Orfeo Bellows Corners

[Glug]

Hiya folks,

Just thought I'd check this with the experts before I end up having to undo something

I'm repairing the bellows on an old Orfeo and the only problem seems to be the old metal corners had split. In places the underlying fabric has opened up too leaving a gap:



My assumption is that the correct fix is to apply tape glue on the outside and just inside (5mm) and then crimp a new corner on.
Is that correct, or is there a better way ?

Happy Xmas,
Gareth

 

[boxplayer4000]

Glug.
Perhaps the reason you are not getting a response to your request is that only a small part of the bellows is shown. We have no idea of the condition of the rest of the bellows.
If the metal corners have worn through and split it seem likely that the bellows/accordion has had a lot of use. ie. worn metal corners may not be the only defect.
If you think the rest of the bellows is not too bad why not just go ahead and glue/crimp new metal corners where needed?  Corners don't cost the earth and it may be your only way to find out if this the only source of air leakage.

 

[debra]

Hiya folks,

Just thought I'd check this with the experts before I end up having to undo something

I'm repairing the bellows on an old Orfeo and the only problem seems to be the old metal corners had split.  In places the underlying fabric has opened up too leaving a gap:



My assumption is that the correct fix is to apply tape glue on the outside and just inside (5mm) and then crimp a new corner on.
Is that correct, or is there a better way ?

Happy Xmas,
Gareth

Somehow I missed this post...

When the hole is through and through it means the goat-skin (which is very flexible leather) corner on the inside is broken as well as the fabric on the outside. You should then replace the goat skin in the corners. The fabric doesn't even matter there. Sourcing the right size of corners may be a bit of an issue, but a bellow maker like Galassi has many sizes so you may get lucky.

 

[Glug]

Thanks for the replies.

Boxplayer: Yep the only major problem is the corners, needs a new gasket too though.

Paul: That's useful info.  I didn't think there was a skin on the inside of the corner, can't see any sign of one (but I'll look closer).

As a test I tried glueing the corner fabric without using metal corners, mainly to test glues, white PVA seems to work.
That gave a drop test of 40 seconds (LMM on master/master).

I've also got new corners from CGM which seem to fit and I think I've worked out how to put them on properly.

Main issue at the moment is making sure the folds have the same seperation as before.
I have measured the installed metal corners and they are the same thinkness old and new, but it's not sitting quite right yet.  Might just need some books on it overnight.


Definitely making progress though

 

[debra]

...
Paul: That's useful info.  I didn't think there was a skin on the inside of the corner, can't see any sign of one (but I'll look closer).

As a test I tried glueing the corner fabric without using metal corners, mainly to test glues, white PVA seems to work.
That gave a drop test of 40 seconds (LMM on master/master).

...

I can see the goat skin in the pictures, but maybe it doesn't reach all the way into the outer corners.
The fabric actually isn't really the problem as the bellow seal comes in the corners should mainly come from the cardboard, which obviously is busted.
If the PVA glue works, so much the better. (Careful with moisture though as PVA dissolves in water.)
When you essentially added nothing that would cause the bellow to be thicker than when new it should compress to the original thickness. Don't crimp the corners too much. Once you have done all corners you should tap the whole bellow in the corners with a hammer. Then put weights on it, or even better: take two pieces of wood of about the right size and clamp the bellows with elastic fasteners. (The true best solution is of course a book press, but I guess you probably don't have that.)

 

[Glug]

Cheers,
I think you're describing the bit I've been thinking of as the 'gusset', I think that's what it's called anyway.  It's on the inner corners, but doesn't reach the outer corners.

I've checked everything with a torch inside the bellows and the only holes I could find were the outer corners.
I figured the cardboard was the main element there that needed sticking and online it says use PVA for cardboard.

I've tried fitting a few corners and obviously messed it up the first couple of times, crimping too much being the first mistake.
Now I'm crimping it with smooth parallel pliers with a 3mm spacer at the back of the jaws.  Then I tap it into final position with a piece of wood and crimp it slightly more using a 0.5mm feeler guage.

As you say, the folds should compress to the original thickness.  I think I've distured them by cleaning off old glue and my first attempt at reglueing the corners.  Some heavy books overnight should give more information.

I did watch a very nice video of somebody putting corners on using a book press, it looked much easier.

 

[Glug]

And I think I've cracked it:


I've replaced all the corners where I can see a split forming, in theory I should do all of them but I'm short about 6 corners after getting it wrong a few times.

More importantly the bellows straps still work so I think I've got the amount of crimping right.

 

[debra]

Looks great. Time to put on new bellows tape (and hopefully the straps will still fit after that).
Let me give a quick tip for that: cut strips about an inch wide out of old transparency foils (what people used for presentations before we had Powerpoint). When you are glueing the bellow tape, put a strip between each fold, so that when some glue spills out from under the tape it spills on the foil and not on the bellow fabric.