dodger windows. Be very, very careful using McLube (it works great on zippers) near the glass windows of a dodger or enclosure. The solvents in the mist can destroy the glass. If you do use it place some towels so that cover the glass and try to do it on a no wind day.
Another option is to spray it into a rag then wipe the rag over the zipper. This avoids getting any of the solvents from McLube, that evaporate off, from getting on the glass.
Just a word of caution around using McLube near dodger windows. Be very, very careful using McLube (it works great on zippers) near the glass windows of a dodger or enclosure. The solvents in the mist can destroy the glass. If you do use it place some towels so that cover the glass and try to do it on a no wind day.
Another option is to spray it into a rag then wipe the rag over the zipper. This avoids getting any of the solvents from McLube, that evaporate off, from getting on the glass.
Vasoline ... may not be as high tech as the other products, but ask most long time canvas shop guys and they'll tell you that it does just as good a job. Some say that it picks up dirt more so than the commercial products, but over the years, I haven't noticed that being a problem. Doesn't hurt isenglass and (obviously) it's inexpensive.
Waxes are a little hard to actually get INTO the zipper slider and the teeth. IMHO they work better used on stitching to help make the thread last longer.
Waxes are a little hard to actually get INTO the zipper slider and the teeth. IMHO they work better used on stitching to help make the thread last longer.
Those white plastic zippers don't need any extra lube, they are self-lubricating; just zip them up and down a few times every month or so to bring the plactisizers to the surface.
Actually, most of the Chapstick brand is wax-based, not petroleum jelly based... so, no it isn't. 
Neither is all that good as a lubricant for zippers, since both will tend to attract dirt and end up gumming up the zipper worse that it would be without lubricant. SailKote is a dry film lubricant that isn't going to generally attract dust/dirt and get gummy.
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