Leather conditioner for bellows?

[l2oBiN]

What is the best leather conditioner for bellows?

(I would like to condition arca wide 4x5 and 8x10 bellows.)

I have currently been given the following by a shoe repair shop..

http://leathermate.com.au//product-info

[John Kasaian]

FWIW I'd ask Arca.

[andrewch59]

I use one from the local hardware store, but I first checked to make sure it did not have an effect on the glue used to build the bellows. Last thing you want is the bellows coming apart at the seams.

[Mark Sampson]

When I had a Tachihara with (goatskin) leather bellows, I used Lexol, popular for auto interiors but meant for leather-bound books. It worked well on my camera.
Back then (1980s, pre-internet) some people though neats-foot oil was good; and it is, for baseball gloves. But the word was also that it might dissolve the glue holding the bellows together.
Whatever you choose, use it sparingly.

[Jac@stafford.net]

Is the bellows really leather?

[LabRat]

The main ingredents in all of these brands is lanolin, which is a collagen that feeds the leather...

Read the ingredients carefully, as some contain silicone, which waterproof the material, but also prevents later treatments from penetrating and makes future repairs very difficult...

Some brands contain a lot of water that can affect glues, and expand/shrink bellows...

Steve K

[eric black]

When I had a Tachihara with (goatskin) leather bellows, I used Lexol, popular for auto interiors but meant for leather-bound books. It worked well on my camera.
Back then (1980s, pre-internet) some people though neats-foot oil was good; and it is, for baseball gloves. But the word was also that it might dissolve the glue holding the bellows together.
Whatever you choose, use it sparingly.

+1 for the Lexol- used it sparingly and never had a problem with my Arca leather bellows- works great and is available if you cannot find it in shops that deal leather goods for horse saddles and other related tack

[rorye]

I've had good results with this fluid from EBay seller hobby-nexus-supplies

[l2oBiN]

Regarding treatment, do you apply it on both inside and outside of the bellows or only outside?

I have been applying it only on the outside (shiny site). Inside is tougher and it feels somewhat dry..

Outside




Inside

[LabRat]

The inside is generally lined with silk that forms a tough skeleton with the leather on the outside...

Test a little on a hidden spot on the outside, and if it didn't loosen the inner glues or made the too dry leather crumble, then just the entire outside... Don't apply too thick as it can excessively soften, but a couple of light coats over a day or two... Don't rub when wet, and very lightly when dry...

Steve K