How I made a set of Bellows

[Michael E]

How thick are your new bellows? When I built mine, they were always too thick and the camera would not fold up.

Michael

[Steve Smith]

About 15mm not extended. Much flatter than I was expecting.

It's all down to the cloth you use. Changing bags are made from very thin material.


Steve.

[Steve Smith]

I like it! In my very limited experience, bellows fold a bit better if there are points on all the stifeners, not like the square ones you have made there (so all the points kind of interlock without touching each other). That said your folds look superb, so what do I know.

If you have folds in all positions then they are twice as thick in the corners. I had a cunning plan and put corners on all of the forward facing stiffeners on one of my trial pieces but then it was difficult to fold a corner over in order to line up the edge at the last stage. The way I laid it out as shown allows the bellows to fold up easily for the final sticking down of the edge.

I would like to find a way to do it like that though, perhaps with some sort of jig, as it would be better once folded up.


Steve.

[zenny]

@Steve: very neat job! Thanks for sharing!

[pbryld]

Amazing! You could make a business with this I'm sure.

[Marc B.]

Please feel free to point and laugh...

Steve,
Not at all! Great job, and an excellent re-purposing for source of material.
If only my changing bag was a bit larger, I might try to make bellows for my 10 X 8.
I will probably go with bellows made by some neighbors on your side of the pond; 'Custom Bellows UK.'

Marc

[Steve Smith]

I will probably go with bellows made by some neighbors on your side of the pond; 'Custom Bellows UK.'

I don't know how much they charge... but it's worth every penny!


Steve.