Conley Model B 8x10 Bellows Replacement.

[klop]

I bought my first 8x10 camera last weekend and it looks beautiful. The bellows doesn't look bad but unfortunately I discovered, after testing with a led light in the closet, that its peppered with pin holes. Apparently it belonged to a photography studio in a town in the next state and I suspect they had it out in the open, extended for display for many years. I would like to replace the bellows..... Anyone had a bellows replaced? I'm wondering what my options are..

 

[Don_ih]

Purchasing a new bellows for an 8x10 camera is pretty expensive. Getting someone to replace the bellows for you would be more expensive. If the holes are just pinholes, you might be able to deal with them by painting them with flat acrylic paint. Just a thin layer - don't goop it on. Then you can recheck. Don't collapse the bellows until all tackiness is gone from the paint.

Since this is your first 8x10, you should make sure you want to shoot 8x10 before committing too much money (like film isn't enough money to commit). If you use the camera in a studio setting, you can keep the bellows in the dark by putting a cloth over them and, well, keeping the light off them. Harder to do outside.

And, of course, there are ways to make your own bellows. Someone here recently posted a method that looks effective and fairly easy.

I made the mistake of using "liquid electric tape" on a bellows' pinholes - at endless recommendations online. That stuff stays tacky for millennia. And when it attaches to itself, it's more likely to pull off what you put it on.

I have a camera with a bellows so disintegrated, I glued black paper from an old photo paper box on the entire inside. It was either that or replace the bellows. It worked but added 1/4" to the collapsed length of the bellows - and the camera wouldn't fold up (a mini Speed Graphic). That was irritating. But, like I said, it worked.

 

[klop]

Purchasing a new bellows for an 8x10 camera is pretty expensive. Getting someone to replace the bellows for you would be more expensive. If the holes are just pinholes, you might be able to deal with them by painting them with flat acrylic paint. Just a thin layer - don't goop it on. Then you can recheck. Don't collapse the bellows until all tackiness is gone from the paint.

Since this is your first 8x10, you should make sure you want to shoot 8x10 before committing too much money (like film isn't enough money to commit). If you use the camera in a studio setting, you can keep the bellows in the dark by putting a cloth over them and, well, keeping the light off them. Harder to do outside.

And, of course, there are ways to make your own bellows. Someone here recently posted a method that looks effective and fairly easy.

I made the mistake of using "liquid electric tape" on a bellows' pinholes - at endless recommendations online. That stuff stays tacky for millennia. And when it attaches to itself, it's more likely to pull off what you put it on.

I have a camera with a bellows so disintegrated, I glued black paper from an old photo paper box on the entire inside. It was either that or replace the bellows. It worked but added 1/4" to the collapsed length of the bellows - and the camera wouldn't fold up (a mini Speed Graphic). That was irritating. But, like I said, it worked.

Thank You for the info. I was going to go the Liquid Electrical Tape route but now I'm reconsidering it.

 

[AnselMortensen]

If you decide to replace the bellows at some point, Custom Bellows in the UK do excellent work.

 

[Don_ih]

There is always the option to just tape over the worst pinholes. Black bookbinding tape would be a good choice. If the bellows are already shot, it doesn't matter much what you do to them.

 

[klop]

If you decide to replace the bellows at some point, Custom Bellows in the UK do excellent work.

Thanks, I've been seeing their name a lot...

 

[klop]

There is always the option to just tape over the worst pinholes. Black bookbinding tape would be a good choice. If the bellows are already shot, it doesn't matter much what you do to them.

This sounds less messy......

 

[juan]

From an old post by shutterfinger, who is very knowledgeable

Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Artist Paint #1040 Carbon Black https://www.goldenpaints.com/products/colors/heavy-body
Dilute no more than 1:1 with water, paint on in thin layers and allow to dry between coats. 2 to 3 coats light seal holes depending on how thick you make each one.
I have done entire Graflex 4x5 shutter curtains with this and the stay light tight over the years. It can be applied with an air brush if desired.

I used this and found it worked well.

 

[Rick A]

I've used "Puffy" fabric paint to cover pinholes in the past, and book binders tape for larger patches and corner repair, it's the best tape to replace film holder hinges. If that doesn't fix everything there's a good company here in the states that will make custom camera bellows.

Camera Bellows Manufacturers, Replacement & Repair in USA

Camera bellows or optical bellows specially designed for camera and optical applications. At Nabell, get perforated fold bellows in a variety of sizes and shapes to meet your needs.

nabell.com

 

[Jojje]

Last winter I ordered custom made bellows from China for my 100 year old ICA Ideal. I've been pleased with the service and product. https://www.etonephoto.com/products...o-wista-agfa-ansco-kodak-gandolfi-whole-plate

 

[klop]

From an old post by shutterfinger, who is very knowledgeable

Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Artist Paint #1040 Carbon Black https://www.goldenpaints.com/products/colors/heavy-body
Dilute no more than 1:1 with water, paint on in thin layers and allow to dry between coats. 2 to 3 coats light seal holes depending on how thick you make each one.
I have done entire Graflex 4x5 shutter curtains with this and the stay light tight over the years. It can be applied with an air brush if desired.

I used this and found it worked well.

Thank You

 

[klop]

I've used "Puffy" fabric paint to cover pinholes in the past, and book binders tape for larger patches and corner repair, it's the best tape to replace film holder hinges. If that doesn't fix everything there's a good company here in the states that will make custom camera bellows.

Camera Bellows Manufacturers, Replacement & Repair in USA

Camera bellows or optical bellows specially designed for camera and optical applications. At Nabell, get perforated fold bellows in a variety of sizes and shapes to meet your needs.

nabell.com

Thank You

 

[klop]

Last winter I ordered custom made bellows from China for my 100 year old ICA Ideal. I've been pleased with the service and product. https://www.etonephoto.com/products...o-wista-agfa-ansco-kodak-gandolfi-whole-plate

Thank You

 

[Tel]

Last winter I ordered custom made bellows from China for my 100 year old ICA Ideal. I've been pleased with the service and product. https://www.etonephoto.com/products...o-wista-agfa-ansco-kodak-gandolfi-whole-plate

+1. I've bought 7 bellows from them, some stock product and some custom jobs and found them especially helpful. They did bellows for my 8x10 long-focus ROC Premo with extension of over a meter, in red cloth, and it was impeccable.

 

[Neil Poulsen]

I've always had good luck with Custom Bellows in the UK. I sent them format frames, and they were able to bellows for a Sinar 8x10. It was beautifully done. Were it me, I would send them the camera. But, one can also send them dimensions.

 

[Terence]

+1. I've bought 7 bellows from them, some stock product and some custom jobs and found them especially helpful. They did bellows for my 8x10 long-focus ROC Premo with extension of over a meter, in red cloth, and it was impeccable.

What kind of prices?

 

[Tel]

It was over a span of maybe 8 or ten years and I didn't keep records but I do recall the custom job (the 8x10 ROC Premo) was just shy of $200.

 

[Strembicki]

I had a bad bellows on my 8x10 Linhof Kardan TL, I patched it for years with this liquid rubber sealant and it worked for a while but ultimately I purchased a new bellow from a great guy who advertises on eBay from China, great prices, quick work and I even got it in red at no additional cost. Just do an eBay search for large format replacement bellows.