WTB: 6x6 Replacement Bellows

[Fragomeni]

Hi all,

I'm looking for a set of 6x6 replacement bellows. I'm working on a project which requires a set of bellows like what would come on a common set of macro bellows for 35mm but slightly larger (basically the size of medium format macro bellows). I've looked at a few options such as replacement bellows for Hasselblad Arc Body and Flexbody cameras, bellows from a Pentax 67 macro bellows, bellows from Mamiya auto bellows etc. The problem is everything I can think of comes from an expensive source. I'm wondering if anyone here as set of square medium format size replacement bellows available. Please let me know. Thank you!

[ausphoto]

buy a cheap 6x6 folder with a trashed lens and cannibalise for the bellows?

[Ian Grant]

I have a set off a Durst enlarger, I'll see if I can find them later (this evening UK time). The other option is make some it's not that difficult these are a set I made for my Quarter plate camera, a non tapering set is easier still. Total cost less than $10 and that's with materials left over for more.



Ian

[johnielvis]

yeah---durst are square all the way through, but hard to find---omega b22 bellows are pretty big nice too but slight taper...search craigslist for junk enlargers--OR, get one of them folding polaroid cameras---bigger than 6x6 but will work if you are determined.

alternatively--the bellows draw for medium format is pretty small--you can get some dark fabric/material and make a bag bellows---you won't have sagging problems at the medium format size so a folding bellows is really strictly not a functional necessity for medium format....double construction type heavy plasic bags....or build up a bellows using cardboard and the 3m black photographers tape---that photographers tape is strong and long lasting. one dude made a ulf bellows out of plastic bags that looked pretty good and worked.

[Fragomeni]

Yea I definitely need square bellows for what I'm working on. Its one of my homebrew camera designs. Pulling them off of an old enlarger isn't a bad idea. I used to have several sitting around but tossed them last time we did a big cleaning.

The other option is make some it's not that difficult these are a set I made for my Quarter plate camera, a non tapering set is easier still. Total cost less than $10 and that's with materials left over for more.

I could just make them I suppose. Ian, can you reference any link that you got instructions or a pattern from and also the materials you used. I've made them before but used too thick material so they didn't work out that well.

Thanks to all for the help!

[mablo]

Sandeha Lynch sells Agfa Isolette bellows here: http://www.sandehalynch.com/isolette.htm

[Ian Grant]

Yea I definitely need square bellows for what I'm working on. Its one of my homebrew camera designs. Pulling them off of an old enlarger isn't a bad idea. I used to have several sitting around but tossed them last time we did a big cleaning.

I could just make them I suppose. Ian, can you reference any link that you got instructions or a pattern from and also the materials you used. I've made them before but used too thick material so they didn't work out that well.

Thanks to all for the help!

I make my own materials, I restore focal pnae and other curtain shutters and make my own shutter cloth and essentially used this for my bellows.

It's very simple, I use black acrylic paint to seal and make thin black material light-tight, I work it into the cloth wiping off excess - this part is important for best flexibility. I've used 4 different Acrylic paints up to now, while all are fully light-tight I prefer one variety for shutter curtains as there's better flexibility, and another for things like bellows where the finish is more silk like (as opposed to matt). I do use the matt finish on the inside of bellows. It's aslo usefull for restoring bellows.

I found you needed to look at a few website for bellows making, none was quite right, I tend to make a paper version first, and now have my patterns drwn up in CorelDraw which I just adapt as needed.

Will check out the Durst bellows in an hour or so if I can find them.

Ian

[Ian Grant]

PM sent re-Durst bellows.

Ian

[Jerevan]

Here is a link for making a square bellows, http://my.net-link.net/BA/D5/jsmigie...e_bellows.html done by Apugger Smieglitz.

[Steve Smith]

The Mamiya TLRs have two sets of bellows. The outer bellows are rectangular and enclose the viewing and taking lenses. Inside there is a square bellows for just the taking lens.

A scrap TLR would be a good bellows donor. I have one here. It wouldn't be worth posting the whole body to you but if I can work out how to remove them, I could send the inner bellows to you.


Steve.