When I was processing my crocus pics I had several sheets fogged. So out came the light and upon inspection I find my bellows must have come from Switzerland! Several holes in the corners of the bellows folds. So how do I fix these little pesty problems. Hopefully with no exotic materials.
Eric, Depending on how badly your bellows are affected, Bostick and Sullivan (A search will locate them) has a bellows repair kit. I have not used it myself but others have indicated that it works very well. In leiu of that replacement bellows may be purchased at several places. I have had Western Bellows make replacement bellows for a couple of cameras. I recommend them highly.
Depending on how bad and how much looks matter. Tape should work no? Or just the old trick of putting your darkcloth over the bellows. If it's a common camera new bellows might exceed the cost of a replacement camera-((
Being a good Canuckdian, I was figuring on using duct tape. Since you can get all kinds of cool colors it should look pretty funky. Red Green would be proud.
Eric, I have used the Bostick and SUllivan repair kit and it works great. The bottle they send you will last you a life time. Another solution is liquid tape from electrical stores.
</span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td>QUOTE (EricR @ Apr 24 2003, 07:59 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'> Being a good Canuckdian, I was figuring on using duct tape. Since you can get all kinds of cool colors it should look pretty funky. Red Green would be proud. </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'>
Don't use duct tape... use chewing gum!
First off for very little money (like $15.00 shipped) you get enough stuff to repair a TON of holes.
Secondly, the stuff works. I mean it WORKS. And it is pretty easy to use. I had holes in the edges of my pleats on my 401 and the B&S kit took care of them quite readily. Application is easy and the stuff is durable. Within 1 week I had a perfect bellows (it takes 1 week to dry).
When I repair bellows, I use medical gause and liquid electrical tape (get the gauze at the local druggist and the liquid tape at the local hardware). Apply a thin layer of the tape, then a small, thin piece of gauze with the bellows stretched out. Then after drying, flex a few times and add another layer of the liquid tape.
First off for very little money (like $15.00 shipped) you get enough stuff to repair a TON of holes.
Secondly, the stuff works. I mean it WORKS. And it is pretty easy to use. I had holes in the edges of my pleats on my 401 and the B&S kit took care of them quite readily. Application is easy and the stuff is durable. Within 1 week I had a perfect bellows (it takes 1 week to dry).
Somewhat off topic, but I wonder if the B&S repair kit might also be the perfect solution for all those people who burn holes in their Leica M shutters?
You have probably long since solved your problem, but I have found that simple gaffer's tape both works to block the light and doesn't interfere with the folds of the bellows when you put in in the corners.
Go to Lowe's or Home Depot and get some liquid rubber in a tube. It'll be in the same section as the epoxy glues. Just a little pin head sized dab will plug the leak and never come off. Flexible, too. I've also used it to repair the hinges on my old Kodak wooden film holders.