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What size zipper for tarptent beak?
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Home › Forums › Gear Forums › Make Your Own Gear › What size zipper for tarptent beak?
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Jun 23, 2011 at 9:44 am #1275844
I'm making a silnylon tarptent with a full zippered beak. I ordered #8 coil zipper without really thinking and, wow, it's huge and pretty heavy. What size zippers are you all using? Any pros/cons I should consider about going lighter/smaller? TIA.
Jun 23, 2011 at 10:20 am #1752458Sumi,
I used a #5 from Quest Outfitters because, as I remember it, that was all they had in stock at the time.
Quest now stocks #3 and #5 WATERPROOF URETEK ZIPPER – YKK, along with the reversible #5 coil zipper sliders (#5043) for the #5 uretek zipper and reversible #3 coil zipper sliders (#5055)for the #3 uretek zipper.
The #5 is working fine for me on my tarp beak. I am curious as to whether or not the #3 would be sufficient for the same purpose. ;-?
Party On,
Newton
Jun 23, 2011 at 10:36 am #1752466+1 to what Newton said
I always use #5 but I'm thinking #3 would be just as good but slightly lighter
owfinc.com and thruhiker.com also have some #3 but not as large a selection as #5
Jun 23, 2011 at 11:51 am #1752489I believe Tarptent and most UL tent makers use a #3
Jun 23, 2011 at 1:27 pm #1752530>> I believe Tarptent and most UL tent makers use a #3
Great — I think I'm going to go with the #3 and see how it works out.
Thanks!
Jun 23, 2011 at 2:33 pm #1752562We like the #5 water resistant type on the shelters- the #3 non WR on theBivys and InnerNets
What ever size you use – try to properly clean and lube the zipper once a year – or maybe more often if you use it in very dusty/sandy places.
Usually the first thing that wears out is the slider – the softer aluminum in the slider can abrade if grit gets on the teeth. Up side is the slider is easy to replace vs the teeth. A storm flap over the zipper can help keep some dirt off of it. I might venture a guess that 50-75 beach camping nights could wear out a zipper slider if it is not cleaned. A #5 slider might last 25-50% longer than a #3 under the same conditions.
Very little difference in weight overall between the two on a short piece for a door.
Also – do not zip it up or down if the zipper is under much tension cross ways.
Jun 23, 2011 at 2:49 pm #1752571I've used #3 coil/coil zips on all my tents, summer and winter, for many years. That size works well for me, but I take care of my gear. As Ron wrote, definitely!
But I am not sure all the sliders are aluminium: I think some of mine are another harder metal.
Cheers
Jun 23, 2011 at 3:05 pm #1752577> What ever size you use – try to properly clean and lube the zipper once a year
Aside from blowing it perhaps with compressed air, I've never heard of lubing a tent zipper. WD-40? 123 household oil?
I used a #3 non-WP coil zipper on my tarp's mesh door.
Jun 23, 2011 at 3:08 pm #1752580Google "zipper lube"
You'll find many.
I use McNett. -
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