Zippers and Playa dust

geospyder · Post by **geospyder** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 8:36 am

Over the years I've collected a number of free promotional gym type bags. I would have thrown them away but my wife always uses the "we might need them some day" line. Now might be the time to use them. I'm thinking of using them to store clothing and other supplies in my tent instead of plastic storage boxes. I'll be throwing a sheet over them. The question I have is how well, if at all, do zippers keep out the Playa dust?

Fire_Moose · Post by **Fire_Moose** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:12 am

Some work, some get seized up with the dust. The ones that get seized (supposedly) can be fixed by applying chapstick, graphite, wax, or lubes but i have yet to fixed my seized zipper....

Ugly Dougly · Post by **Ugly Dougly** » Fri Jul 31, 2009 9:29 am

You are free to leave your fly unzipped all through the burn. But when you make Exodus, try to get re-zipped.

Samasutra · Post by **Samasutra** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 5:19 pm

It's just a matter of lubing the zipper back up after the dust has caked into it. Olive oil has done the trick for me. I wear boots with zippers everyday out there and when I get home I have 2-3 zippers that need some love. Olive oil is great.

Oldguy · Post by **Oldguy** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 7:06 pm

Cheap nylon zippers don't last, use the heavy metal.

Thecatman · Post by **Thecatman** » Sat Aug 01, 2009 9:55 pm

Seems like any kind of oil or "lube" would cause dust to stick more, regardless of what it's applied to: Zipper, bike chain, which should be done daily. For my bike chain I use either 3 in 1 oil or Pyroil penetrating oil made by Valvoline. I don't worry much about zippers. If you use oil or some kind of lube on a "gym bag" zipper, the stuff might leak or seep through the zipper and onto the contents.

Igneouss · Post by **Igneouss** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:36 am

The simple solution to most zipper problems is candle wax. Keep a candle stump handy. rub on zipper. Works like a charm.

DoctorIknow · Post by **DoctorIknow** » Sun Aug 02, 2009 7:23 pm

I've used candle wax for years OFF OF THE PLAYA! Why would anything sticky be a good thing for playa dust?

My tent has plastic zippers, and I take my 12oz presurized spritzer filled with water and run it along the zipper on both sides. This cleans them well. It's worked for many a burningman...

phil · Post by **phil** » Mon Aug 03, 2009 4:08 pm

> The question I have is how well, if at all, do zippers keep out the
> Playa dust?

They work fine.