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Author Topic: camera bellows care  (Read 3025 times)

moominsean

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camera bellows care
« on: March 02, 2008, 04:38:24 AM »
the bellows on my polaroid 195 are starting to dry out and crack. i have a sealant, which i recently used with success, but when i took it out today two more edges started leaking. after i seal all this up, is there anything that is good to put on them to keep them somewhat supple? i can't really find any useful info on the web...just some stories about how some products encourage bacterial growth in your camera.
any ideas? the camera was too expensive to write off for something like this.
thanks
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Sandeha Lynch

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Re: camera bellows care
« Reply #1 on: March 02, 2008, 10:16:59 AM »
What kind of fabric is it?  Vinyl, leather?

Is it the same as a Polaroid 103?

EDIT
I just checked ... http://www.rwhirled.com/landlist/pics/campics/100.jpg ... looks the same except for colour.  I have a spare grey bellows set in good nick, though it would require some careful surgery to install.
« Last Edit: March 02, 2008, 02:15:35 PM by Sandeha Lynch »
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moominsean

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Re: camera bellows care
« Reply #2 on: March 02, 2008, 02:37:28 PM »
i can't tell what it's made of, actually. i can't imagine trying to replace it. would be very tough to attach along the edges. it's not near far gone enough for all that...just some pinpoints along the folding edges. but they are becoming more frequent...has to be someway to moisturize them a bit.

[Sorry, image deleted during forum software upgrade. Please re-upload if so inclined.]
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Sandeha Lynch

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Re: camera bellows care
« Reply #3 on: March 02, 2008, 04:16:27 PM »
Quote from: moominsean on March 02, 2008, 02:37:28 PM
but they are becoming more frequent...has to be someway to moisturize them a bit.

It's just plasticky stuff on the outside, so I doubt it.  If it's spent too much time in the sun during its long life the plastic outer will just crumble.  Try Liquid Electrical Tape - that  might save it.
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Francois

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Re: camera bellows care
« Reply #4 on: March 02, 2008, 05:09:33 PM »
I know I've fixed quite a few bellows with black electric tape.
But at one point, things get impossible to fix. I've tried black Duct tape but it makes things thicker. If the bellows don't compress much, it's not a problem.

You can try a DIY approach like at Doug Bardell's site.

I've never had the guts to try it though.

For a fix, it probably is easier to do a bag bellows for replacing the whole thing and holding it with double sided extra sticky foam tape...
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Francois

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moominsean

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Re: camera bellows care
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2008, 06:34:19 PM »
i use the liquid electric tape with success... i have all the corners now painted up. takes a couple weeks to dry completely, though, to the point where it won't stick to itself and rip off when you open and close it.
it's just so dry here. i'll make it last as long as possible.
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"A world without Polaroid is a terrible place."
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