Taping Bellows

James Bleifus · May 27, 2019

I’ve just discovered that a camera I recently bought has pinholes in the bellows - more than I can count on two hands. I'm in southeast Asia and need to tape the bellows until I visit a country where I can have them replaced. Ironically this camera is my return to large format, and I’ve never taped a bellows before. Does anyone have any special tips or warnings?

And, does anyone know of any repair shops in southeast Asia? I'd far prefer a new bellows ASAP to a patched one.

Cheers, James

Pioneer · May 27, 2019

If there are a large number of pinholes you may find it easier to just lay your darkcloth over the top of the bellows before you expose your film. I have done that successfully in the past.

Another method I have used is to use black liquid electrical tape to patch bellows. The can has a cap with a small brush attached so it is handy. I open the bellows as far as I can and then apply the liquid tape in light layers. I leave the bellows sitting open for a couple of days to ensure the liquid dries. Usually one application works but I have had a couple holes that were stubborn enough to require a couple layers. In my case the inside of the bellows was still in decent condition but if yours is not then you may need to apply small pieces of gaffers tape to help keep the Liquid Tape from coming through.

Obviously both of these suggestions are temporary solutions but it sounds like that is what you are looking for.

James Bleifus · May 27, 2019

Dan,

Thanks for the tips. I purchased a Wanderer dark cloth instead of one of the smaller tube style cloths just so that I could lay it over the bellows as extra protection, and thank goodness I did. I'm not sure that I can find liquid electrical tape here, but I do have gaffers tape. Hopefully, both approaches will get me through the next year until I can get to a repair shop and have the bellows replaced.

Cheers!

Maris · May 27, 2019

The best bellows repair tape is 3M type 850 black polyester tape. I've done permanent repairs on many bellows for 4x5 and 8x10 cameras. The tape is very thin, very black, very flexible, with a strong non-bleed, non-creep adhesive. They should make bellows out of this stuff. Disadvantage? Expensive! But one roll fixes many cameras.

James Bleifus · May 27, 2019

Thanks, Maris. I don't think that I can find that here, but I'll order some for future repairs.

Cheers!

jim10219 · May 27, 2019

Pioneer said:
If there are a large number of pinholes you may find it easier to just lay your darkcloth over the top of the bellows before you expose your film. I have done that successfully in the past.

Another method I have used is to use black liquid electrical tape to patch bellows. The can has a cap with a small brush attached so it is handy. I open the bellows as far as I can and then apply the liquid tape in light layers. I leave the bellows sitting open for a couple of days to ensure the liquid dries. Usually one application works but I have had a couple holes that were stubborn enough to require a couple layers. In my case the inside of the bellows was still in decent condition but if yours is not then you may need to apply small pieces of gaffers tape to help keep the Liquid Tape from coming through.

Obviously both of these suggestions are temporary solutions but it sounds like that is what you are looking for.

I've done the liquid electrical tape before. It works well, but does have one major drawback. If you patch two adjacent pleats and compress the bellows to where they're touching for a while, they can stick to each other and pull off, even after the paint has dried. I had that problem with a Speed Graphic I tried to repair. Eventually, I gave up on that and just bought some new bellows. I did repair the focal plane shutter with that stuff, and it worked there very well because I only applied it to one side, so when it rolled up, it didn't come into contact with other liquid electrical tape patches.

shutterfinger · May 27, 2019

I use Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Artist Paint #1040 Carbon Black, diluted 1:1 with water, with bellows fully extended paint the inside of the bellows with a fine bristle economy artist brush in thin coats until light tight allowing a few hours to overnight between coats. Does not stick to itself when dry.
https://www.goldenpaints.com/products/colors/heavy-body
You should be able to find some similar artist paint where you are.

Pioneer · May 28, 2019

jim10219 said:
I've done the liquid electrical tape before. It works well, but does have one major drawback. If you patch two adjacent pleats and compress the bellows to where they're touching for a while, they can stick to each other and pull off, even after the paint has dried. I had that problem with a Speed Graphic I tried to repair. Eventually, I gave up on that and just bought some new bellows. I did repair the focal plane shutter with that stuff, and it worked there very well because I only applied it to one side, so when it rolled up, it didn't come into contact with other liquid electrical tape patches.

Thanks for pointing that out Jim. I will definitely keep that in mind. I did not realize that was a potential problem since my patches did not come in contact with each other when dry. I did this a few years ago on an old Graflex and I just checked it. It is still holding up OK but I haven't been using that camera recently. I don't think I would try any of these patches with the expectation that they would last for a long time.

However I did drape the dark cloth over my bellows on an old Cambo 8x10 monorail that I still own for about 4 years before I finally got around to buying a new bellows. Worked pretty well actually but the bellows only had a couple of holes.

Jojje · May 28, 2019

The classic fix is Elmer's glue, black ink - or lamp black - and a drop of dish soap. Fills the holes but is not so sticky as electric tape.

Jojje · May 28, 2019

Found the original link: http://www.rolandandcaroline.co.uk/bellows.html

xya · May 28, 2019

there is also 3M black photo tape (235), thin, sticky and permanent. it lasts for years. amazon has it and delivers all over the planet. it might seem expensive, but it's worth it.

narsuitus · May 29, 2019

The bellows for some of my old cameras have small holes. To seal the holes, I have used black, waterproof, flexible, contact cement that is normally used to repair scuba rubber wetsuits. Some of my old cameras have required two to four coats to seal all the holes in the bellows.

Bellows Repair by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Theo Sulphate · May 29, 2019

narsuitus said:
The bellows for some of my old cameras have small holes. To seal the holes, I have used black, waterproof, flexible, contact cement that is normally used to repair scuba rubber wetsuits. Some of my old cameras have required two to four coats to seal all the holes in the bellows.

Bellows Repair by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Are you using just the Aquaseal or is the "M" cement used with it? Can the bellows still fold afterwards?

I have a folder from the 1940's whose bellows is full of holes at the corners, but I really want to fix and use that camera.

narsuitus · May 29, 2019

Theo Sulphate said:
Are you using just the Aquaseal or is the "M" cement used with it? Can the bellows still fold afterwards?

I have a folder from the 1940's whose bellows is full of holes at the corners, but I really want to fix and use that camera.

I first used the "M" cement on the bellows of a 6x6cm Ansco Standard Speedex 90mm f/4.5 120 folder. I had to apply three coats to seal all the holes. I made the mistake of closing the bellows before the cement had dried.

I also used the "M" cement on the bellows of a 4x5 inch Calumet CC-402 wide field/short monorail view camera. I only needed to apply two coats to seal the holes.

A year later, when I tried to use the "M" cement on the bellows of a 6x9cm Ansco Viking 105mm f/6.3 120 folder, I discovered that the cement in the container had hardened. I purchased the Aquaseal because I could not find another can of "M" cement.

I had to apply three coats to seal all the holes in the 6x9 folder but this time I waited weeks to allow the cement to completely dry.

After the cement dried on all three bellows, the bellows folded with no problems.

Vaidotas · May 29, 2019

narsuitus said:
The bellows for some of my old cameras have small holes. To seal the holes, I have used black, waterproof, flexible, contact cement that is normally used to repair scuba rubber wetsuits. Some of my old cameras have required two to four coats to seal all the holes in the bellows.

I'm almost sure that glue is polyurethane based, so does not matter which brand. Used it for trekking shoes repair with success.

Maris, thanks for suggestion.

tezzasmall · May 29, 2019

Maris said:
The best bellows repair tape is 3M type 850 black polyester tape. I've done permanent repairs on many bellows for 4x5 and 8x10 cameras. The tape is very thin, very black, very flexible, with a strong non-bleed, non-creep adhesive. They should make bellows out of this stuff. Disadvantage? Expensive! But one roll fixes many cameras.

Expensive! That word doesn't quite convey what I said when I just checked out the price on ebay... Even a very thin roll is VERY expensive, BUT if it does the job...

Terry S

Ian Grant · May 29, 2019

shutterfinger said:
I use Golden Heavy Body Acrylic Artist Paint #1040 Carbon Black, diluted 1:1 with water, with bellows fully extended paint the inside of the bellows with a fine bristle economy artist brush in thin coats until light tight allowing a few hours to overnight between coats. Does not stick to itself when dry.
https://www.goldenpaints.com/products/colors/heavy-body
You should be able to find some similar artist paint where you are.

That's what I do but just a different brand of Acrylic black paint, any small tears I patch first on the inside first.

In the past I used invisible mend repair tape which I bought at a local haberdashers, this came from a Dutch company that ceased trading. It was very thin light tight and almost certainly re-packaged 3M type 850 black polyester tape.

When repairing bellows with Acrylic paints you need to be aware that some older bellows used glues that water can effect, so I don't dilute, what you don't want is the lining and outer covering separating from the stiffeners. Some bellows use an imitation leather outer covering and this is little more than thin cardboard with a textured coating.

Ian

James Bleifus · May 29, 2019

Thanks for all of the tips. I’ve discovered that Bostick and Sullivan has a bellows repair kit (and I need to order other things from B&S) so I’ll try that first, along with the dark cloth over the bellows technique. If that doesn’t work I’ll begin trying these other techniques until I’m set to replace the bellows.

Thanks again!

nosmok · May 30, 2019

Another vote here for the 3M Polyester tape. Another nice thing about it is it folds up as well as the untaped bellows does. I am about to start my largest bellows patch project with it-- an 8x10. But every bellows I've used it on has been fine, going on 4 years now.

Theo Sulphate · May 30, 2019

This is my project, the bellows are riddled with pinholes in all the creases:

Otherwise, the camera is perfect. Look how the spool holders swing out!

Greg Heath · May 30, 2019

James Bleifus said:
I’ve just discovered that a camera I recently bought has pinholes in the bellows - more than I can count on two hands. I'm in southeast Asia and need to tape the bellows until I visit a country where I can have them replaced. Ironically this camera is my return to large format, and I’ve never taped a bellows before. Does anyone have any special tips or warnings?

And, does anyone know of any repair shops in southeast Asia? I'd far prefer a new bellows ASAP to a patched one.

Cheers, James

SandehaLynch.com Do Not try to fix pinholed bellows. Send Sandeha a Message and he will make you a new one. I buy from him all the time. I rebuild Agfa Isolettes. 6x6 and 6x9 but he also makes and loves Large Format. Greg

Greg Heath · May 30, 2019

narsuitus said:
The bellows for some of my old cameras have small holes. To seal the holes, I have used black, waterproof, flexible, contact cement that is normally used to repair scuba rubber wetsuits. Some of my old cameras have required two to four coats to seal all the holes in the bellows.

Bellows Repair by Narsuitus, on Flickr

THIS is so painful to see. Send SandehaLynch.com a message and buy a new bellows... New Bellows for these cameras are CHEAP. He will even install them for you. I have rebuilt like 5 or 6 Agfa's. Easy Peasy.

Theo Sulphate · May 30, 2019

Interesting - thanks.

James Bleifus · May 30, 2019

Thanks for the tip, Greg.

narsuitus · May 30, 2019

Greg Heath said:
THIS is so painful to see. Send SandehaLynch.com a message and buy a new bellows... New Bellows for these cameras are CHEAP. He will even install them for you. I have rebuilt like 5 or 6 Agfa's. Easy Peasy.

I agree !

I have replaced damaged paper-thin bellows with high-quality leather bellows from SandehaLynch.com. I highly recommend.

Replacement Bellows by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Taping Bellows

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