Posted by David Calvert on March 06, 2001 at 07:09:17:
In Reply to: Bellows Separation posted by Russ Nickerson on March 05, 2001 at 22:30:14:: Looks like I have a spot of inner and outer bellows
: seperation causing a pouching when the bellows is not
: fully extened. Can this be repaired. Thanks
Russ:
I had this same problem with a 2 x 3 Crown and
leather bellows. First, you need to remove the
bellows by thaking off the back of the camera
and by getting it off the front standard. Once
off, it's a good opportunity to clean it inside
and out. I made a "bellows extending tool" by
using a throwaway wooden ruler with two wood
screws partly screwed in the ruler where the bellows
was fully extended--by inserting the ruler inside
the bellows with on end on the inner frame and the
other end of the frame sliped over the two screws,
the bellows would stay open. I then used contact
cement to seal the separation because it sets quickly.
Let it dry overnight. I've found that the non-glossy
(flat finish) version of Armor-All works excellently
in treating a bellows, whether leather or synthetic.
Use it sparingly (after you've cemented the bellows)
and it takes about two go overs to work it in and
remove the residue, but the bellows will then look
like new.