salt-encrusted zippers? how to "unlock"?

I have a big rolling DaKine gear bag that I just pulled outta the back of the grear closet as I prepare for my JH and MT road trip next week.

And one of the zippers is frozen shut, looks like it's the dreaded sweat/salt crystalized zipper lock :mad: I have been pullign on this thing with all my might trying to break the gunk free and get the zipper working again. No dice.

Anyone have an old Chinese secret for getting this sucker free and working properly again? My first thought is to throw it in the bathtub and run super-hot water on it, then get a wire brush and scrub away? There must be a better way that also won't get the rest of the bag soaked....

I ask thee, Mags.

car brake cleaner?

sure the rest of the bag might fall apart, and your kids will have 3 arms and 5 ears (find a helmet to fit that!) but the zipper might open...

hot water, soap, brush is my guess....

Propane torch.

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I used to get that similar thing on all my windsurfing stuff from the ocean. I always sprayed WD-40 on the zipper (like a lot) and came back in an hour. You might have to pull the zipper each way to get it going - like I said - it worked for me. That and a pair of pliers to grip the zipper after my skin ripped off. Good Luck

I heard peeing on it is the best way. Make sure to report back.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bossass

I heard peeing on it is the best way. Make sure to report back.

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Yeah, Moises Alou reccomended that trick to me as well.

What you want is a de-scaler. White vinegar does a great job of melting salts but your bag will stink.

edit: Maybe if you hold the bag upside down and dab a cloth with vinegar on, up onto the crusted area you might melt the salt enough that you can drag the zipper free without getting too much vinegar stink on it?

And the answer is....

Wait for a new one to come up on SAC :FIREdevil

WD40

And use a sharp tool (ice pick, awl, nail, toothpick) to pick out the white stuff embedded under the zipper pull

then wd40 again. Let it sit a while to penetrate if you can.

then try to gently work the zipper loose (if you pull too hard, you can break the pull tab off). If you get it to move a little, and it exposes more white stuff, pick that out, spray WD40, and then pull the zip in the opposite direction.

- search any surfing forum and you will find answers -