New Bellows? looking for opinions.

mark · Nov 15, 2016

My 8x10 Kodak 2D is in need of a bellows. I used a company in California 20+ years ago but can't remember their names, to replace my Galvin Bellows. When I got it it had a slight twist. For a 2.25x3.25 this was not a real big deal but an 8x10 will be.

I am looking for people who do bellows and honest honest opinions of work done by folks. I know good work costs.

Turner bellows, the Ebay sellers, the Uk folks are what I have found. There may be more out there so any info helps. I am not looking for original bellows. If something exists, that is awesome, other than that my camera is a user not a show piece.

R.Gould · Nov 15, 2016

One of the best in the UK is Custom Bellows, the made many of the original bellows for many British and German cameras,

Peter De Smidt · Nov 15, 2016

Custom bellows is the best that I've used.

DREW WILEY · Nov 15, 2016

Ditto. But this works best if you send your actual old bellows to Custom Bellows.

choiliefan · Nov 15, 2016

Add me to the list of satisfied Custom Bellows customers. 5X7 wood field camera. Sent them the bellows to replicate and it came out great.

Pete O · Nov 16, 2016

I've used Custom Bellows a couple of times in the fairly recent past, really nice people to deal with and they do a great job.
Pete

mark · Nov 16, 2016

Since I'm in the states, what is shipping is like for Custom Bellows and the turnaround? Kind of wondering how long my camera will be out of commission.

Anyone have experience with Turner Bellows or other state side bellows makers?

Peter De Smidt · Nov 16, 2016

I don't believe that Turner bellows is still making bellows. Western Bellows is long gone. Custom Bellows turnaround time was very fast the times that I used them.

DREW WILEY · Nov 16, 2016

Custom Bellows itself was extremely fast for me. Shipping out my own old bellows was a headache due to US customs. The Post Office wouldn't take it because I need a special form in advance. After standing in line a long time a second time, someone finally told me the form was right there on the Post Office wall all along, and it only takes a couple minutes to fill out. And ordinary USPS is overwhelmingly cheaper than UPS or Fedex, who nowadays seem to have even ruder stupider people. The finished product shipped back fast. No big deal once you learn the ropes. But as general policy I never ship or receive anything anywhere around holiday season. Too many temp parcel workers in December with a lot of inevitable theft and damage.

mark · Nov 16, 2016

DREW WILEY said:
But as general policy I never ship or receive anything anywhere around holiday season. Too many temp parcel workers in December with a lot of inevitable theft and damage.

Good point Drew. I am making do with electrical tape right now. Maybe I can make do for another month or two to avoid the Holiday madness.

Peter De Smidt · Nov 16, 2016

I prefer bookbinder's tape.

papagene · Nov 16, 2016

If you are repairing pin holes in the bellows, you might want to try liquid electrical tape. Ace Hardware may have it.

mjork · Nov 16, 2016

I have used "Permatex Black Silicone Adhesive Sealant" to repair a few holes in my 4x5 Super Graphic bellows. That's a cheap repair and seems quite durable. It has been holding up very well for over a year now.

mark · Nov 17, 2016

Thanks for the advice. I will give these a shot as a temporary patch.

Jim Noel · Nov 17, 2016

mark said:
Good point Drew. I am making do with electrical tape right now. Maybe I can make do for another month or two to avoid the Holiday madness.

You may wantto speed up your order for a new bellows, electrical tape is not lightproof.

dentkimterry · Nov 17, 2016

I had Richard Ritter replace the bellows in two of my cameras this year, a Rittreckview and a Tachihara 4x5.
He did a superior job on both and the cameras stayed in the USA.
Terry

mark · Dec 1, 2016

Jim Noel said:
You may wantto speed up your order for a new bellows, electrical tape is not lightproof.

The more layers you got the more light proof it is . I am using some butch "marine grade" stuff. Thicker than normal electrical tape and I have not had any issue with light. It won't get eaten up by the nasty crap that shows up in bilges if I drop my camera in, at least the part under the tape.

New Bellows? looking for opinions.

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