• Welcome to Photrio!
    Registration is fast and free. Join today to unlock search, see fewer ads, and access all forum features.
    Click here to sign up

Sticky Toyo bag bellows - how to un-stick?

Recent Classifieds

Forum statistics

Threads
203,565
Messages
2,856,586
Members
101,907
Latest member
BoulderCameraRepair
Recent bookmarks
0

nbagno

Subscriber
Allowing Ads
Joined
Oct 19, 2012
Messages
749
Location
SF Bay Area
Format
4x5 Format
I have a couple of sticky Toyo bag bellows, is there something I can use to clean them off?
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1880.jpg
    IMG_1880.jpg
    444.6 KB · Views: 120
Oops,

I should have searched better.

 
From that photo it looks like the decay of camera and accessory everready cases of same material.

For a bellows I do not see any remedy. You have to toss the bellows proper and make/have made a new one re-using the frames.

A makeshift solution is wiping off sticky patches with organic solvent, hoping that by this the weaving structure would be filled with that resulting paste.
 
I purchased a similar bellows with the same issue. I managed to remove the stickiness with solvents, dubbin and baby powder (the restored bellows looked much better than the process suggests it might) but I discovered that the material had become translucent almost everywhere. I managed to return it for a refund and purchased a new bag bellows from China (which were complete, mounted on frames that fitted perfectly).
 
Last edited:
I've seen worse bellows. Maybe try some alcohol on a washcloth before going to anything stronger.
 
Photrio.com contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
To read our full affiliate disclosure statement please click Here.

PHOTRIO PARTNERS EQUALLY FUNDING OUR COMMUNITY:



Ilford ADOX Freestyle Photographic Stearman Press Weldon Color Lab Blue Moon Camera & Machine
Top Bottom