Manufacturer · Fashion & Home Accessories
A zip puller is replaced without touching the zip itself: the old pull is removed from the slider’s eye, and the new one is attached with a ring, a hook or a cord loop. If the slider eye is intact, the repair takes a few minutes. If the eye itself is broken or the slider has a fixed pull, the slider is replaced, not just the puller.
Below we describe how to replace a zip puller at home and in an atelier, what to check beforehand and how to choose a replacement puller that looks natural on the garment or bag.
First: is it the puller or the slider that is broken?
Before looking for a new puller, examine the slider closely. Most complaints along the lines of “the zip pull has come off” are actually one of the following three cases:
- Only the puller is broken – the metal body has snapped, the cord has torn or the rubber has split. The slider eye is intact. This is the easiest case.
- The ring or hook has opened – the puller is intact, but the connection to the slider has come off. A new ring is enough.
- The slider eye is broken – the small bridge through which the puller passes has snapped off. Then a new puller has nowhere to attach and you need a new slider of the same type and size.
If the zip also splits behind the slider, the problem is not the pull but a worn slider. In that case replacing the puller will not help.
How to replace a zip puller – steps
What you need
- A new puller with an opening that fits the slider eye.
- Small pliers with narrow jaws (for opening and closing a ring).
- Optionally – a split ring or a hook, if the puller has no fastening of its own.
- A piece of cloth or tape to protect the slider finish from scratches.
Steps
- Remove what is left of the old puller. If it has a ring, open it sideways with the pliers rather than pulling it outwards – that way the metal does not weaken.
- Clean the slider eye. Check that there are no sharp edges that will cut cord or rubber.
- Attach the new puller. For a metal puller with an open hook, push the hook through the eye and squeeze it with the pliers until it closes tightly. For a ring – insert it, turn it and close it using two pliers at once.
- For a cord puller, pass the loop through the eye and then pass the end through the loop itself (a lark’s head knot). This type of puller is changed without any tools.
- Check the movement. Open and close the zip a few times. The puller should hang freely, not catch on the fabric and, on an auto-lock slider, allow it to lock.
How to choose a replacement puller
A replacement puller must match three things: the size of the opening, the weight and the style of the product.
| Product | Suitable replacement puller | What to watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Winter or outdoor jacket | Rubber or cord, longer | It should be easy to grip with gloves |
| Leather jacket, bag, wallet | Metal, in the colour of the metal accessories | The finish should match the slider and eyelets |
| Backpack, sports bag | Cord or rubber | It should not rattle or snag |
| Pocket, inner compartment | Small and light | It should not weigh down or bulge the pocket |
If you are not sure about the attachment, compare with the models in the zip pullers category – there you will see the main options with a ring, hook and cord.
When you need a new slider
If the eye is broken, the puller has nowhere to attach. Then the slider is replaced. It must be for the same type of chain (coil, moulded or metal) and the same size – for example No. 5 on No. 5. The size is usually marked on the back of the slider. A slider of a different type or size will not close the zip properly, even if at first glance it “goes on”. If needed, browse the suitable zips and sliders.
When replacing the slider, it makes sense to choose one with a detachable eye straight away. Then every subsequent puller can be changed easily, and a brand can use its own logo puller.
Replacing pullers in an atelier and in series production
For garment factories, changing pullers is often not a repair but part of production: the zip comes with a standard pull and the brand fits its own branded puller. In this case it is important that:
- all sliders have the same eye, so the same puller fits;
- the rings have the correct wire thickness – a ring that is too thin opens when pulled, one that is too thick will not go into the eye;
- the finish of the puller, ring and slider is from one range;
- a test is done on a sample before pullers are attached to the whole run.
A convenient solution is to have the puller delivered with its own ring or hook in the same finish. Metal rings are selected according to the slider eye and the weight of the puller.
Common mistakes when replacing a puller
- Pulling the ring outwards instead of opening it sideways – the ring loses its shape and later opens by itself.
- A metal puller that is too heavy on a thin coil zip – the slider creeps down and the zip opens.
- A cord with a hard end on children’s clothing or on a pocket where it rubs against the skin.
- A puller that interferes with the slider’s auto-lock.
Zip pullers from the manufacturer
Polkom is a Bulgarian manufacturer of accessories for fashion, furniture, footwear and bags. We offer standard metal, rubber and cord pullers, as well as pullers with a logo to your design, together with suitable rings and zips. If you are replacing pullers on a run of products or want replacement pullers for your brand, send us a photo of the slider and the quantity via the contact page – we will suggest a suitable model and a sample.
