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Travellers' questions that don't fit anywhere else This is an opportunity to ask any question, and post any notice you wish that doesn't fit into one of the other sections.
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 1 Apr 2005
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Zip care
What should I use to lubricate the zip fasteners on my leathers? They are plastic ones. I'm anxious not to use anything that will rot the leather so grease is out, obviously.

Hey, I've just thought- I used to use a leather dressing called something like Ko-Cho-Line, it was a red jelly and came in a tin, I used it on my gloves as well, but not on the zips as such. Does anybody remember/use that, and would it be ok to make my zips zippy once more? The reason I ask is just that it might be that it would clog the zips and make them worse.

Oh, I have tried rubbing them with a candle to get some of the wax on to the teeth but had no luck.

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  #2  
Old 2 Apr 2005
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Dive shops and camping stores both care zipper lube. Whether it'll be ok with leather, don't know.
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  #3  
Old 2 Apr 2005
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If those zip zippidy zippers truely become unzippable they can be replaced. A bit crude but just hand stitch another zipper onto the cloth part just behind the zipper teeth. Gets around having to layer in a zipper into a multi layer garmet.
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  #4  
Old 2 Apr 2005
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Try lubing the zip with a wax crayon or a candle?
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  #5  
Old 2 Apr 2005
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Hmmm, the stuff I used to use to care for my leathers was like grease and worked a treat for the zips. But they were metal...

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  #6  
Old 17 Jun 2005
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Why not try lubing them with neutral shoe polish or nikwax or something like that. It's designed to be used on leather and will contain silicone and soft waxes that will probably ease the zips.
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Old 18 Jun 2005
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WD40 works a treat on zips, cant see any reason it should rot the leather either. If you're worried about over spray, spray some onto a cloth and apply with that.
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  #8  
Old 18 Jun 2005
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Thank you all, problem seems solved. I asked the wife if she remembered the stuff I used to put on my leathers all those years ago and she went straight to the cupboard and got the tin out: Ko-Cho-Line. I looked it up on Google and it's still available from various saddleries and is mainly used for horsy things, saddles, belts, buckles. It keeps leather supple and promises not to rot stitching. So I tried it and it worked a treat, it made a huge difference to the leather and I now have the zippiest zips in town.

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