Pin holes in used bellows

[P Sanders]

In testing a newly purchased 8x10 (an old Deardorff) I found several pin dots of light leaks at the bellows creases and folds. Is there a liquid flexible sealant that can be applied to the bellows? I have doubts concerning black plumbers or gorilla tape.

Thank you for your help

 

[AnselMortensen]

Liquid Electrical Tape.

 

[beemermark]

Liquid Electrical Tape.

 

[John Wiegerink]

Yes, what's suggested above will work, but after you fix one pin hole another will pop up since the bellows is probably on its way out. I used an old 4X5 years ago that had a few corner pin holes. I didn't have much money at the time so a replacement bellows was out of the question. All I did for a long time was after setting up and final focusing I would take my dark cloth and drape it over the bellows and tuck the extra under the bellows and between the front bed. I'd then pull the dark slide and trip the shutter. Worked extremely well until I sold the camera.

 

[Maris]

I do large and small bellows repair with 3M Type 850 black polyester tape alias "bellows repair tape". This ultra-thin tape is stronger and more durable than any bellows it is applied to. Expensive.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

In testing a newly purchased 8x10 (an old Deardorff) I found several pin dots of light leaks at the bellows creases and folds. Is there a liquid flexible sealant that can be applied to the bellows? I have doubts concerning black plumbers or gorilla tape.

Thank you for your help

for that problem ,I'd use black liquid silicon and a small brush.

 

[Sanug]

Neoprene glue.

 

[P Sanders]

Thank you. . . I never heard of liquid electrical tape and was researching black aquaseal (wet suit repair). Will buy both liquid tape and black silicon.

 

[Rick A]

I paint the bellows with Puffy fabric paint, and if that doesn't plug the holes, I cover the area with book binder's tape.

 

[Martin Frank]

I've used the Bostick and "Sullivan Bellows Patch kit" with successful results.

 

[Tel]

Thank you. . . I never heard of liquid electrical tape and was researching black aquaseal (wet suit repair). Will buy both liquid tape and black silicon.

You can get liquid electrical tape (in black or red) from Ace Hardware.

 

[Patrick Robert James]

If they are just pinholes, then stick a pin through the hole then put a blob of liquid electrical tape on the pin and pull it back through. Put a little on the outside of the hole too. That is the best way I've found to repair a pinhole.

Then plan on buying a new bellows because once you start getting pinholes it is like playing whack-a-mole. You are going to get more as you use the camera and move the bellows.

 

[xkaes]

As just mentioned, you can try all these suggestions. I'm not saying they won't work, but when a bellows starts to show pinholes, it's on life-support already. You're just postponing the inevitable, and every time you use it, you are probably creating new pinholes. After you fix the currently visible holes, make sure to check it again next week or next month because there will probably be new ones.

Please, don't shoot the messengers.

 

[Tel]

when a bellows starts to show pinholes, it's on life-support already.

+1: True--you can either spend most of your time checking for new pinholes and patching them or shooting film. The problem is usually due to aging of the bellows material and patching the holes as they appear doesn't really solve it.