[LargeFormat] Bag Bellows Material

[Clive Warren]

At 22:14 03/01/02 +0000, Clive Warren wrote:
>Can anyone suggest an appropriate material to use to make some bag 
>bellows?  A friend has a sewing machine and if I ask nicely enough could 
>probably be persuaded to help out on the sewing front.

Thanks to everyone for all the informative answers to this post for the 5x7 
camera bellows - excellent!

If I decide to buy a set of bellows then Camera Bellows (URL in 
http://www.f32.net/links.html page) as suggested can supply a set of 
bellows.  It's terrible - starting to feel that laziness coming on, 
particularly after chatting to them on the phone "we can make you some 
bellows easily using the same materials that Sinar, Cambo, Toyo use - well 
we make their bellows too actually".

The latest incarnation of bag bellows material is a twin layered affair 
using a man-made material for the outer skin which is heat welded together 
rather than sewn. It tends to keep its shape well as the outer skin 
material has been selected particularly with this in mind - avoids all the 
problems of drooping bellows into the light path apparently.  No need for 
springy thingies inside the bellows.

Must admit that I would prefer to use leather as suggested by a few people 
- Camera Bellows can supply in leather also - this would be hand 
stitched.  Oh, the temptation!

Will be having a quick look around locally for suitable leather - really 
should make these things myself.........

Thanks again everyone.

Cheers,
            Clive