threads off drysuit zipper

[stepfen]

I'm looking for info on how to best deal with some threads that started coming off the very edge of my drysuit zipper (see pictures below).
I'm more worried about stopping this happening/growing, other than the threads themselves as, so far, they are thin enough that the zipper gets past them.
Should I let them be, or cut them with small shears or something, or burn them with a lighter, or something else?
I am worried that if I just cut them, new threads will come off soon afterwards.

FYI the suit is a Waterproof D7 Nylontech. This is the 3rd winter I am using it and I've got about 55 dives with it. If not mistaken, the zipper's edge was like this for some time now, but the threads were not so long so I didn't worry about it too much.

Thanks

 

[MaxBottomtime]

I melt mine with a lighter.

 

[crofrog]

I'm looking for info on how to best deal with some threads that started coming off the very edge of my drysuit zipper (see pictures below).
I'm more worried about stopping this happening/growing, other than the threads themselves as, so far, they are thin enough that the zipper gets past them.
Should I let them be, or cut them with small shears or something, or burn them with a lighter, or something else?
I am worried that if I just cut them, new threads will come off soon afterwards.

FYI the suit is a Waterproof D7 Nylontech. This is the 3rd winter I am using it and I've got about 55 dives with it. If not mistaken, the zipper's edge was like this for some time now, but the threads were not so long so I didn't worry about it too much.

Thanks

DUI | Drysuits & Diving Equipment from Diving Unlimited International

Drysuits & Diving Equipment Diving Unlimited International | DUI - leader in drysuits for recreational, military, public safety, technical & commercial diving.

www.divedui.com

I use a soldering iron like DUI recommends.

 

[Tracy]

I keep mine singed up with a lighter.

 

[Litefoot]

Dangly threads are why every soldier carries a lighter in his pocket.

 

[happy-diver]

Snippy the long ones then hit everything with a lighter

and all the dags on all your gear especially your velcro

 

[stepfen]

OK guys. It's all done. I was hesitant using flame on such expensive stuff, but it did the trick.
Thanks for the info once more...

 

[stepfen]

Edit: The initial problem (how to get rid of loose threads) has long been solved (I now cut them with shears or razor and/or burn them with a lighter), but the issue of threads coming loose out of that specific spot continues to date at an alarming rate. So here is a kind of an update.

As the threads kept coming off in a particular spot of my dry suit zipper, the mystery (to me) of how come the zipper gets torn only on that particular spot was resolved yesterday. I was discussing with the owner of the LDS about this and he pointed out that the problem happens at the very top of the zipper near my shoulder, where the zipper is under the BPW shoulder strap. Essentially all the weight that the strap carries (BPW, tank etc), falls on top of the zipper on that particular spot and the friction between the zipper and its' protection layer (eg during topside walks) causes this.

As long as there is "meat" on top of the metal seam it's all good, but it's getting to the seam. Once that happens, according to him, water will eventually penetrate the material and through it the zipper and it will start to (slowly) leak. He said I should be able to get maybe one or two more seasons of diving with it, before I need to change the zipper.

 

[DCN]

If you are hesitant to use open flame, you could use a soldering iron to lightly melt/seal the zipper edges

Edit: @crofrog already suggested that.

 

[davehicks]

Edit: The initial problem (how to get rid of loose threads) has long been solved (I now cut them with shears or razor and/or burn them with a lighter), but the issue of threads coming loose out of that specific spot continues to date at an alarming rate. So here is a kind of an update.

As the threads kept coming off in a particular spot of my dry suit zipper, the mystery (to me) of how come the zipper gets torn only on that particular spot was resolved yesterday. I was discussing with the owner of the LDS about this and he pointed out that the problem happens at the very top of the zipper near my shoulder, where the zipper is under the BPW shoulder strap. Essentially all the weight that the strap carries (BPW, tank etc), falls on top of the zipper on that particular spot and the friction between the zipper and its' protection layer (eg during topside walks) causes this.

As long as there is "meat" on top of the metal seam it's all good, but it's getting to the seam. Once that happens, according to him, water will eventually penetrate the material and through it the zipper and it will start to (slowly) leak. He said I should be able to get maybe one or two more seasons of diving with it, before I need to change the zipper.

Consider a plastic zipper next time. They are very good these days. In my experience they don't have this fraying issue for some reason. Different materials in the zipper interface i guess.