I was wondering if anyone could point me into the wright direction for getting a zipper replaced in a board bag somewhere around Sydney.
Yes, I could buy a new bag but I am starting to feel like I am wasting precious natural resources by throwing out an otherwise perfectly working board bag.
Any pointers would be welcome.
Funny place for a windsurfer to go, but...
Wouldn't a sewing/clothes-fixing shop chuck one on for you cheap (that's their main sorta business right) ?
Depends what's broken.. I've got one of those big quiver bags, and it had a plastic zipper which gradually melted itself to death after being zipped right around the bag too fast too many times.
The zip itself was fine, so I found two replacement (metal) zippers at the local canvas/awning/tent place for 80c each, unstitched the end of the zip, slid the new zippers on, and put a couple of locking stitches through the zip so it couldn't come off again. Now I can unzip in either direction, and zip it up from either end too.
If you need a new zip sewn on, then the same canvas/awning/tent sort of place would be the best bet, the sewing machines needed to sew stuff that thick and slippery are different to the ones at the "clothes fixing" shops. If that's the case, then you'll save a packet by properly removing the current zip yourself rather than having them do it on an hourly rate.
Dismn,
I have tried domestic sowing places in the past. The main problem for them is that their needles seem to be too flimsy for this.
Dave, 555,
I'll give the sail loft a shot. I think there is a North Sails place near my house. BTW, good point re first trying to replace the runner. I think the problem might be that the teeth are corroded too.
I replaced my old zipper with a new plastic one.. its great.
When I rang around the various canvas/tarpaulin and camping repair places they were all going to charge me an arm and a leg..... ended up using a sail repair shop in rushcutters bay (Doyle Fraser Sailmakers 9361 4836).
They did it straight away for me no waiting around and only charged me $50.... you may need to detach the original zipper first as that will save them time & you the dollars for getting them to do it. I just turned up and used their tools to pull the zipper out... they have a range of zippers for marine use and only charge you for stitching it up.
They also gave me heaps of decent sized off cuts of x ply mesh to fix sails (for Free !! !) if they ever get punctured.
