"Unglueing" a bellows from mounting frame?

[Dave Starr]

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]

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

 

[bdial]

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.

 

[Rick A]

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.

 

[Dave Starr]

On my way to try heat now - THANKS!

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

 

[Shadowtracker]

Hide glue is also water soluble unless it's been treated with formaldehyde.