Hi there.
I'm new to the list, and just came in on the discussion of bellows
fabric two days ago. Following a suggestion one of you made, I tried to
contact Flexible Products in Florida, but at the moment their email
system is bouncing back messages, so I just called them. Here's what I
was told:
The inside material---rubberized cotton 50-54" wide---is $21/yd.
The outside material---single coated polyurethane 56-60"---is $31/yd.
I suggested that they put this information up on their web site. (It may
or may not happen.)
These materials sound a lot like the materials National Camera used to
sell back in the 70's. If it is, the outer material is a very thin,
shiny-on-the-outside material with a tight, visible weave. It is not
light-tight, although it's well on the way. The rubberized cotton inner
material of that era is a slightly thicker, black cotton with a rubber
backing that is totally light tight. My measurements of scrap that I
have left over from the late 70's are:
Inner cotton/rubber: .010 inch
Outer fabric: .006 inch
(laser printer paper: .004 inch)
Although I have given the bellows I made little use, the time, humidity,
cold and general oxidation have had no observable effect on it. Good
stuff.
...And when I used it to make bellows for an 8x10 back to go on a 4x5
Cambo SC, I used "Bristol Board" for stiffening and stuck it all
together with contact cement --- now *that* was a harried few minutes!!
The end result is not too much thicker than the official Cambo bellows I
now have. A better glue or method would have reduced the thickness, and
strips made of acetate (or something similar from an office supply
store) would probably be better for the stiffening.
Myron
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