If you’ve ever had a zipper get stuck on a bag, sweater, or a coat, you’re familiar with the frustration. It can feel like there’s nothing to be done but surrender to a stubborn zipper and toss the ...

Zippers are a part of many pieces of gear. From our jackets to our tents and backpacks, having a functional zipper can keep us warm, dry, and all of our gear contained. What happens when that zipper ...

A simple machine is a mechanical device that changes the direction or magnitude of a force. In general, they can be defined as the simplest mechanisms that use mechanical advantage (also called ...

Everyone has dealt with a zipper that didn’t close as expected. Sluggish operation and quirky components can make it seem like you have no choice but try to find a pricey professional sewer to replace ...

A jammed or sticky zipper is one of the more familiar types of zipper problems. It always seems to happen when you're in a hurry, and while yanking at the zipper pull or going for a pair of pliers ...

Ah, zippers. The contraption was first used on boots, then tobacco pouches, and then leather jackets (by Schott in 1925). Crazy, right? Zippers on clothes isn’t even a 100-year-old idea yet. The ...

When you push or pull with a simple machine, you are applying a force and doing work. And, if you get more force out of a machine than you put into it, then that machine has a mechanical advantage.