Frequently Asked Questions
Orders
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Shipping
We ship from our Atlanta Georgia Warehouse.
Your order will usually ship within 1 business day and USA orders usually arrive within 1-4 days.
International orders usually take 7-21 days to arrive. ZipString is not responsible for any customs taxes, if applied.
If I preordered, when will I receive my ZipString?
Back orders will go out in March. There’s no better way to start off the new year than with a smile of wonderment! Especially one you can share.
What's included?
- ZipString
- 3 String loops of different sizes and colors.
- USB charging cable
- Instruction guide
- QR code to trick library
- Wonderment
90 Day money back guarantee!
Yes that's right! If you are one of the very few individuals that ZipString does not bring satisfaction and wonderment, we will give you a full refund!
Read more on our refund/return policy here.
1 Year warranty
We stand behind our ZipStrings 100% so you don’t have to worry about “taking it easy” on your device.
Read more about our 1 Year device warranty here.
About the Device
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What is the purpose?
- Amusement
- Entertainment
- Wonderment
- Excitement
- Enjoyment
- Enthrallment
- Fulfillment
- Astonishment
- Bewilderment
- Engagement
- Enrichment
- Bafflement
- Statement
Can Zipment be a word? If not, it should be. :)
How do I load a string?
Check out the string loading instructions
What is the recommended age for a ZipString?
The age recommendation is 8+. With adult supervision, however, we have seen children as young as 3 have a blast with a ZipString and grandmas swear by them. Many feel that it is an essential toy for their purse (seriously tho)!
Can I touch the string?
Yes. When the string is flying, you can touch it with your fingers. It is perfectly safe.
How do I care for my ZipString?
Over time, dust, debris, and pet hair can accumulate near the wheels. Periodically brush off any dust. Keeping the string off the floor helps.
How long will a ZipString last on a charge?
Under normal use, it will last for 3-4 hours.
Can the string on a ZipString run horizontally?
No. Because of gravity, the string will always orient itself vertically. See our Science page for details. It is a pretty cool phenomenon.
What would happen if ZipString ran in a vacuum?
Interesting question. In the absence of air, the string would drop straight down. Air friction or drag is essential for the string to fly.
What would happen if ZipString ran in low/no gravity?
In the absence of gravity, the loop of string could run in any orientation aligned to the device.
What would happen if ZipString were running in outer space with no air and low/no gravity?
Once ZipString was up to speed, without gravity and air friction, the loop of string would form a perfect circle.
Our Innovation
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Where did you get the inspiration?
8 years ago a high school teacher named Bruce Yaney shared a YouTube video where he built a table top machine that launched string. In December 2020, Stephen was looking for an idea for a competition at Georgia Tech. A competition requirement was to fabricate a machine that had the same area dimensions of a credit card. He remembered the machine from Bruce Yaney all those years ago and worked to miniaturize it and make it battery powered so that it could be hand held. Stephen won the hackathon and the first version of ZipString was born!
Wasn’t there a gadget like this in the 90s?
Ahh, you are thinking of “String Thing”. That was a device that launched a heavy piece of short paracord. The momentum of the string threw the rope into the air. Cool effect but the string wasn’t really flying. See our Science page on how the string of a ZipString actually flys.
Knockoffs and Counterfeits and Scams, OH MY!
If imitation is the highest form of flattery, then what is fraudulent impersonation?
Innovation does not come cheap. It comes with a lot of hard work and time. We have gone through many iterations to get ZipString where it is today. Because of this, we are not afraid of competition. We feel bad, however, that knockoffs and scammers are taking advantage and causing harm to individuals who are excited about ZipString.
It looks magical, how does it work?
What happens if the string gets tangled while the ZipString is running?
We engineered safety into the device when we invented it. Whenever the ZipString is running, the device is constantly evaluating the load on the string. Should something happen to the string that exceeds the tolerances, the motors stop immediately. When it does this, it also disengages the button. The ZipString won’t start again until the user releases the button and then re-presses it.
Can I make string at home?
You can, but it isn’t as easy as you think. Check our Science page to see why the string actually flies.
If you can get a light weight string of the right diameter, abrade it to make it slightly fuzzy, then joined it seamlessly. That should work.
Joining string is a little tricky, we actually invented a special string joining machine so that the joints are quiet.