The never-ending bellows fabric question

[totalamateur]

You might try those cheezy 99 cent reflective survival blankets for a layer, I'm pretty sure they are light tight, and a very very thin.

[richard ide]

You can see through those easily.

[Galah]

Hey guys,

In the world of (folk) music making, the "free reed' instrument makers (concertinas, accordions, bandoneons, etc) make/use bellows that look to me to be almost identical in construction to those found in bellows style cameras.

Maybe the materials they use to make their bellows are also suitable for camera making?

[J0B00]

http://www.leathersupplyhouse.com/cg...d=3479651.4981

I called this place and apparently they have a 2-ply .012" thick black cotton cloth with a rubber coating in the middle that they say is 100% light tight and can also be used to make camera bellows, as well...its just not listed on the website. Its approx $35 a lineal yard and is 60" wide. I'm going to get some for a couple of Whole Plate walnut wet-plate cameras I'm making. If things turn out right, I'll have burgundy fabric on the outside which I think will look dandy with the dark walnut.

Andy

[ic-racer]

I'm considering buying some just to have in case I need to make another bellows.

[Curt]

http://www.leathersupplyhouse.com/cg...d=3479651.4981

I called this place and apparently they have a 2-ply .012" thick black cotton cloth with a rubber coating in the middle that they say is 100% light tight and can also be used to make camera bellows, as well...its just not listed on the website. Its approx $35 a lineal yard and is 60" wide. I'm going to get some for a couple of Whole Plate walnut wet-plate cameras I'm making. If things turn out right, I'll have burgundy fabric on the outside which I think will look dandy with the dark walnut.

Andy

When I contacted them a month ago they said they actually supply material for bellows to companies, not stated, but they said the hides would need a second layer for light tight results. They have hides that are very thin and would look very nice.

[J0B00]

I'm not talking about the hides... I don't want or need a leather bellows... I was referring more to the rubber coated cotton fabric. They do have some thin sheepskin that I use for covering tintype cases though....

[Dan Dozer]

I've made numerous bellows for large format cameras and have tried several different materials before. Initially I found a very thin artifical leather at one of the big fabric store chains. However, most of it that is now available is too thick to use affectively.

While I was fully aware of the more expensive fabrics like the one that Porter's used to have, I was always looking at ways to keep the cost down.

The last couple of years, I've been using opaque drapery liner fabric from the local fabric store. It's pretty inexpensive and is pretty thin also. Problem is that it's normally white so you will need to paint it flat black if you are using it on the inside of your bellows (pretty simple to do). For the outside, I normally use a simple black eqyptian cotton cloth. This combination seems to work fine for bellows that are for cameras 8 x 10 and larger. For 4 x 5 and smaller, your bellows thickness when fully folded is more critical because the camera is smaller, so the thickness of both materials plus the bellows stays (if you use them) in between is all important. If the material that JOBBO incates above is readily available, I would definitely try that route if your are looking at 4 x 5.

[Curt]

I'm not talking about the hides... I don't want or need a leather bellows... I was referring more to the rubber coated cotton fabric. They do have some thin sheepskin that I use for covering tintype cases though....

Oh, sorry for the additional information I received from talking with the company representative. You may not want or need a leather bellows but someone else might be interested.

[Venchka]

Ty,

You might give these folks a call. They are nearby.

This company comes recommended as a place that stocks a LOT of fabric. Somebody here or at APUG was asking about bellows fabric recently. I am not a customer. I am only the messenger.

Wherehouse Fabrics, 2675 Perth St, Dallas, 75220 214-352-4908

If you find a solution, I have a Linhof Technika V that might need bellows someday.

Good luck!