How do I replace the housing and sleeve on my lock?

A zipper is made up of its stitches and its slider, but we tend to forget the importance of the lower and upper stopping points. We can see that closing problems can come not only from the slider but also from its lower stopping point, in other words from the housing and its sleeve.

Zipper housing

Stop, stopper, housing... it's the "little iron" or plastic thing at the bottom of our "L" shaped separable zipper.

Indeed, it may not look like it but it is an essential part of the separable closure.
What we call “Separable Closures” includes the closures of coats, jackets, vests etc.The opposite of these closures are the non-separable ones used on backpacks, handbags, pants, shoes, etc. These do not have a casing/sleeve as they do not open until they separate in two.

The stop allows the proper functioning of a closure, it is its starting point. It prevents the slider from slipping and falling. It also allows the teeth of the closure to be held closed thanks to the support point.

Zipper sleeve

What we call a sleeve is the small iron (or plastic) tip that we insert into the case before sliding the slider to close the zipper.

Replace the case or sleeve of my closure

In what case should I change my case/sleeve on my closure?

- When the iron or plastic tip is torn off.
- When the housing or sleeve begins to unstitch.

How do I replace the housing (lower stopping point) of my zipper?


Remove the damaged casing using pliers.	Insert the new housing through the slot.	Using pliers, crimp the lower part of the case onto the closure.

How do I replace my zipper sleeve?


Undo the damaged sleeve using pliers and insert the new sleeve through the slot up to the mesh.	Using pliers, crimp the sleeve onto the closure.	Fit the sleeve into the housing, it’s repaired!