I haven't yet met anyone who can explain the zipper.

Equally baffling, is its malfunction. You know, suddenly
the teeth won't mesh. You try to force the tracks together
by hand, but nada, it's irreparable. How can a mechanism
so simple fail?

So simple, yet so inexplicable...

Who invented this gadget? He deserves a monument -

---
Rich

lørdag den 20. januar 2024 kl. 02.15.04 UTC+1 skrev RichD:
> I haven't yet met anyone who can explain the zipper.
>
> Equally baffling, is its malfunction. You know, suddenly
> the teeth won't mesh. You try to force the tracks together
> by hand, but nada, it's irreparable. How can a mechanism
> so simple fail?
>
> So simple, yet so inexplicable...
>
> Who invented this gadget? He deserves a monument -
>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitcomb_L._Judson

Lasse Langwadt Christensen <langwadt@fonz.dk> wrote:

[...]

>> Equally baffling, is its malfunction. You know, suddenly
>> the teeth won't mesh. You try to force the tracks together
>> by hand, but nada, it's irreparable. How can a mechanism
>> so simple fail?

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=fix+broken+zipper

--
MRM

On Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:14:59 -0800 (PST), RichD
<r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote:

>I haven't yet met anyone who can explain the zipper.
>
>Equally baffling, is its malfunction. You know, suddenly
>the teeth won't mesh. You try to force the tracks together
>by hand, but nada, it's irreparable. How can a mechanism
>so simple fail?
>
>So simple, yet so inexplicable...
>
>Who invented this gadget? He deserves a monument -
>
>---
>Rich

I just sew a new one over the old, after cutting off the teeth.

A trick my brother (with six kids) taught me.

More useful on jackets or luggage than elsewhere.

My bike bags are nearing 40yrs old, winter parka 15yrs.

RL

RL

On Sat, 20 Jan 2024 11:19:56 -0500, legg <legg@nospam.magma.ca> wrote:

>On Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:14:59 -0800 (PST), RichD
><r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>>I haven't yet met anyone who can explain the zipper.
>>
>>Equally baffling, is its malfunction. You know, suddenly
>>the teeth won't mesh. You try to force the tracks together
>>by hand, but nada, it's irreparable. How can a mechanism
>>so simple fail?
>>
>>So simple, yet so inexplicable...
>>
>>Who invented this gadget? He deserves a monument -
>>
>>---
>>Rich
>
>I just sew a new one over the old, after cutting off the teeth.
>
>A trick my brother (with six kids) taught me.
>
>More useful on jackets or luggage than elsewhere.
>
>My bike bags are nearing 40yrs old, winter parka 15yrs.
>
>RL
>
>RL

Looks like we've found our Cheapskate of the Year winner for 2024
already!

On 1/20/2024 9:19 AM, legg wrote:
> I just sew a new one over the old, after cutting off the teeth.

For "real" fabric, I'll rip the old one out completely
(I've a little tool that you slip into each stitch and
it has a cutting edge that does the work).

But, for "synthetic" fabrics (like SWMBO's "nylon"? fanny
pack), I leave the existing zipper in place as it typically
is made with "real" fabric to which I can confidently secure
the replacement.

> A trick my brother (with six kids) taught me.
>
> More useful on jackets or luggage than elsewhere.

Usually, those are heavier duty zippers -- and of considerably
longer length; harder to locate replacements.

Note that there are different varieties of zippers, too.
Some are "closed" at the bottom (like for a "fly") while
others are open (like on a jacket). Some can be opened
(or closed) in either direction. Plastic teeth, metal
teeth, etc.

> My bike bags are nearing 40yrs old, winter parka 15yrs.

My winter coats are closer to 40; but, have seen so little
use in the past *30* as to make that a moot point.

