Which Glue for Bellows

[Gary892]

I did a search but did not find what I am looking for so here is my question.

I am replacing the bellows on my 12x20 Korona and I need a glue to glue the bellows to the from frame. I need the glue to be able to be removed should I need to change the bellows in the future.

Does any one have experience with any brands of glue for this purpose?

Thanks

Gary

 

[Donald Miller]

You could use a contact type cement...Pliobond is one that I am familiar with and it is waterproof. Hot glue could be used...Virtually any glue that you use will need some removal when you remove the bellows from the frame.

I think that the last ones I bought from Western Bellows were actually stapled to the frame.

 

[Harrigan]

Gary I used regular contact cement and some tacks as an additional safety measure to hold my bellows to the frames. I used a thin strip of cardboard btwn the tacks and frames to help push them flat, just some regular old chip board. I would advise against using the waterbase contact just get the real stuff. I used some of the less toxic waterbase contact cement from DAP and it was C r a p.

 

[John Koehrer]

Gary,
Hope you see this before you go nuts with the Pliobond, It's WAY too permanent for bellows. although when andd if you need to remove your current bellows a really good soak with actone or MEK will eventually loosen it.
A safer bet is weatherstrip cement from the local auto parts joint. A very thin coat on the frame & clamp 'til dry. To remove it's a simple start an edge and peel it off.

 

[barryjyoung]

Hi Gary:

I have had very good luck with Barge's cement. It is hard to find but exactly what you are looking for.

Good luck

 

[Charles Webb]

I have had excellent results installing bellows with regular Pliobond available from any hardware store. I have easily removed bellows that have been installed with Pliobond with an artists pallet knife. Clamps or clamping the cemented bellow and frame is a difficult thing to try to do. It is very easy to scar or scratch your $1400.00 brand new used Deardorff while trying to find
a place to clamp to. Apply a thin streak of Pliobond to both the camera and
bellows, let dry to the touch. Carefully match the cemented (dry) edges of the bellows to the camera frames. Apply strong hand pressure to bellows and frame where they match up. That is all that is necessary, no tacks, staples or other attachment. To use weather strip cement, you need 14 hands an several prayers to hold or attempt to clamp until the cement sets up. The Mek and Acetone thing will work very well, but it will also remove a good portion of any finish on the cameras wood that it come into contact with.

I have done a whole lot more of bellows replacing and repair than most folks,
so can affirm that what I wrote works.


Charlie..............................................................

In place of Barge Cement which is wonderful, you can use Tandy Leather's Craftsman Cement. It works just like Barge Cement, but is much easier to find.