A fork helps: just like a regular cutlery, insert the slider into the zipper easily and quickly

In recent years, I began to often encounter breakdowns of the zipper slider. It feels like it is made from plasticine. First, the slider, or as it is also called the “dog,” bends and stops snapping the teeth, and then completely breaks into pieces. Several times a season you have to repair your bag, your jeans, your jacket and your boots. Moreover, I don’t buy the cheapest things, and use them carefully (learned from bitter experience).

In general, one fine day I got tired of using the services of the studio. I decided to fix my jacket myself. And I didn’t regret it. I spent only 50 rubles on a new, good-quality “dog”, and “added” it in a couple of seconds. I’m sharing a life hack on how to insert a zipper slider using a fork.

How to insert a zipper into a zipper in 2 seconds - a regular fork will help

Using a fork, you can conveniently fix the slider so that it does not fall. You need to place it on the middle teeth with the “nose” forward. The “nose” is the semicircular part. The fork is inserted from the opposite side, where the edge of the runner is smooth. The middle teeth are the second and third of four. The “tongue” looks up, the bend of the fork looks at our knees.

Here's how to do it:

Now you can get down to business. Need to:

1. Place a fork with a medium-tine slider in front of you on the table (with the lock facing away from you)
2. Press her down at the edge of the table so that she doesn’t fidget (you can use something heavy, but I lean my body a little).
3. Grasp the open edges of the zipper with both hands.
4. Pull them with a lock.It slides easily and closes immediately.

The whole process is clear:

Step 1:

Step 2:

Step 3:

Step 4:

In the same way we insert the slider into the zipper on the bag and winter jacket:

Important! Please note that using a fork, the lock is always inserted from the bottom of the product!

A few tips...

Replacing a zipper slider is a very quick job. But there are several subtleties in it that are worth familiarizing yourself with before undertaking repairs.

So, a few tips:

• When you go to buy a new slider, take the old one as an example. All locks are very similar to each other. It is very easy to confuse the right size and type. Please note that at the bottom of the slider there is a number corresponding to its size: 3, 5, 7 or other.
• You need to take a good quality slider that won’t break – it’s metal.
• If the zipper is old and the lock does not work, lubricate it with paraffin from a candle.
• It is very easy to replace the slider on clothes and bags if you remove the lower stop with nail scissors. Sometimes you still need to pull out a couple of cloves. When the lock is installed, I simply install a metal bracket or a special detachable fastener from a sewing store. I lightly press the pliers stop and it’s done. You can also sew the teeth at the bottom together. This option is suitable for jeans and bags.

And further. If the lightning starts to diverge, in 99% of cases it is the fault of the bad “dog”. Normally, it should squeeze the cloves well so that they adhere tightly. When the “dog” is of poor quality, its edges unclench and can no longer fasten the teeth. You can correct the situation by lightly squeezing it on the sides with pliers (not in the center!). This will help for a while. But it’s better to buy a new slider. Moreover, inserting it using a fork is easy.The old lock will still unbend again and again until it breaks completely. Trust my experience.

I think in this day and age, when most things are made in China, everyone should know this life hack. Otherwise, you will have to run to the studio very often, waste time and money (albeit small) on minor repairs. Personally, I prefer the first option. By the way, with the help of a fork you can insert not only a new slider, but also an old one if it is working and just fell off. And with its help you can fasten and unfasten the “dog”, whose “tongue” has broken off.