I have one of these and loved it until recently. I can't get it to stay attached to the ruler. I have cleaned the ruler, the gripper and nothing works. It worked great the first 3 months or so. Does anyone have any suggestion as to what I might do or what might have caused this?

You have done everything I would do, so don't have any suggestions. Curious to know because I got a similar one from the drug store and so far it is working just fine, but want to know if this is to come. :?

I emailed the company but being the anxious person that I am I thought I might get some suggestions from the board sooner. If I hear from them I will post what I find out.

I just use a glue stick to add a plastic grid to my templates you could try a craft glue of any kind. I don't know if this will work with the force used in picking it up and pressing down but you could try it.

The only thing I can think of is it may have a tiny hole or crack around the seal not letting it hold. Try it on a very flat smooth surface, like a kitchen counter to find out if it is the gripper or the ruler that is causing the suction loss. :cry:

You might also think of returning it where you got it and telling them it doesn't work and you'd like a refund or exchange for a new one. It should last longer than 3 months!!

This sound crazy,but did you flip the ruler over? Some of mine have one side smoother than the other, and it could prevent a good fit.

I haven't tried it yet, but I am also having trouble and the woman at the sewing machine repair shop said make sure ruler and suction cup thingies are clean then rub just a tiny bit of vegtable oil on the suction cups and reapply to the ruler.

I also bought one of these, last May & it only kept it's suction for about the same amount of time. I have tried everything that you have & I can't make it work any better. Hope you get an answer & can share it with all of us!! :D

I love mine and have had it since last October, but may not use it as much as you do. No problems so far.

I heard from the company and they told me to send it to them and they would send me a new one. Believe it or not right now it is sticking, The purple clips(not sure what to call them) are up and not down. Before I always had them down and the suction cups were flush with the base. In this position they aren't. I have a little bitty gripper and when the suction cup is attached it is flush with the base. Hope this makes sense.

Now I don't know whether to send it back or not. I sure like using it with my 6x24 ruler. I've done everything but throw it against the wall today. Went and took a nap (it other words left if alone) and when I came back to it it was still attached. I've cut out some strips (trying my had a a bargello wall hanging) and didn't have any problems with the gripper.

OKIE,

I have the exact same problem. I had it and it worked great for a few months...now wont stick.

Please let me know what they say.

Margie

I would still send it back. With the latches in the up position you are only attaching on a wing and a prayer. The latch is what pulls up the suction cup.

posted before I read the rest of the thread. I bought mine at a shop that has since closed. So not sure what to do with it.

Margie

I've got one of those my Mom gave me haven't used it yet....I wish you luck .....and they send you a revised gripper.....

The response from the company is from an individual and she said she was sorry I was have problems with the product and to send it to her and she would send me another one. Anyone that would like the name and address I will PM it to you. I told her I didn't have the box and she said it didn't matter. It sounds like she would take anyone's back that's having problems with it.

I had experienced the same loss of suction/grip with mine. Before I'm ready to use the Gypsy Gripper, I cleanse the suction cups with Windex and that seems to do the trick.

If the Windex has ammonia in it, it will deteriorate the plastic. :cry:

I use the ammonia free Windex Multi-Surface With Vinegar.

I also have one that I just got but haven't used yet. I would definately send it back. I think everyone with a this problem should write the company. If it's a design flaw they need to know so they can correct it.

I have a friend who just started quilting and bought a mini gripper. She said she can't make it stick at all and it's new. I told her to bring it to me at work tonight so we can see what the problem is before I saw this thread. If it doesn't work I will tell her to contact the company.

Make sure the ruler's hanging hole is not underneath the suction cup. If it is, it can't create a vacuum seal.

Ask me how I know this!

Those purple clips on top are used to create the suction to hold it on the ruler. You need to pull them up and down a couple of times to create the suction then leave the clip down. As you use them, they lose suction and they need the clips adjusted again to add suction. Hope this helps as I have had mine for years and never had a problem. GiGi :D :D :D :D

By the way, you don't need anything to keep it on the ruler if the suction is intact. GiGi

I noticed a smaill dipple on one of the suction cups and that's the one that keeps letting go. Thanks for the info GiGi.

Your welcome. By the way, they should all have an indention in the middle. That is what forms the suction when you move the clip up and down. GiGi

i've had one for 8 mos. no problems; be sure you don't have it over one of the holes of the ruler itself...otherwise would suggest cleaning the 'grippers' w/ alcohol and start all over...be sure to Unclip and reclip the dark lavendar clips?????
heard there are also some 'little' grippers that work well on smaller rulers..

I had the same trouble only on one end of the gripper. I was told by the sewing machine shop to put a little windex on the rubber parts to make them stick. I found that I could moisten the rubber suction cups and they would stick. I think they dry out. Hope this helps.

Where do you get these things? I saw them at the sewing expo I went to, and immediately decided I neede to get one. I should have bought one then, but I didn't. I wouldn't even know what to call it to google it :D suction cuppy thingy :D

Hi Okie, from another Okie.

I'm in Oklahoma City, if you got it at one of the local quilt shops, I'm sure they would trade you out for another one.

The quilter version is called Gypsy Gripper. Sears and other stores have the same thing used for helping handles for the bath area. I saw them at WalMart and WalGreens. The Gypsy brand has small sizes too.

You won't believe this....my husband saw the gripper next to my machine and took it to our ranch. HE USED IT TO PULL A DENT OUT OF HIS TRUCK DOOR! When he brought it back, he said."This thing works great".

I said, No more ranch duties for this or any of my sewing stuff!

It is still working OK for me..but now I wonder if it will soon stop gripping...won't know if it is from dent repair or my use.

Amazing...what hubby and kids can do with your tools.
Diana in Texas

I got mine at the hardware store for $4.99. GiGi

Has anyone tried using one of those from the hardware store that you apply to your tub to assist in getting out of the tub. I saw one hanging in Home Depot and wondered if it would work since it looks almost the same. It is somewhat cheaper than the one in the quilt shops also. Just a thought and looking for new ways to save money.

I used the wrong term I should have said knot The knot feels like a spring. The other cup doesn't have that and it sticks fine.

I have the real small purple gripper as well and I really like it too. I don't use it as much.

For Tina in OKC. I purchased mine at the quilt shop in Norman. Since I don't have the box or receipt I don't know if they will exchange or not. I can call and find out. It would save me from shipping it to GA and then having to wait for a new one.

I think that you may contact them again and explain what you have done and that it is working for the moment. And then if you should have anymore problems contact them again and send it back to them.

I don't have a solution to your problem but I would like to let the readers
know about an item that is sold at Wal-Mart in the pharmacy. It is a
safety tub bar that works wonderfully and looks very similar to the gypsy gripper and it is about 1/2 the cost. It retails for around $11. I have one and it works wonderfully.

That is like the one I was asking about from Home Depot. I am glad you said it works because I wanted to try it but wasn't sure if it would work.

Thanks for all the tips, but the story of my life a day late and a dollar short. I always find the deals after I've purchased. I never heard of the bathtub gripper so would have never even though to look for something like this except in a fabric place.

I sprayed mine with spray starch and it stayed for a long time

I am not familiar with the gripper, but I assume that it works on the principle of a suction. If that is the case, I have found that most suctions, after a while of use, become dry and brittle. Consequently they don't hold as well. I would think that some kind of adhesive would be the only thing to use to hold it down. Then, of course, it would be a permanent installation. -- just my opinion. :lol: