Discussions > Instrument Design, Construction and Repair
Bellows glue: best practices?
Gonk:
I'm peeling a large bowl of grapes one by one retaping some bellows for the first time. The instrument is an old (30s-40s?) Hohner Bb/Eb. After reading some comments here, I decided to remove the frames first. I'm about two hours in, roughly a quarter of the way through the removal of the old tape. What a task. I keep the image of the retaped bellows shining in my mind to light the way.
But I came to ask about glues. I've read about everything from hide glue, contact cement, light PVAs including Elmers and Aleene's Tacky Glue... I'd prefer not to use something that will make these bellows impossible to restore in the future. I assume something like hide glue was originally used, both for the taping and to attach the bellows to the frame, but I'm curious to know whether there are modern glues that perform better. What do you recommend? And should I use the same glue for the taping and to reattach the frames?
Peadar:
Avoid hide glue for taping bellows....because it's a hot glue you need heat as well as damp to get it off and by the time you get the tape lifting the bellows papers may be wet through and coming off along with the tape.
Squeaky Pete:
I'm doing the same thing.
I've got bellows in fairly poor nick and although I'm not too bothered about appearance, it's clear I'm going to have to do a lot of work to make these airtight.
If I have to do all that, I might as well try and make them decent looking at the same time.
I'm using PVA for everything. I'm using interior quality (not water resistant) so it is sort of reversible.
In truth they won't stand another rebuild, I probably shouldn't be doing it this time, and if the cobbled together box needs bellows again, a new set will be needed.
I'll be interested to hear how you are doing with this.
Gonk:
Thanks for the replies. I'm through cleaning off the old tape, and I guess I'll attach the new tape with school glue.
It's advertised as washable even when dry, so I think that's the quality needed. I just hope it doesn't become brittle with age. [Edit: the school glue is so temporary that it doesn't even stick the first time. I'm having better luck with Aleene's Tacky Glue, as someone has described here.]
https://gumshoearcana.blogspot.com/2012/04/bellows-taping-methodology-and-videos.html
invadm:
Charlie sells a good quality glue, I have used it many time and very good finis,
you can also use https://ratchford.co.uk/product/prepared-adhesives-pastepva-mix-wheat-starch-1kg/
I use this glue too also very good, if it is your first attempt it will be easier for you to use bookbinding glue, very slow to dry,opining time give you plenty of time to adjust/move up and down & alien all your tapes, you can glue 4-5 strips at a time doesn't dry fast and clear when it does,flexible and paper/card friendly to use..reversible too ;) to speed up drying time you can add & mix any PVA..smallest pot will give 5-6 sets of bellow you don't need much goes a long way
wooden frames I use evostick wood glue, for plastic frame contact glue.
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