Veritasium
June 12, 2026
Why Zippers Are Surprisingly Strong
TL;DR
Zippers are surprisingly tough because of their precisely engineered design that prevents teeth from separating, though zipper locks can be easily defeated with a ballpoint pen.
Key Takeaways
- 1Zippers were invented by Gideon Sundback in the 1910s using an ingenious manufacturing machine that shapes metal wire into interlocking teeth.
- 2The strength of zippers comes from precisely spaced teeth that prevent nibs from popping out, requiring significant distance between teeth to fail.
- 3Zipper locks on suitcases are not secure—anyone can insert a ballpoint pen between the teeth to create an opening.
- 4The manufacturing process creates Y-shaped metal pieces with indents and bumps that are clamped onto fabric for durability.
Notable Quotes
“Zippers are surprisingly tough.”
“Those zipper locks on suitcases are kind of a scam cuz anyone can just take a ballpoint pen, put it between the teeth, and create an opening in your zipper.”
Chapters
1. Testing Zipper Strength
A demonstration showing how difficult it is to pull apart a zipper by hand, revealing their surprising toughness.
2. History and Invention
Introduction to Gideon Sundback, the 1910s inventor of the zipper, and his ingenious manufacturing machine.
3. Manufacturing Process
Detailed explanation of how the zipper machine takes Y-shaped metal wire and processes it through slicing, pressing, and clamping steps to create strong interlocking teeth.
4. Why Zippers Don't Break
The engineering principle behind zipper strength: precisely spaced teeth prevent nibs from separating, as there is no room for teeth to become unpaired.
5. The Zipper Lock Vulnerability
Revealing that suitcase zipper locks are easily defeated by inserting a ballpoint pen between teeth to create an opening.
Key People & Entities
- Gideon Sundback
- Inventor of the zipper in the 1910s
Glossary
- Nibs
- The small protruding parts on zipper teeth that interlock with adjacent teeth to keep the zipper closed.
- Zipper teeth
- The individual metal pieces that interlock when a zipper is pulled closed.