Bellows for less than £10

I opened up and cleaned the old bellows off the studio camera, hoping they may be salvageable. Sadly not

So I’ll have to make some, and then I remembered some spare leatherette from  a previous bellows make. Unfortunately, I’d forgotten I’d taken a corner out for another project.

So, being a little impatient, I decided to try vinyl of the “Fablon” variety from the local Range store for the outer material and black card for the inner.

It’s very sticky and thin, and I was concerned about messing it up with creases and bubbles. So opted for sticking it sticky side up and rolling the black card onto it. Then, trimming the excess.

So a matt black inner and a slight gloss outer. I resisted making it out of faux wood or marble effect vinyl, although I was tempted.

I then scored the inner side, just with a biro, and teased the creases in for later.

The four sections are connected by 50mm bookbinding cloth tape.

I’d forgotten what a workout it is getting a bellows started in the right direction. Midway you get into the flow of it, but by the end, it’s a right struggle. Here we go. A set of bellows for less than £10.

That wooden rear section was just too far gone for just a wood glue repair, so I used brass 90° brackets to square off and secure the woodwork in the inner sides, so it’s almost out of sight once the bellows are reattached. I might add some brass L brackets (blue circled area) for additional strength.

It doesn’t look too bad. I still need to glue these bellows in, but they should do for a while for the new owner. Granted, I could have bought some new bellows but I wouldn’t get my money back in a resale. If the new owner wants new bellows, I’ll provide them with Custom Bellows UK contact details.

And whilst I was at it, I started on the new wooden darkslide for the plate holder. Thankfully, you can buy packs of 2mm and 3mm plywood panels off Amazon. Ordered last night, arrived today.

Easily trimmed to size with a sharp blade and steel rule. Wood glueing two sections together prior to staining/sealing. I’ll add the locking brass work from the pieces I still have from the original splintered remains.