Just thought I’d post this on the chance it might help someone.
I’ve got a cheapo 2x4 tent that started giving me a lot of trouble with the zipper. It was really difficult to move past a couple spots when closing, and sometimes the two sides of the zipper wouldn’t even mesh together at those spots. Then it was even harder to get it open at those spots.
So, I opened the zipper, took a chunk of beeswax and rubbed it on both sides for the entire length, really focusing on those rough spots. Then I closed and opened it about a dozen times. Now it works fine. There is some light penetration, but I think there always was.
I’ve known about beeswax on zippers for awhile, but this is the first time I’ve actually tried it. Most of you probably already know too, but again, hopefully someone will get something out of this.
a few things i found mess up the zippers:
If the teeth aren’t lining up, of course
If the the zipper pulls the covering into it (the little flaps on the inside of the tent around the zipper that block light)
If the zipper is bumping into a plant or another object on the inside
If you leave a lot of stress on a partially or, especiallly, a mostly open tent.
If you have to open it 101%. A buddy of mine used to come and couldn’t just open the tent and look ,he had to open it as far back as it would go, well, it doesn’t like that.
When i saw that green on your tent, i thought of my vivosun tent. it too has the teeth issue. i just got a new ipower tent that has a very nice zipper. the ACI tent also has a decent zipper. surprisingly my old ipower tents have had no issues, but they do suck up the flaps into the zipper and you have to pull it out…then it works just fine. I have another no name tent, no issues.
Zips wear over time. They are just plastic after all. The way I see it is if a tent lasts me 2 to 3 grows its served its purpose and needs retired and replaced. You have to understand that its not just the opening and closing that effects the plastic. The negative pressure from our extractors put stress on the zips and also the heat the tents produce have an effect on the plastic they use. I’ve yet to see a tent with a metal zip
I use candle wax, have for many years it’s so simple yet so effective, I have tents that are 8 years old, my mentor has one that’s almost 12, zero zipper issues ever and imagine how many times they have been opened
I guess the wax within the zipper reduces the wear and tear. The more I think about it the more it makes sense. If you use it from day one I guess it will stop the wear and prolong both the zipper and tents life.
Mind blown
Out of likes…. Ya it’s pretty awesome, I never would have thought these things would still be kicking, they are gorillas and secret jardins but still, most new tents are built well too with the thick Oxford material. It’s blown my mind too tbch, I only learned that from all my years of hockey and my bags locking up, I’d add candle wax which I would rub on the tape and edges of my sticks and instantly never had that problem. I do baby my stuff as well and what @splinter7 was saying makes sense if you are hard on them , especially opening too far and letting the weight hang it’s better to roll and Velcro open or have something hold it rolled back you know, and be gentle. When I first bought them I thought I’d never get my moneys worth even the high prices I paid back then I still feel satisfied. In fact I should write both companies! I’m sure they would be happy to know .
I buy a new tent every 1 - 2 years hence why I tend to buy the cheaper tents and ghetto repair any problems as the grow advances. This is why I cringe when I see people paying big £/$/€ for tents. I see them as a disposable growing product.
People that have a dedicated grow room don’t know how lucky they are.
I have not tried it but I heard flex seal will work to darken the spots where light comes in.
But that won’t work on a zipper…LOL
Mine has a flap that covers the zipper.
My local humidity is scary, 70% is the best I’m likely to see through the course of the year, there’s no good times 70/100% rh.
Due to the humidity levels I vent constantly 24hrs a day, the fan runs at around 10% until temps go over a preset figure then the fan kicks in faster, this constant negative pressure pulls fine dust particles into the zipper, every 8 weeks or so I notice the zipper is getting a touch tighter, I spray it with Wd40 and I get a little slither of compressed dust from each side of the zipper.
Idk what it is with wd40 but nothing else I’ve tried works like it, my tent is around 10 years old and still whole and working.
My ebb and flow table is sort of a hybrid table that is both ebb and flow and nft. I water 12 times a day, and switch to 24 times a day during flower. If i dont have my two inlines kick on every 2 hours for 30 minutes my tent will see over 80% rh on flower edit: this is with the lights off.
