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Best Lubricant for Soft Top Zippers???

117K views 67 replies 46 participants last post by  Tygh 
#1 ·
I'm looking to hear from people on what is the best way to lubricate the zippers on my soft top. I've heard of several different ways; oil, wax, soap, etc. Just wanna know what ya'll think


Thanks!
 
#9 ·
i don't glob it on there i just take my index finger and rub a small amount into the zipper and onto the zipper mechanism, then i open and close the zipper a few times to work it through. it's really no more messy than spraying wd40. and it lasts longer too. i used to use wd40.
 
#11 ·
I use a mix of this:

Padimate, White petrolatum, arachidyl propionate, camphor, carnauba wax, cetyl alcohol, D&C red no. 6 barium lake, FD&C yellow no. 5 aluminum lake, fragrance, isopropyl lanolate, isopropyl myristate, lanolin, light mineral oil, methylparaben, octyldodecanol, oleyl alcohol, paraffin, phenyl trimethicone, propylparaben, titanium dioxide, and white wax

In other words - Chapstick.
 
#19 ·
Hmm



Silly me! That's why it didn't last!:redface:
 
#15 ·
i don't think that there is any product that will last an entire season. they sun dries it out or the rain washed it off. your best bet is trial and error. see what works for you. also different climates around the country will affect what product works the best and the longest.
 
#16 ·
Personally, I don't like any petroleum-based lubes for the zipper, especially Vaseline. That type of lubricant will just attract and hold grit and dirt. A dry lube is best with plain old candle wax being superb. Just take a paraffin candle and rub the zipper teeth with it and it'll last a long time without attracting and hanging onto grit and dirt. :)
 
#20 ·
Some plain white birthday candles would probably do the trick the best, plus it would be easy to hold and apply. Great Idea, i'll have to try that next time.
 
#22 ·
I'm a retired Parachute rigger I worked on flight equipment for 20 years when I was in the navy and now I'm quality assurance for the flight equipement shop that is doing contract maintenance for the Navy. The best thing to use to lube zippers is called "zipper-ez" you should be able to get it at a fabric store. if you cant get that use bees wax.

DO NOT USE A PATROLEUM BASE PRODUCT!!! As Jerry said...that will be nothing but a dirt mag!
 
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#40 ·
The owner of a local custom canvas shop told me the best lubricant is Palmolive liquid dishwashing detergent. This shop installs/replaces dozens of zippers each day.

You've all seen how it thickens as it dries on the cap of the bottle, yet retains its lubricity.

Most rain won't wash it off under the flap of the top, but if it does it washes away any collected dirt. Reapply as necessary.
 
#42 ·
as a fellow sportsman i no my rust protectants lubes etc pretty good. personanly if i was gonna use something i would use m pro 7 gun oil. this stuff works great. never use wd 40 for lubricating stuff it will gum up over time. heres a link to there website M-Pro7 Gun Oil LPX - MPro7
all yea u can get it at walmart for about ten bucks. there is better stuff out there but this would be a very good choice.
 
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