Light leaks!!!

Eric Rose · Apr 24, 2003

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

Donald Miller · Apr 24, 2003

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.

Robert · Apr 24, 2003

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-((

Eric Rose · Apr 24, 2003

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.

Jorge · Apr 25, 2003

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.

http://www.bostick-sullivan.com

bmac · Apr 25, 2003

</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!

Robert Kennedy · May 8, 2003

I HIGHLY recommend the B&S repair kit.

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).

docholliday · May 9, 2003

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.

Work's great and keeps flexible for years.

bmac · Jun 6, 2003

Robert Kennedy said:
I HIGHLY recommend the B&S repair kit.

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).

I got my B&S kit in the mail today, I think I now have enough patch to fix every camera I will ever own. Huge portion!

Tom Duffy · Jun 6, 2003

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?

David Hall · Jun 6, 2003

EricR,

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.

Nice avatar.

dgh

Robert Kennedy · Jun 7, 2003

Tom - Might be. The only problem is that it is pretty thick. The weight might throw off the shutter speed. Or the thickness might cause a jam.

Or it might work....

Who knows....

I would be laothe to experiment on a Leica though. Sort of up there "Faberge' Egg Tossing Contests".

c6h6o3 · Jun 7, 2003

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.

Light leaks!!!

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