Painting your bellows

[moggi1964]

Steady now!

So, being the experimenter that I am I decided I would paint the bellows on my old half-frame.

I bought some acrylic paint and off I went. I was patient and applied three coats 72 hours apart.

They looked rather good if I say so myself. However, I overlooked a small but very important detail. The bellows will move and flex when you dial them in and out Obvious, yes but easily overlooked when you are eager to get a project off the ground.

Anyway, for anyone here who intends to paint their bellows and who does not know this, here is some advice:

DON'T!

Just kidding, you need to use something called Fabric Medium which you mix with your acrylic paint. It is designed to enhances blending, workability, and adhesion of acrylic colours for painting directly on fabric or unprimed canvas and reduces stiffness and allows the fabric to bend without cracking.

So, does it work on top of three layers of acrylic? I'll get back to you.

BTW: here is the stuff I bought: Fabric Medium. This one works on a 1:1 ratio.

 

[Ian Grant]

You got stung, £1.99 from the company told you about in a PM

Expect some post soon .

Ian

 

[moggi1964]

LOL - It won't be the last time Ian It's my impulsive Scots nature. Splurge on Fabric Medium or invade England again.

Looking forward to that post. Thank you. I will let you know when it arrives.

 

[moggi1964]

So I decided black was just too dull after I put a layer of nice black acrylic on there. So now they are:



Red Deep!

If tomorrow looks okay I'll try and do some test images.

Next job will be to attach a handle of some form and give the teeth a little rub with a graphite pencil just to smooth it out.

 

[thronobulax]

So I decided black was just too dull after I put a layer of nice black acrylic on there. So now they are:

View attachment 3025

Red Deep!

If tomorrow looks okay I'll try and do some test images.

Next job will be to attach a handle of some form and give the teeth a little rub with a graphite pencil just to smooth it out.

A convenient, and possibly inexpensive way to make a handle if you do not have one is to use the proceeds from a leather belt...

 

[David M]

Very handsome.
Any old piece if string would work, but…
…surely all the leatherwork should match?
I used to think the handle was unnecessary until I had a camera without one.

 

[moggi1964]

Thank you both. I do actually have a handle that came as part of the strap/handle combo for my C3. If I can find a way to attach it so that it can be released if I need it I think it would work.

By the way, Deadcameras straps are superb, not cheap but incredibly well made.

 

[PaulNWE]

Those bellows look fantastic. I am now wondering what colour to paint mine...

 

[moggi1964]

Those bellows look fantastic. I am now wondering what colour to paint mine...

I'm thinking Lamborghini Yellow Paul

Actually, that would look great on the little Kodak 1A I got as part of a lot. Hmm!