Stuck Zipper

[NickDanger]

I've got a water proof bag for the boat that has a plastic zipper. I would have thought that a plastic zipper would not sieze up from the salt, but apparently so. Any ideas on how to unstick a plastic zipper?

 

[MilkmanDan]

All I can think of is the pencil trick. Google also recommends lip balm?

 

[JohnnyM]

Have you seen my baseball?

 

[NickDanger]

What is the pencil trick?

 

[idigTexas]

Pencil trick and more.

 

[NickDanger]

Thanks.

The thing here is that it has saltwater gunk that has frozen it up. I think I need some sort of solvent. The rest of the zipper is fine. I'm not crazy about WD40 on plastic.

 

[idigTexas]

I would try saoking in water overnight (or more if it appears to work). If that doesn't work, add some vinegar. Beyond that, you will likely have to risk damaging the zipper with something a bit more harsh.

 

[NickDanger]

Yeah the recipe for saltwater is salt, water and other crap. It's thsalt and other crap that froze it up. Water is probably a viable solvent, but I just spent a fair amount of time packing the bag (It's actually a dive bag) and I was hoping to avoid the unpacking and repacking.

Thanks for the thoughts.

 

[pmg]

Is it a YKK zipper?

 

[NickDanger]

I have a feeling I may be walking into a 3:16 egg on my face, but I don't know what a YKK zipper is. If it's a brand, I don't know what brand it is. It's just some dive bag I got off of E-bay.

 

[MilkmanDan]

My response to pmg was going to be "aren't they all?", so have no fear.

 

[CaptainEd]

Nick,

YKK is the brand of zipper that makes you wish your great-great-grandparents had invented the zipper. And had those initials.

 

[NickDanger]

Oh.

 

[Woland]

I have no idea if these work, but you might give them a try.

 

[hornian]

The one on my pants says "Old Navy." I guess their patent ran out.

 

[donkeyhote]

Wow, 14 replies and no one posted the obligatory "ask your wife, she gets mine unstuck all the time..."

 

[NickDanger]

The WD40 worked. I'm allways reluctant to use WD40 on plastic. I guess I shouldn't be.

Thanks for the help.

 

[pmg]

In reply to:

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[blacklab]

was it the frank or the beans?

 

[Luke Duke]

...or the meat curtains?