What Jacket Are You Wearing Today?

[ton312]

Has anybody tried Universal zipper(ykk) from Aero?

I have it on my wool HB. It’s not much different than the Talon. Slightly larger pull. Fine for lighter hides and vic. Probably not for CXL.

 

[ton312]

Elvis and Indian walked into a bar...
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The NOS number 5 Talon failed me this morning. I had these happen before. The old zips needs extra love when starting the zip. If the pin doesn't go in all the way at the start, this happens. I've also freaked out about it before and done more unnecessary damage. Best is to just pull the jacket together at the bottom end and slowly move the zip down, one teeth at a time. Whew...

That particular Talon is hands down the worst. I have that on my red and black wool HB and even on a wool jacket, it’s a nightmare. I would rather put on as many layers as possible to avoid that zipper. Is this what your pull looks like?

I agree with Ivan. A pocket zipper at best. Maybe only good for a coin purse.

 

[Hh121]

Aero should give some of us a option like this, install zipper by ourself (with some discount of course)

 

[ton312]

Aero should give some of us a option like this, install zipper by ourself (with some discount of course)
View attachment 446176

I think the problem Is these vintage repro and NOs zips just can’t handle the weight of these hides. Even Stu who uses big *** #10’a has **** luck with old zips. Only way to go with heavy leather is brand spanking new #10 YKK. Pull might not excite but that is the most bomb proof zipper ever made. The jacket will disintegrate before that zipper fails.

 

[Hh121]

Ykk do offer no.10 in vintage style, so far I only see Thedi use it.

 

[JMax]

I think the problem Is these vintage repro and NOs zips just can’t handle the weight of these hides. Even Stu who uses big *** #10’a has **** luck with old zips. Only way to go with heavy leather is brand spanking new #10 YKK. Pull might not excite but that is the most bomb proof zipper ever made. The jacket will disintegrate before that zipper fails.

 

[ton312]

Ykk do offer no.10 in vintage style, so far I only see Thedi use it.

Ah yes they do. Ironic that Thedi leathers probably don’t require it as much as the heavy weights do, but clearly he doesn’t want to hear it about the zips so he picks one that’s bomb proof.

 

[ton312]

I wonder if Aero would allow a customer to source and supply their own zip? I doubt it but it might be worth the ask.
I’d do the same for LW although I don’t see them suffering the same fatalities as the Talons Aero uses.

Other option is to join the ***** boy lightweight leather club of which I am a charter member. We get pedicures on Sunday…so if you’ll excuse me.

 

[Hh121]

I wonder if Aero would allow a customer to source and supply their own zip? I doubt it but it might be worth the ask.

I did ask them when I ordered KOTR and the answer I got is it won't fit even if you supplied.

 

[ton312]

I did ask them when I ordered KOTR and the answer I got is it won't fit even if you supplied.

So they just don’t want to do it then….I guess everybody draws a line in the sand somewhere. I can see them refusing to sew a hot pink porky pig “That’s all folks” on the back but a zipper is a very benign piece of hardware. At least IMO.

 

[JMax]

I wonder if Aero would allow a customer to source and supply their own zip? I doubt it but it might be worth the ask.
I’d do the same for LW although I don’t see them suffering the same fatalities as the Talons Aero uses.

Other option is to join the ***** boy lightweight leather club of which I am a charter member. We get pedicures on Sunday…so if you’ll excuse me.

The Scoville 10 zip ain’t the best, that’s for sure. It doesn’t explode like the 5 Talon does in the heavy hide but the tape can be a real issue. I’ve swapped out to 10 YKK on three LWs. (And an Aero, 2 Cals, Hercules, and All Weather lol).

The Talon 10 is pretty solid. The Crown are ******proof.

 

[ton312]

The Scoville 10 zip ain’t the best, that’s for sure. It doesn’t explode like the 5 Talon does in the heavy hide but the tape can be a real issue. I’ve swapped out to 10 YKK on three LWs. (And an Aero, Hercules, and All Weather lol).

