Zippers - Glue Or Clip?

[UKRay]

I have to fit a number of zip fasteners to simple purses and bags and wondered if anyone could spare a few minutes to help me improve my technique.

How do you fit zippers?

Do you glue the zip in place first before stitching?

Do you clip the zip in place before stitching?

Do you just stitch without any preparation?

How do you neaten the 'loose ends' of the zip?

What do you do?

Any suggestions gratefully received as always. Pictures would be especially welcome.

Ray

[reddevil76]

I glue it into place prior to stitching. If I did have to shorten the zip, I would then sing them on the ends with a lighter to melt the fraying fabric.

[UKRay]

Any thoughts on the best type of glue to use?

Ray

[dirtclod]

I don't remember who it was but they said they used double sided tape. Never tried it myself, but then again i don't do a zipper if i can get out of it. The times i have tried glueing i used barge contact cement. But you need to be real carefull so it doesn't get where you don't want it.

[UKRay]

I also wondered about using double sided tape, John, but I guess a problem may occur if the item ever gets wet.

I have also used barge but being more than a little cack-handed made a horrible mess. Gluing offers all kinds of opportunities to ruin a piece of work. LOL

I wondered if anyone had used a blob of superglue or something similar to tack the zip sides in place?

There has to be a simple solution to this - but, right now, I have no idea what it is LOL!

Ray

[dirtclod]

Ray the zipper would still need to sewn in useing the double sided tape. The way i understood was the tape holds the zipper in place so you can sew.

All of the super glue i have ever tried pretty much soaked into any type of cloth material and wouldn't stick. They may have some new types of super glue now that will work now though. I haven't tried any in a long time.

[UKRay]

I was thinking that a thin strip of tape might be left in place and stitched over... any thoughts on 'glue gun' glues as a temporary 'holding' fix?

Essentially I want to speed up the process. I don't even tack the zipper down at present - just stitch it 'dry'. If I could just set up the zipper in some way it would mean the machining would be faster, easier and less prone to mistakes.

Ray

[dirtclod]

Ray i think that putting a dot of glue in a few different places from a glue gun might work. I haven't tried it though. Most of the zippers i have people wanting are to replace one that's tore up. When i put a zipper in shotgun chaps i glue those with contact cement but i keep the zipper zipped up.

On the green bag on my profile page i cut the zipper hole in the leather then put glue on the leather and the zipper and laid wax paper down on the zipper. Then laid the leather on top and moved the wax paper as i stuck the leather to the zipper. I've watched all kinds of viedos where they just lay the zipper down and take off sewing and it's perfect. Personally i never had that kind of luck or skill..LOL.

[UKRay]

I watched those videos too, John. It is definitely faster to stitch 'em 'raw and fast', but I think I've been lucky, so far...

I'm going to try tacking the zip in place with a dab of contact adhesive and see how that goes. It can't make life any harder unless i manage to stick the durn zipper shut. Yup, I've done that before.

I've got 100 x 5" zippers to sew into some small change purses this coming week and it kinda focuses your attention on making life easier. LOL

Any further advice would be gratefully received guys.

Ray

[dirtclod]

I just though a paper stapler might work if your leather isn't to thick. But you would need to make sure it was in the stitch line so the holes would cover when ya sewed. 100 zippers ( no hill for a stepper ) as a guy i used to work with would say. Glad it's you instead of me !