Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 14

Thread: Bellows glue

  1. #1

    Bellows glue

    G’Day All
    I recently extended my bellows on my Burke & James 5x7 much longer than normal and the bellows pulled away on one side where it is glued to the front standard ,any suggestions as to what glue to use to repair this. I assume this is the original bellows and I hope to send it off to be replaced soon but in the meantime I would like to use it.

  2. #2

    Join Date
    Sep 1998
    Location
    Loganville , GA
    Posts
    14,409

    Re: Bellows glue

    Contact cement

  3. #3

    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    SooooCal/LA USA
    Posts
    2,802

    Re: Bellows glue

    No glue, but cut a strip of hardwood and screw it down with small wood screws inside... Even clean popsicle sticks or tongue depressor... ('Cuz you are going to replace the bellows sometime, right???) Better cameras have a frame of wood or sheet metal holding bellows to front standard...

    Probable reason it pulled off is the bellows get stiff in old age and can't fully extend properly, so there's a lot of tension there... They can often fully collapse but not stretch well...

    Steve K

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Collinsville, CT USA
    Posts
    2,330

    Re: Bellows glue

    Quote Originally Posted by LabRat View Post
    No glue

    Steve K
    Agree 100% from past experience. I used glue to temporarily fix the same thing that happen to MichaelGJ47. When I finally decided to get a replacement bellows, I went to remove the bellows from the frame... cursed using glue that had over time really dried up. Took me a long time to remove the dried up glue without damaging the frame.

  5. #5

    Re: Bellows glue

    Thanks Folks
    I will see if I can get a thin piece of wood and some screws

  6. #6
    Photographer LocalHero1953's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2021
    Location
    Cambridge, UK
    Posts
    49

    Re: Bellows glue

    Custom Bellows UK recommend Evostick (contact adhesive)
    _________________________________________________________
    Paul Ashley Photography

  7. #7

    Re: Bellows glue

    Quote Originally Posted by LocalHero1953 View Post
    Custom Bellows UK recommend Evostick (contact adhesive)
    Thank you
    I will try to find that as putting in screws is very awkward on the Burke & James

  8. #8

    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    El Pueblo de Nuestra Señora la Reina de los Ángeles de Porciúncula
    Posts
    5,808

    Re: Bellows glue


  9. #9
    Drew Wiley
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    SF Bay area, CA
    Posts
    18,338

    Re: Bellows glue

    Regular contact cement tends to go brittle. Barge Cement is the type to use if you want long-term flexibility. But don't use any kind of contact cement in relation to vinyl bellows - the solvents will attack it. Leather OK (Barge is typically used for shoes).

  10. #10

    Join Date
    May 2015
    Location
    SooooCal/LA USA
    Posts
    2,802

    Re: Bellows glue

    Quote Originally Posted by MichaelGJ47 View Post
    Thank you
    I will try to find that as putting in screws is very awkward on the Burke & James
    Not as hard as it seems... If you pre-drill the wood strip for the screws, you put wood in place inside and put a couple of small/light c-clamps in from the lens board hole to secure strip in place... Then extend bellows more than half way and reach to front with screwdriver in hand... Push out front pleats near the screws for more clearance while turning... Just make sure screws are not too long as to go through to the outside... Wood is usually fairly soft, and this will be invisible later... This is done all the time with screw mounted bellows...

    Before you do this give bellows a thorough "flashlight" test now before you start, as the bellows might be leaking more than you thought, so maybe a clue for new bellows now???

    Steve K

Similar Threads

  1. Glue For Bellows
    By JJLouis in forum LF DIY (Do It Yourself)
    Replies: 46
    Last Post: 19-Feb-2020, 20:49
  2. Need Bellows Glue
    By muskedear in forum LF DIY (Do It Yourself)
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 5-Jun-2016, 17:41
  3. Bellows Glue
    By lenser in forum Gear
    Replies: 13
    Last Post: 7-Aug-2013, 18:09
  4. How to glue a bellows to frame?
    By Ginette in forum Gear
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 9-May-2011, 01:00
  5. Glue for bellows repair
    By Chris_6172 in forum Gear
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 23-Mar-2006, 09:21

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •