"Unglueing" a bellows from mounting frame?

Dave Starr

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I want to open up the front of a Busch Pressman 4x5 bellows just a little, so I can use a couple lenses I have on it. The bellows is glued to the metal mounting frame & I need to remove it. Any tips on what to use to do this? Solvent, or what??
 

paul ron

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Sharp razor knife or scalple, cut to the bone. The old glue will more than likely be brittle.
 

bdial

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It's likely fastened with hide glue or shellac. Heat is best with hide glue, if you happen to have a tacking iron that might be small enough to do what you need. Otherwise a travel clothes iron might work.
If it's shellac, then denatured alcohol wil soften it. Alcohol may also work on the hide glue.
 
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Rick A

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Vinegar will break down either shellac or hide glue. I wont recommend it in your instance tho, might damage the bellows material as well. I think the safest bet is heat and a sharp instrument to lift the bellows away from the frame.
 
OP
OP

Dave Starr

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Nov 7, 2004
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On my way to try heat now - THANKS!

2:25pm - heat did the trick. It didn't take much & the bellows came loose easily.
 
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