musty linhof bag bellows

[jolimon]

hello to all the experts out there who may be able to help me. just got a bag bellows for my linhof kardan but it is musty and likely has fungus or mould of some sort. the inside of the bag looks like a rough suede with a smooth outer surface...so what would be wise to use to clean and eliminate the mould. is bleach hard on leather..what about ammonia....i live in the canadian rockies so very dry which will help somewhat. any ideas out there? thanks and happy shooting all....richard

 

[Mark Layne]

I would try some Hydrogen peroxide and perhaps some weak bleach. Alcohol is good if drying is needed.
Mark

 

[Ian Grant]

Don't try either Hydrogen Peroxide or Bleach, both will damage the materiials used.

I've just cleaned some poor & damaged bellows from a Speed Graphic and a quick clean & rinse in warm water was more than enough.

However not all bellows will stand up to water, but a damp cloth and a good anti-septic should be enough.

See this thread it's saying exactly the same, except giving advice on US products
(there was a url link here which no longer exists)

Ian

I would try some Hydrogen peroxide and perhaps some weak bleach. Alcohol is good if drying is needed.
Mark

 

[KenS]

hello to all the experts out there who may be able to help me. just got a bag bellows for my linhof kardan but it is musty and likely has fungus or mould of some sort.....(snip)
richard

Richard,

How about a treatment with gentle swabbing out the inside with a dilute solution of Thymol, (as may be used as an anti-fungal agent in gum printing). Unfortunately, I cannot suggest, off hand, the appropriate percent solution that would be most effective while causing no harm to the leather, but somehow the figure of a 2% seems to pop into my head right now.

Ken