# Fixing jammed zipper?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-jammed-zipper/376336
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [October 13, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-jammed-zipper/376336 "2006-10-13T18:12:57Z")
**Posts on this page:** 6
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2006, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-jammed-zipper/376336/1 "2006-10-13T18:12:57Z")
The various sewing and “how-to” sites haven’t had a good solution to this one…
Got a vest with a full-length zipper. The zipper is jammed all the way at the top, meaning that the collar is pinched shut but the rest of the zipper is wide open, all the way down to the waist. The slide absolutely refuses to move down (I have tried graphite lubricant in case it was just friction). There’s no fabric or threads stuck in there as far as I can tell.
Anyone got any ideas?
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### Author:  [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-jammed-zipper/376336/2 "2006-10-13T18:17:45Z")
Predictably after three days of fiddling with the damn thing two minutes after I ask for help it comes unstuck. Mods please kill this thread.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2006, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-jammed-zipper/376336/3 "2006-10-13T18:18:16Z")
I’ve usually been able to fix similar problems by grabbing the slide tab with a pair of visegrips or needle-nose pliers and pulling as hard as I can.
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### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2006, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-jammed-zipper/376336/4 "2006-10-13T19:07:00Z")
[QUOTE=Valgard]
Got a vest with a full-length zipper. The zipper is jammed all the way at the top, meaning that the collar is pinched shut but the rest of the zipper is wide open, all the way down to the waist. The slide absolutely refuses to move down (I have tried graphite lubricant in case it was just friction). There’s no fabric or threads stuck in there as far as I can tell. Anyone got any ideas?
[/QUOTE]
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.]
I’ve usually been able to fix similar problems by grabbing the slide tab with a pair of visegrips or needle-nose pliers and pulling as hard as I can.
[/QUOTE]
This method can result in damage to the zipper and or the vest or other garment.
Lubricate the entire open zipper with a white silicone grease if possible. Fasten the upper parts of the garment and grip the slide with needle-nose pliers. Apply light tension and carefully feed the open zipper parts into the slide.
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### Author:  [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2006, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-jammed-zipper/376336/5 "2006-10-13T19:11:12Z")
[QUOTE=Valgard]
Got a vest with a full-length zipper. The zipper is jammed all the way at the top, meaning that the collar is pinched shut but the rest of the zipper is wide open, all the way down to the waist. The slide absolutely refuses to move down (I have tried graphite lubricant in case it was just friction). There’s no fabric or threads stuck in there as far as I can tell. Anyone got any ideas?
[/QUOTE]
Lubricate the entire open zipper with a white silicone grease if possible. Fasten the upper parts of the garment to a support and grip the slide with needle-nose pliers. Apply light tension and carefully feed the open zipper parts into the slide.
[QUOTE=Q.E.D.]
I’ve usually been able to fix similar problems by grabbing the slide tab with a pair of visegrips or needle-nose pliers and pulling as hard as I can.
[/QUOTE]
Caution: This method can result in damage to the zipper and or the vest or other garment.
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### Author:  [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)
#### Post date: [October 13, 2006, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fixing-jammed-zipper/376336/6 "2006-10-13T19:34:29Z")
[QUOTE=spingears]
Caution: This method can result in damage to the zipper and or the vest or other garment.
[/QUOTE]
Indeed. But, if that happens, it needed fixing, anyway. 😉