A lot depends on the frequency of use as well as the TYPE of
use (abuse). E.g., there's a zippered "accessory compartment"
in the shipping container for my video camera that is zippered.
I suspect *usage* would leave it intact for scores of years!
OTOH, the physical form it takes suggests it will eventually snag
(trying to "turn the corner" of the accessory pouch). Replacement
would likely warrant buying a new shipping container (getting
all that solid foam out in order to access the pouch would
be a royal PITA.)

The "accessory pouch" on my wheelchair sees more use -- but, it's
a nice, *straight* "zip" so I would expect it to last forever!

On Sun, 21 Jan 2024 09:37:23 +0000, Cursitor Doom <cd@notformail.com>
wrote:

>On Sat, 20 Jan 2024 11:19:56 -0500, legg <legg@nospam.magma.ca> wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 19 Jan 2024 17:14:59 -0800 (PST), RichD
>><r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>>I haven't yet met anyone who can explain the zipper.
>>>
>>>Equally baffling, is its malfunction. You know, suddenly
>>>the teeth won't mesh. You try to force the tracks together
>>>by hand, but nada, it's irreparable. How can a mechanism
>>>so simple fail?
>>>
>>>So simple, yet so inexplicable...
>>>
>>>Who invented this gadget? He deserves a monument -
>>>
>>>---
>>>Rich
>>
>>I just sew a new one over the old, after cutting off the teeth.
>>
>>A trick my brother (with six kids) taught me.
>>
>>More useful on jackets or luggage than elsewhere.
>>
>>My bike bags are nearing 40yrs old, winter parka 15yrs.
>>
>>RL

>
>
>Looks like we've found our Cheapskate of the Year winner for 2024
>already!

I just don't like shopping, or most new stuff of any kind.

When I try to replace stuff that I like and that has served well,
they either don't make it anymore, or the entire retail
operation is gone.

Beginning to think that my custom is the mark of doom for any
retail operation . . .

RL

On 1/21/2024 8:02 AM, legg wrote:
> I just don't like shopping, or most new stuff of any kind.

+42 (at least for the shopping... some new is acceptable,
though most is a step downwards)

> When I try to replace stuff that I like and that has served well,
> they either don't make it anymore, or the entire retail
> operation is gone.

I have learned to buy multiples of everything I like.
E.g., I buy *4* pair of "identical" shoes each time I
discover I "need shoes". I can store them in MY closet
just as easily as they can store them in THEIR warehouse!

YEARS (!) ago, a friend gifted me some T-shirts... all identical
(she had "noticed" my fondness for black T-shirts and these are
black -- at least the BACKS are!). I had 42 of one "style"
and 30-something of another. (two different images imprinted)

Each New Year, I scrap the 7 shirts that I had worn the previous
year and drag out 7 of the "other" style. Seven shirts gives me
a fresh, clean shirt each day until weekend laundry (on which
day I wear the third-style, "while-doing-laundry-black-T-shirt").

I figure at least another 5 years before I'll be back to
wearing any "other" shirts.

And, bluejeans are bluejeans... regardless of make.

[I have two (identical) black dress shirts for special occasions
(which, at my age, is often funerals). And, of course, two
identical pair of black dress slacks.]

[[You can always find a NEW pair of slacks or shirt if the
sole criteria is "black" (white shows dirt too easily)]]

> Beginning to think that my custom is the mark of doom for any
> retail operation . . .

Our biggest complaint is when specific foodstuffs stop
being available. Costco ran out of sweet onions (I eat
5lbs weekly) which resulted in a mad dash to other
stores to see if anyone else had anything similar in stock.

We'll have to buy sliced almonds on-line as Costco apparently
may have stopped carrying that brand, too. (bake biscotti
every two weeks)

No need for "best" solution as long as an "adequate" solution
exists and purchasing it requires no "special effort".

[we no longer buy "new" products at Trader Joe's as they have
a bad track record of discontinuing products. They stopped
selling the mints that SWMBO enjoys (similar to Altoids).
So, I figured out how to make my own. Instead of a couple
of dollars for a small tin with ~40 pieces, I make 2 *pounds*
of them at a time -- for about the price of two of those tins!
But, the house stinks of mint for two days... :< Prior to
that, they stopped selling the Benne Wafers she likes. So,
I make batches of 35 dozen for her -- again, cheaper than
TJ's would sell theirs!]

