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troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

I am obviously new to cameras with bellows. I have a Crwon and just picked up a very nice little Century. The bellows on both are light tight, but appear dry, and possibly on the verge of cracking. I am therefore leary of sliding the front standard out and off the rails to clean them until I find out about treating them with something that may help to preserve them until eternity. I do not care much for products like armoural and thelike. I do have saddlesoap, mink oil paste and axle grease. Should I even attepmt this incredable feet (i just realized how difficult it might be to wipe the entire bellows down). I am thinking saddle soap, and or mink oil for the leatherette case, and intend to use a rag with a light coating of WD-40 to clean the rails and metal parts. I used this method on an old beater Rolleicord and it looks pretty good, but I am not gonna fool with this beautiful Century without refering to the board of experts. I certainly do not want to lift the leather covering, nor damage the bellows.
Thanks for the help...
"Troublemaker" Steve

RichS · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 3:51 am Post subject:

45PSS · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 4:24 am Post subject:

1).Remove lens/board combo.
2).Remove groung glass frame (Graflok).
3).Position front standard on front edge of rails and extend rails to maximun.(Do not cause the bellows to tear)
4).Using a clean cotton towel, clean bellows with Windex. Spray windex on bellows, put hand inside and support area being worked on and clean the exterior surface thoroughly.
5). Throw the ARMORALL in a waste disposal device.
6).Coat the bellows with a heavy coat of Pledge. Use inside support and rub in gently. Set aside and allow to dry for 2 days to 1 week.
7).Repeat if not flexable.
8 ).Repeat Pledge treatment every 15 to 20 days until bellows remail flexable.

The amount of Pledge used should be determined by the dryness or stiffness of the bellows. Bellows may only need to be left extended 8 to 12 hours on additional treatments.

I have not heard any negetive comments on Son of a Gun. Turtle wax also makes a simular product equally as good as STP's.
I have not used either.

Replace the WD-40 with 3 to 5 drops of 3 in 1 oil.

Charles

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[ This Message was edited by: 45PSS on 2003-11-25 20:28 ]

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

sounds good, but that is why i asked. i used to use son of a gun detailing my cars, and swithched to turtle waxes, i think it is, formula 2000. armoural, for lack of a better term, sucks. is that profanity? sorry. WD-40makes an excellent cleaner on metal parts when used sparingly. it is parafane wax based. i cleaned the rails with a small brush with just a littel on it, nd then rubbed them down with a rag, also with a littel WD dampening. THis worked very well, and the rails are spotless, and the front slides much better. definitely will remove the lens, and focussing glass before spraying anything. It looks easy enough to remove the bellows completely. four screw in front and back. Just a thought. I do not really want pledge all over the place, but like you mentioned, it wouldn't hurt anything...
thanks

troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

ok, i get it, need to leave the bellows extended. my Century bellows are, on closer look, excellent, but dry.
just got this littel bugger. in comparison to other Graphics i have been looking at, this one only has only the slightest paint wear on the edge of the viewing hood.
a sweet littel deal i think i got.
as for armoural, it has been my experience that it actually promotes cracking rather than preserving. i only use WD as a cleaner, it does not prevent rust either unless items are imersed in it. I distributed both products for ten years here in the harbor.
have anice evening,

RichS · Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2003 5:06 am Post subject:

I use WD-40 for so many things that I must have a dozen cans, including the gallon size with spray bottle

I used to prefer a product called CRC-56 (although I'm not 100% sure about the '56' part, maybe a different number?). But I haven't seen it in years... It was better than WD-40 and the best rust-buster I have ever used. All in automotive anyway...

I would agree with Charles. An excellent procedure. I haven't tried to soften a dry bellows with only Pledge, but I wouldn't doubt it works! It's just old habits die hard and for more years than I'd want to count, I've used the SoaG. But the next dried vinyl product I get, I think I'll try just Pledge and see what happens...

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"Ya just can't have too many GVIIs"

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troublemaker · Joined: 24 Nov 2003 Posts: 715 Location: So Cal

CRC #56 spray is a nice product. I do not know where you live but they have a marine line that some industrial supply houses like where i was at carry the product as 6-56. I believe the Siloo company bought them out, or somehting like that. I can get you a phne number if you need a few drums of the stuff. I spent a lot of years detaining my bicycles, and always came back to WD, even for the chain. you can never have enough cans around the house or shop. should i soak my lens shutters in it? (whoa, just kidding).
think i'll post a "why did i buy a Graphic" later if anyone is interested since it seems i have joined an interesting lot.
Steve

bertsaunders · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 1:52 am Post subject:

Neatsfoot OIL, cleans and softens, and you wont need to keep the bellows extended....
leather or vinyl....it has worked on the 250 cameras I have worked on over the past 20+ years....I put it on everything! Bert

45PSS · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 1:55 am Post subject:

WHERE can one find Neatsfoot oil easily?

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The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

Les · Joined: 09 May 2001 Posts: 2682 Location: Detroit, MI

check leather and harness suppliers. Sure a lot easier than chasing down those neats and squeezing their feet.

45PSS · Posted: Thu Nov 27, 2003 2:54 am Post subject:

I got tired of hunting for neatsfoot earl so I bought a bottle of Lexol. Works fine.

_________________
The best camera ever made is the one that YOU enjoy using and produces the image quality that satifies YOU.

bertsaunders · Posted: Sat Nov 29, 2003 12:08 am Post subject:

Every shoe store I have ever gone into has Neatsfoot, practically anyone that has shoe polish or boot polish sells it....True Value hardware, Tandy Leather, Western (boots and clothing) retailers all carry it also......Bert

photocack · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 2 Location: detroit, mi

Neatsfoot is the ticket! Use it and you will not go wrong!
As for WD-40, it contains silicone (sand).....If you use it extensively, don't complain when your rails are sloppy or loose. a good gun oil/grease will eliminate that scenerio.

Henry · Posted: Tue Apr 20, 2004 8:54 pm Post subject:

For you CRC-556 fans, try any good *old-line* auto supply store---preferably one that caters to the mechanics trade. CRC now makes another product which I prefer because it doesn't have the distinctive odor of the 556; it's called Power Lube and is available in spray cans at your local hardware store. CRC is located in Warminster, PA (Phila. region); their customer service number is 1-800-272-8963.

For my money, you can throw WD-40 in the disposal along with the Armor-All. But, to each his own.

photocack · Joined: 09 Apr 2004 Posts: 2 Location: detroit, mi

I DO HAVE ONE REALLY GOOD TRICK THAT I JUST RECALLED BEFORE I LEFT THE LAST POSTING.
GO TO AN AUTOMOTIVE PAINTER'S SUPPLY STORE AND PICK UP A BOTTLE OF "VINYL PREP" OR IT MAY BE REGARDED AS "VINYL DYE PREP". USING A CHEAP PAINT BRUSH & LIGHTLY APPLY IT IN SEVERAL COATINGS AND LET IT SIT UNTIL IT HAS FULLY PENETRATED THE VINYL. THIS MAY TAKE ABOUT A DAY. REPEAT APPLICATION IF NECCESSARY.
ONCE THE BELLOWS ARE PLYABLE........(SHOULD BE SLIGHLY TACKY TO THE TOUCH) PUT A GOOD COATING OF VINYL PROTECTANT (BRUSH ON) AND LET SIT OVERNIGHT.......(EVERYTHING NEEDS ITS BEAUTY SLEEP, YA KNOW). WIPE OFF EXCESS(IF ANY) AND YOUR IN BUSINESS!