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What kind of glue for bellows replacement?

loccdor

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Joined
Jan 12, 2024
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3,213
Location
USA
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Multi Format
I need to replace the bellows on a Horseman 970 6x9. I realized they are deteriorating too much for repair to last long. What kind of glue should I use, and how to remove the old glue? Any tips and tricks? I found a video on the screws to remove. Thank you.

 
When I bought a replacement bellows for an old Toyo camera, it came with a Japanese tube of solvent-based/rubber contact adhesive. It has held up well. The smell reminded me of pretty much any similar contact glue that's available all over the planet.
Removal of the old glue was a matter of just praying loose the old bellows and then scraping off the glue remnants. It's all a pretty straightforward, hands-on process.
 
In the US Pliobond Contact Adhesive, which is similar to the glue @koraks mentions.

I've always used Evostik Impact which is a similar contact adhesive, by Camera now Custom Bellows and used.

Ian
 
Great, thanks!
 
I use the Pliobond Non VC formula; works great but smells terrible until it dries!
 
The only time I replaced a bellows was for my homemade 14x17. A box cutter, and acetone (to clean off the hardened glue) was used, followed by contact cement to glue on the new bellows.
 
Here are some bellows sources. Remember that this bellows is quite thin as it needs to be compact.


Custom Bellows UK





http://www.custombellows.co.uk/products.html




US Companies





Nabel





https://nabell.com/products/camera-bellows/





TURNER BELLOWS 526 Child St Rochester NY 14606 (716) 235-4456





Universal Bellows Co. 25 Hanse Ave Freeport NY 11520 (516) 378-1264
1994: 6x6 bellows: $40 each +$7 shipping





Western Bellows (May 2007)
7454 HENBANE ST
ETIWANDA, CA 91739
(909) 980 0606

Pliobond is good and also Loctite 480 Black. Keep the Loctite 480 refrigerated once you receive it and open it. It is dated for best use before, but will work longer.

Hope this helps.

Rod
 
The bellows replacement is going well so far. Some of the disassembly screws were stubborn but I eventually got them without stripping them. I had to cut the bellows where they attach to the camera surfaces more than expected as there was a lot of extra material. Mine came from China.
 

for removing the old bellows, I would try a few drops of acetoneand rubber cement to put the new ones on but I'm just guessing. I went to Custom Bellows in the UK, who did a perfect job to replace the bellows on my Linhof, If they still exist, it may be worth a call.
 
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