On Sun, 21 Jan 2024 10:50:00 -0700, Don Y
<blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:

>On 1/21/2024 8:02 AM, legg wrote:
>> I just don't like shopping, or most new stuff of any kind.
>
>+42 (at least for the shopping... some new is acceptable,
>though most is a step downwards)
>
>> When I try to replace stuff that I like and that has served well,
>> they either don't make it anymore, or the entire retail
>> operation is gone.
>
>I have learned to buy multiples of everything I like.
>E.g., I buy *4* pair of "identical" shoes each time I
>discover I "need shoes". I can store them in MY closet
>just as easily as they can store them in THEIR warehouse!
>
>YEARS (!) ago, a friend gifted me some T-shirts... all identical
>(she had "noticed" my fondness for black T-shirts and these are
>black -- at least the BACKS are!). I had 42 of one "style"
>and 30-something of another. (two different images imprinted)
>
>Each New Year, I scrap the 7 shirts that I had worn the previous
>year and drag out 7 of the "other" style. Seven shirts gives me
>a fresh, clean shirt each day until weekend laundry (on which
>day I wear the third-style, "while-doing-laundry-black-T-shirt").
>
>I figure at least another 5 years before I'll be back to
>wearing any "other" shirts.
>
>And, bluejeans are bluejeans... regardless of make.
>
>[I have two (identical) black dress shirts for special occasions
>(which, at my age, is often funerals). And, of course, two
>identical pair of black dress slacks.]
>
>[[You can always find a NEW pair of slacks or shirt if the
>sole criteria is "black" (white shows dirt too easily)]]
>
>> Beginning to think that my custom is the mark of doom for any
>> retail operation . . .
>
>Our biggest complaint is when specific foodstuffs stop
>being available. Costco ran out of sweet onions (I eat
>5lbs weekly) which resulted in a mad dash to other
>stores to see if anyone else had anything similar in stock.

We get fabulous purple onions. I bake biskits with purple onion and
parmesan and cheddar. There are thermal challenges. I'm researching
2-layer cookie pans and Curie temperatures.

>
>We'll have to buy sliced almonds on-line as Costco apparently
>may have stopped carrying that brand, too. (bake biscotti
>every two weeks)

Mo does that, a gigantic batch a couple times per year. It takes days.
Chocolate dipped, of course. The dip is a tricky process.

legg <legg@nospam.magma.ca> wrote:

> I just don't like shopping, or most new stuff of any kind.
>
> When I try to replace stuff that I like and that has served well,
> they either don't make it anymore, or the entire retail
> operation is gone.
>
> Beginning to think that my custom is the mark of doom for any
> retail operation . . .
>
> RL

I agree with you. Planned obsolescence is running rampant.

I have learned to buy a backup spare when I find something I like.

For example, Instant Pot cookers. The company recently went bankrupt and no
longer makes them. I found Walmart Canada put them on sale for real cheap
(1/3 normal price). Now I have a spare, even though there is every indication
they will last forever. But now I can sleep at night.

--
MRM

On 2024-01-20, RichD <r_delaney2001@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I haven't yet met anyone who can explain the zipper.

The book "how stuff works" gives a good explanation.

TLDR: a closed zipper in in a local energy minimum constrained by the tension
band beside each row of teeth

> Equally baffling, is its malfunction. You know, suddenly
> the teeth won't mesh. You try to force the tracks together
> by hand, but nada, it's irreparable.

Try harder.

> How can a mechanism so simple fail?

The bands stretch or the teeth wear out, or become damaged in some
other way.

> Who invented this gadget? He deserves a monument.

Two american guys YCLIU, it seems they missed out.

--
Jasen.
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