Sliders are not interchangeable. A slider has to match the chain type and the size number, and on coil chain it also sets which way the zipper faces.
Coil Zipper Chain
One continuous nylon spiral rather than separate teeth. Flexes easily around a curve.
Coil zipper chain can be sewn into your projects with either side facing outwards, so the slider decides the finished look. A standard slider runs the coil side outward and visible. A reverse slider runs the flat tape side outward for a cleaner face. Either works on this chain, so pick the look you want and match the size.
YKK AquaGuard Zipper
A coil zipper with a glossy laminate film over the face, so the teeth sit hidden underneath.
Reverse sliders only. The laminate is on the face of the chain, so a standard slider runs it the wrong way round and defeats the seal you paid for. You want the PU layer facing outwards to repel water.
YKK Vislon Zipper or Molded Tooth
Chunky, individually molded plastic teeth with visible gaps between them. Stiffer than coil. This is known as molded tooth zipper, but YKK's brand is known as Vislon
Molded-tooth sliders have a different channel profile than coil sliders. A coil slider will not run on Vislon/molded-tooth chain at any size, and the reverse is true too. This zipper chain is symmetric on both sides, so there is only one orientation of slider.
YKK Vislon AquaGuard
Molded teeth like standard Vislon, with a polyurethane coating over the tape.
Same tooth profile as standard Vislon, so it takes the same sliders. This means that a molded-tooth slider of the same size will also work on Vislon Aquaguard zipper.
Shop Vislon AquaGuard by the foot
YKK Metal Zipper Chain
Individual metal teeth crimped onto the tape. Heavier and noisier than plastic.
Metal chain needs a metal slider matched to both size and finish. Coil and molded-tooth sliders will not run on it.
Shop metal zipper chain
TIZIP MasterSeal 10
TIZIP brand zippers use molded teeth to pull two sealing lips together to form a waterproof and airtight seal. The sliders used on these zippers are specific to TIZIP.
TIZIP is fully proprietary. Slider replacement is done with the Lifetime Extension Kit, which includes the punch and the assembly tool you need to fit it.
Still not sure what you have?
Measure the closed chain across the teeth in millimetres, or read the number stamped on the underside of the old slider. Send us a photo and we will try out best to help identify it!
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