The Talon 10 is pretty solid. The Crown are ******proof.

One thing I noticed on the YKK’s is that both sides of the tape are notched, so the male pin cloth isn’t forced into a power struggle with the zipper box. Simple engineering that works wonders. I’ve never had a crown zip, surprisingly. But I believe they used them to close parts on battleships so I’m not surprised they hold their own.

 

[JMax]

One thing I noticed on the YKK’s is that both sides of the tape are notched, so the male pin cloth isn’t forced into a power struggle with the zipper box. Simple engineering that works wonders. I’ve never had a crown zip, surprisingly. But I believe they used them to close parts on battleships so I’m not surprised they hold their own.

Just checked, most of my YKK 10s are double- notched, but not all. The ones that are have tape and cloth in better condition. Though the YKKs with flat tape still have cloth in better shape than my other more contemporary zips, my Lenzips for example. YKK 10s imo is the way to go.

 

[photo2u]

Ideal and Linzip make excellent new American zippers. Ideal owns the brand name conmar and their nickel plate zips are very nice. Schott used #10 zippers in some of their higher price jackets. The problem with the #10 is the fabric tearing apart away from the male pin. I have in my closet TWO 1990'S comp weight leather Vansons (talon #10 Nickle plated zip) with the same problem. Despite the fact I am careful zipping up my slider, the material used in the tape just fails from constant use. The problem with NOS zippers is rotting in the cotton tape. However, I have only experienced ONE of these problems when I was testing and pulling super hard before sewing into a friend's jacket. Truly, If anyone has personally experienced a rotting problem with a NOS zipper they actually purchase to replace the main zipper, PLEASE SHARE YOUR ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. For my custom jackets, I would only trust a NOS. Having said that. I purchased a custom-made grizzly with a kick-*** YKK #12 zip. Japanese repros in size #10 are very good as well.
1950-1980 Military contract zippers (Robin,Ideal,serval,scovill,general,lenzip,and ykk) in #10 are excellent well-made zippers. They will work well with the heaviest 4-5 oz leather jackets. However, I will never, ever use them over a NOS 1940/50 talon,crown or conmar.

 

[JMax]

Ideal and Linzip make excellent new American zippers. Ideal owns the brand name conmar and their nickel plate zips are very nice. Schott used #10 zippers in some of their higher price jackets. The problem with the #10 is the fabric tearing apart away from the male pin. I have in my closet TWO 1990'S comp weight leather Vansons (talon #10 Nickle plated zip) with the same problem. Despite the fact I am careful zipping up my slider, the material used in the tape just fails from constant use. The problem with NOS zippers is rotting in the cotton tape. However, I have only experienced ONE of these problems when I was testing and pulling super hard before installing. Truly, If anyone has personally experienced a rotting problem with a NOS zipper they actually purchase to replace the main zipper, PLEASE SHARE YOUR ACTUAL EXPERIENCE. For my custom jackets, I would only trust a NOS. Having said that. I purchased a custom-made grizzly with a kick-*** YKK #12 zip. Japanese repros in size #10 are very good as well.
1950-1980 (Robin,Ideal,serval,scovill,general,lenzip,and ykk) Military contract zippers in #10 are excellent well-made zippers. They will work well with the heaviest 4-5 oz leather jackets. However, I will never, ever use them over a NOS 1940's talon,crown or conmar.

You had me at YKK 12

 

[Ole K. Vik]

Y2 Leather Persimmon Tanned KB-140-T from different angles.

 

[Observe]

Y2 Leather Persimmon Tanned KB-140-T from different angles. View attachment 446204

Looks great. I went back and forth on this jacket but decided the cut wasn't for me. Looks like it works for you.

 

[photo2u]

You had me at YKK 12

Schott and grizzly

 

[photo2u]

The one on the right is the "beast" #12.

 

[photo2u]

That ykk looks great the grizzly. I do not think I would use it with any medium-weight jacket. However, a super heavy beast needs is a whole different story.