First aid for enlarger bellows with holes??

[Tom Stanworth]

Hi,

I bought a huge Kamm 8x10 enlarger for peanuts recently and have just got round to trying to wall mount it and het it up and running. However, it cost £30 for a reason - 10 years out of use on a damp garage floor! The chassis will clean up (it aint going to look like new again), but the bellows have small cracks in the corner on many of the pleats. They are old fabric bellows and fairly fragile. I will however be printing all prints roughly the same size, so they will not need to do much flexing once repaired.

What can I do to repair the cracks?
What can be done to soften the old fabric?

I am loath to get new bellows made due to the cost and nuissance. I small amount of light spill is unlikely to cause problems as all enlargers seem to spill a little from the neg carriers etc and I have never had a problem with fogging. Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Tom

 

[Donald Miller]

Hi,

I bought a huge Kamm 8x10 enlarger for peanuts recently and have just got round to trying to wall mount it and het it up and running. However, it cost £30 for a reason - 10 years out of use on a damp garage floor! The chassis will clean up (it aint going to look like new again), but the bellows have small cracks in the corner on many of the pleats. They are old fabric bellows and fairly fragile. I will however be printing all prints roughly the same size, so they will not need to do much flexing once repaired.

What can I do to repair the cracks?
What can be done to soften the old fabric?

I am loath to get new bellows made due to the cost and nuissance. I small amount of light spill is unlikely to cause problems as all enlargers seem to spill a little from the neg carriers etc and I have never had a problem with fogging. Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Tom

Bostick and Sullivan sell a kit to repair bellows.

 

[ann]

We have used old fashion black photo tape.
I have a new set of bellows for a beseler 45 and just can't get up the engery to replace. a little tape here and there has done the trick.

 

[bmac]

Bostick and Sullivan sell a kit to repair bellows.

I used the Bostick and Sullivan kit on my 8x10, it made the bellows light tight and softer. Well worth what it costs.

 

[John_Brewer]

You could get a new set if they're shot from http://www.camerabellows.com/

 

[Loose Gravel]

Years ago my camera repair guy said he fixed bellows pin holes with "Liquid Rubber", which is a black goo in a tube. Worked fine for me.

YMMV

 

[Deckled Edge]

A liberal slathering of Trident brand urethane cement will confer flexibility and light-tightness. It's available in cans with a built-in brush at dive and surf shops. It's most often used to repair wet suits. $4.99

 

[Tom Stanworth]

Thanks everyone; yet again this forum comes up trumps!

Tom

 

[and36y]

KAMM

Tom,
I too have just bought a KAMM enlarger and will hopefully be installing it over the easter weekend. How have you got on with yours, what is the 108s like to use? any tips/recommendations?....

Andy

Hi,

I bought a huge Kamm 8x10 enlarger for peanuts recently and have just got round to trying to wall mount it and het it up and running. However, it cost £30 for a reason - 10 years out of use on a damp garage floor! The chassis will clean up (it aint going to look like new again), but the bellows have small cracks in the corner on many of the pleats. They are old fabric bellows and fairly fragile. I will however be printing all prints roughly the same size, so they will not need to do much flexing once repaired.

What can I do to repair the cracks?
What can be done to soften the old fabric?

I am loath to get new bellows made due to the cost and nuissance. I small amount of light spill is unlikely to cause problems as all enlargers seem to spill a little from the neg carriers etc and I have never had a problem with fogging. Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Tom