fixing a tent zip

[lofichic]

Hey,

Last year, some scally oiks unpegged my tent and undid my guy ropes while I was asleep. The consequence of this was that it somehow broke the zip. I fixed it up with gaffa tape for Glasto but then put my tent away and didn't end up using it again until this year.

The problem seems to be that the slider won't grip the teeth of the zip together. It's all there, and sliding fine, but although it pushes the teeth together as it zips past it, they don't lock in.

It's only one door of my tent, so technically I could just gaffa it up, but I'd like two functioning doors in case of monsoon weather (). Anyone got any ideas, or else where I could get it fixed for a decent amount. I've seen £40 quoted places and that's just too much for me right now, given my tent, lovely as it is, only cost £60, and adding an extension to an awning only costs £20 more than replacing a zip!

Cheers!

[gaz9012]

hi,

i think you have answered your own question really. Is it worth paying out so much to get it fixed???

personally i'd sow it up for the festival and when your done with it for the year get a new one. zips can be fixed, but at a price. i once managed to fix a zip that had come away from one side. i rubbed candle wax on it to help it slide back in, but it never fitted properly. safety pins are an option, but only if there is very little wind.

if you can do with out it then make it as secure as possible. last thing yuo want is to come back to it and find it ripped even more, remember this is your home for a week.

good luck with what ever you do!

peace and love

[lofichic]

The zip is fully attached to the tent still, it just won't lock into place, if that makes sense. I would like to get it fixed - it's a great tent, and I got it for a good price, but I am having to do Glasto on a serious budget this year, and paying that much for a zip would take up half of it

I'm looking for DIY suggestions really. My OH is a professional-level seamstress, but refuses to have anything to do with my Glasto preparations because she's not going and she's sulking about it I might just have to wait until I get back from Glasto with a gummy gaffa tent and ask her to fix it then!

[pie_and_a_pint]

Have you asked in your local cobbler? I know our local branch of Timpson's will fix the zips on bags, boots etc, so maybe they'd be able to help you with your tent?

[lofichic]

Ace idea, I'll pop in tomorrow and ask.

[DaveMac]

Ace idea, I'll pop in tomorrow and ask.

[strudders]

Let us know how you got on as my tent as a dodgy zip too!

[lofichic]

My 2002 glasto special, now confined to lending out and reading, has One broken zip.

What I did was zip it down to the point at which the zip teeth? what do you call the little zip bits? teeth, levers? interlinking doodies?

anyway

zipped it down to where one of them had died and then sewn it up above were there thing was missing thus allowing it to work..

Not much help really......

I hope you get it sorted fella!

[DaveMac]

Ace idea, I'll pop in tomorrow and ask.

[DaveMac]

My 2002 glasto special, now confined to lending out and reading, has One broken zip.

What I did was zip it down to the point at which the zip teeth? what do you call the little zip bits? teeth, levers? interlinking doodies?

anyway

zipped it down to where one of them had died and then sewn it up above were there thing was missing thus allowing it to work..

Not much help really......

I hope you get it sorted fella!

[the~dude]

seems a bit daft but couldnt you just unpick the stiching that holds the zip in place and buy a new zip from a material type shop (cant remember the propper name for em) and sow the new 1 in? or just sow a long strip of velcro down the flap to keep it useable?

failing that gaffer tape it up and keep your eyes peeled for any trashed binworthy tents that get left on the monday you can "borrow" the zip from to get it good as new for next year ;-)

Edited June 12, 2009 by the~dude

[lofichic]

Hey,

Havent had a chance to yet, but I'm taking it in next week, on Monday. Let you know how I get on!

[robgalloway]

A quick fix for tents with dodgy zips ... I did this one year ... and I quite liked the style ... cut off a guide rope ... pierce a few holes down either side of your zip and then lace it up as if it was a giant shoe ... ROCK N ROLL!!!