Partially Melted Zipper

I hope someone can help me. I just finished a huge bag - it's my take on the AB Weekender. I was fusing the lining to the main fabric about 1/4" away from the zipper & I MELTED part of the zipper. It's only about 6 teeth that are affected, but was wondering if anyone knows if there's a way to fix it. It can zip, but there is an obvious ½” open gap that doesn’t make the bag very secure. I cut away some of the melted parts & even cut in between the teeth, but it still doesn't grab. I'm hoping there's a way to fix this. It would be impossible to insert another zipper. Any advice would be appreciated - thanks! 

I did this--also on an AB bag.  It was sad sad sad after so much work.  I won't use a plastic zip again.  As for fixing it, I say if you can close it, go with it.  On the interior of the bag, you can make some sort of little flap maybe that could velcro/snap into place to keep things from leaking. 

I'm so sorry. That's so frustrating.

Thanks for understanding Elizabeth. It's one of those things that you don't think about. I didn't even realize I had ironed over the zipper until after I had the melted goop on my fabric. It does close, but doesn't grab - it won't be very secure. Luckily, this bag is going to my daughter, but I still want it to work properly.

I was hoping someone had a trick to fixing the damaged plastic. I might just make the zipper stop right before the damage by sewing around the zipper w/strong thread. I don't know, I'll have to figure out something. Thanks again.

I'm sorry to say that there's no way I know of to fix teeth in a plastic zipper.   I worked for a dry cleaner for a few years, and that was one of the things I saw the most of, damaged and unfixable plastic zippers.  So sorry, what a downer.

Thanks fiberart7. I was hoping someone had a trick up their sleeve, but I guess not.

I've never had this happen personally, but two ideas came to me. I have no idea if they'd actually work, though:

Could you use a nail file or an emery board to file and reshape the damaged zipper teeth?

What about cutting out the damaged part, purchasing a brand new zipper and then replacing the cut-out part with a piece of the new zipper, kind of like a patch?

The teeth look fine, but they just won't grab - maybe I could file them. I'll try that tomorrow. My husband thought of doing a patch, but I'm afraid of how it will look. Thanks for the ideas Karen, I will definately try & file the teeth. I'll post if it works or not.

I didn't know until I saw the teeth ON my iron plate and said--what are those little white things?  I was in tears by the time I figured out what had happened.  I always use vintage or new metal zippers, so it never occurred to me that you couldn't press the zipper--and actually, I'm pretty sure that the directions said to press.  So frustrating.

I know exactly how you felt Elizabeth only I had melted goop on my fabric & I thought I had somehow ironed on some fusible webbing, but after looking closer - it was the zipper! At least tho, it's only about 1/2" of it & kinda toward the end & not in the center.

You don't really think of zippers melting while you're ironing it - it never occured to me at least. I guess I won't be using plastic long zips when I'm doing big projects. The regular zips seem to be fine, altho I'd better double check.

This bag is for my daughter. I haven't told her yet, but I prob should. I just hate that the bag won't be very secure. Thanks again for understanding.

It's not always that we see the outcome of our problems, so I thought I'd show & tell what I did. Originally, I had to sew the zipper to the top gusset which I had to get it in there & I kept thinking that I was going to have to undo everything. But after taking a break, I realized I just needed to rip the zip & it all work well. I went & found a metal zip that I had to extend just a little, but it worked. Thanks for you help ladies.

Yay for problem solving!

Thanks Elizabeth. The bag is being well enjoyed by my daughter in Hawaii.