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Any tips on repairing a Mono zipper?
It has pulled away from the fabric of the case for a couple of inches.
Can I sew it back to the fabric by going into the fabric and then around the zipper (with the thread settling between the teeth)?
If not that, what?
Thanks in advance.
No knock on Mono, by the way. This case has seen a lot of use, for years.
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08-22-2025 01:48 PM
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Yes, I sew broken zips with fishing line and a large needle. Much stronger than cotton/polyester thread.
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I'm thinking 10 lb braid which is pretty stout but still small enough to sew with. Or you could use fluorocarbon and the fish won't see it.
Originally Posted by GuyBoden
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Do you go through the cloth, around a tooth and back through the cloth in the other direction?
Or do you go through the cloth, over the zipper between teeth and back through the cloth in the same direction?
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I don't understand why thread would have to be run between the teeth if the zipper itself is pulling out. Did the row of teeth separate from the cloth, did the cloth in which the teeth are set rip, or is the cloth pulling out because the stitiching holding it to the case has broken?
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The plastic teeth have completely separated from any cloth for about 1.5 inches. The cloth from which it detached, seems to be intact. Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
The original stitching which held the plastic to the cloth is what failed. There is also one gnarly looking tooth which might be ground zero for the problem.
So my question was about the best way to stitch it.
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My take from the OP is that the plastic teeth are all linked together like a zig zag (or 'chain') so it would probably be possible to loop the thread between the teeth to sew the zigzag back on to the cloth of the zip. Originally Posted by nevershouldhavesoldit
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Check with a cobbler (shoe repair) and most can probably replace the whole zipper. They will have the sewing machines that can handle thick material.
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I sew through the cloth, over the zipper between teeth and back through the cloth in the same direction. Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
But, both ways will work ok, so whatever looks best to you. A steel thimble to push the needle through would help, I used a teaspoon.
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"I sew through the cloth, over the zipper between teeth and back through the cloth in the same direction."
Ah, the opening sentence of one of my favorite novels!
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I've never been able to make a zipper work well once a tooth is either dislodged or knocked out of its intended position and alignment. With this knowledge, I have to go with Freddels - I'd replace the zipper. Cobblers may be able to do this, but I'd go to a shop with more experience in large scale pieces. The choices include luggage repair shops and upholsterers (furniture, car, boat etc). Marine upholsterers and sail makers have charged me much less for the same work than shops who do residential upholstering. We've also been very pleased with local luggage repair services for replacement of large zippers. Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
You might consider asking Mono for their recommendation. For all I know, they may offer repair service or have a favored source.
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I sewed it with nylon thread. Back and forth between the teeth. The plastic teeth now don’t separate from the cloth. The zipper \works. I should hope so - it worked when it was loose.
It is the big zipper that goes all around the case. Can’t be that cheap to replace.
I sent an inquiry to Mono customer service.Last edited by rpjazzguitar; 08-24-2025 at 05:00 PM.
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Well done. Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
If it breaks again, use Fishing line, it's stronger.
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I thought about that. 3X (6lb test) tippet material seemed too thick and the nylon thread I used seemed about as strong as 4X (5lb). If I've got these numbers right. Originally Posted by GuyBoden
Well done.
If it breaks again, use Fishing line, it's stronger.
What would you recommend?
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5lb seems a good strength for thread. Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
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Mono customer service said that zipper problems are considered wear and tear and therefore not covered. But, they'll cover it in a bag which is less than about 2 years old.
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No surprise there. I suspect that Mono will just replace the bag if a zipper fails within a year or two. it's probably cheaper for them to do that than to cover shipping and replace the zipper. The info I hoped you'd get from them starts with a recommendation for where we might get a zipper repaired or replaced if it fails out of warranty. Do they have approved service centers to which we can take our bags for repair? Can we buy replacement zippers from them so we can have them replaced ourselves by an upholsterer, cobbler etc? Originally Posted by rpjazzguitar
The best shoe, handbag, and luggage repair shop I've ever seen is called Rago Brothers in Morristown, NJ. They do many of the warranty repairs for top luxury brands and dealers in the US. They do beautiful work at very fair prices, and they're really nice people to boot. My wife and I drive the 90 minutes or so each way for any repairs we need, because they're that good! If I needed a zipper on a gig bag, jacket, duffel etc, I'd call them first. I don't know for sure that they'd do it, but I strongly suspect that they can and will. They'll give you an email estimate based on photos, and you can send them the goods. Of course, shipping a Mono bag probably costs $50 today, so the round trip cost plus a zipper replacement would probably cost almost as much as a new bag, But for those within driving distance, it's well worth the trip.
The other choice I know of is Rugged Thread. They do zipper repairs and replacement on backpacks etc and should be able to replace a gig bag zipper easily. But there should be a local shop near most of us that can replace a big zipper - auto / marine upholsterers, luggage repairs, etc.
I have 4 Monos - 3 Vertigos and a classic. So far, they're all like new. But such info is nice to have....just in case
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Most of the Mono bags i've seen from friends have issues after some time. I 've never seen a Reunion Blues have issues, i 've had three for years now and they are like new despite daily use.
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Here's Mono's response:
"Thanks for writing in. We're sorry to hear about this. Zipper damage is considered wear and tear and not covered under our limited lifetime warranty for manufacturing defects. We do offer a grace period of a couple of years where we do cover it. If your case is within that time period, let us know and we'll start a warranty claim. If it's beyond the grace period, you can have it repaired by a local seamstress or luggage repair shop."
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