I found a few threads where people have come to the consensus that sewing in a replacement drysuit zipper isn't really necessary.
I'm planning to replace the bdm zipper on an older tls-350 that is otherwise in good condition.
The current zipper is the factory zipper that was sewn in.
The question I have is how to make it look good when it's done. I can cut the threads and remove the existing zipper. My assumption now is that I will cover it in rubber finishing tape on the outside edge of the zipper to hide the stitching parts I removed - is this what others have done?
I'm planning to roughly follow the YouTube drysuit repair guy who shows how to glue a new zipper in. On his, he asked the finishing tape on the inside, but he didn't have to cut stitching out of his.
The other tip I've seen is to cover the glue parts with plastic bag material (thick plastic like gallon ziplock) and remove it a small part at a time when applying it.
Anything else to be aware of before I go down this route?
I've got a replacement bdm zipper coming tomorrow. I've got a can of the DRIS drysuit cement (which seems like it can be loosened with a heat gun if I need to) and I've got some aquaseal and the rubber finishing tape ready to go.
I'm planning to replace the bdm zipper on an older tls-350 that is otherwise in good condition.
The current zipper is the factory zipper that was sewn in.
The question I have is how to make it look good when it's done. I can cut the threads and remove the existing zipper. My assumption now is that I will cover it in rubber finishing tape on the outside edge of the zipper to hide the stitching parts I removed - is this what others have done?
I'm planning to roughly follow the YouTube drysuit repair guy who shows how to glue a new zipper in. On his, he asked the finishing tape on the inside, but he didn't have to cut stitching out of his.
The other tip I've seen is to cover the glue parts with plastic bag material (thick plastic like gallon ziplock) and remove it a small part at a time when applying it.
Anything else to be aware of before I go down this route?
I've got a replacement bdm zipper coming tomorrow. I've got a can of the DRIS drysuit cement (which seems like it can be loosened with a heat gun if I need to) and I've got some aquaseal and the rubber finishing tape ready to go.