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Thread: softening a 90 year old bellows

  1. #1

    Join Date
    Aug 2000
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    softening a 90 year old bellows

    I just received my 5x12 Korona. The bellows is original, seemingly with no leaks. Although I can extend it, it is very stiff. Does anyone have experience with making these bellows more supple/flexible. They are not leather so Lexol and similar are out of the question.
    Thanks,
    Jim

  2. #2

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    May 2015
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    Re: softening a 90 year old bellows

    They are possibly fabric and/or paper construction, so not much that might be applied, that might not damage them... Water based stuff is probably out...

    Let me think about this...

    Steve K

  3. #3

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    Re: softening a 90 year old bellows

    What about the stuff made for horse saddles?

  4. #4

    Re: softening a 90 year old bellows

    New bellows.
    Even if you soften the bellows you have they will fail very quickly when you start using the camera.
    Richard T Ritter
    www.lg4mat.net

  5. #5

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    Re: softening a 90 year old bellows

    Quote Originally Posted by AtlantaTerry View Post
    What about the stuff made for horse saddles?
    OT/ AT, clear your inbox!!!

    SK

  6. #6

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    Re: softening a 90 year old bellows

    Quote Originally Posted by RichardRitter View Post
    New bellows.
    Even if you soften the bellows you have they will fail very quickly when you start using the camera.
    +1 unless it's a display camera, or once a year Sunday shooter... Once that wack-a-mole light leak thing starts, :-0 ...

    The cheap Chinese bellows will turn it into a solid shooter...

    Steve K

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