replacing worn bellows tape

[smdc66]

on my accordion the bellows tape is a little worn , quite a bit in some places where it has started to disintegrate, on the side that rubs against your clothing

the other sides look in good condition

has anyone done this

i wonder what skill factor, cost and timescale is required

i see from accordion revival that you need a section of bellows tape and special glue (which allows it to be removed without damaging bellows)

i notice it says you need to remove the bellows which i am not confident with and worry about creating other future problems in doing so

i wonder if there is a way to do this without?

 

[Soulsaver]

If your bellows is taped black youll only need to do the worn lengths. Youll be able to get short roll tape & plenty adhesive from CGM for a c£12 + postage. http://www.cgmmusical.co.uk/CGM_Musical_Services/Bellows_Tape.html
Youll need to call him to get the nearest pattern match for yours.

The bellows will part & go back together with no trouble in my experience. And your hands can get messy with white glue, so you dont want to be having to handle any other parts of your instrument.
If not obvious mark the bellows front on the wood with a penciled arrow so you put it back the right way for sure.
Keep the pins in order (stick them in a bit of masking tape mark no 1 so you know which way round it is) & put them back in the same holes when you replace them.
Cut the tape square & accurately.
I warn you it can be a bit frustrating as it doesnt want to stick at first, see 2nd vid below, but it does in a few mins. Have a couple of damp (not wet) cloths ready for your hands (as sticky fingers will lift it off again) and for excess adhesive that is squeezed out as you apply the tape... make sure the edges accurately line up with above & below both sides.. and that the tape folds are equal either side of the bellows fold... or it will look amateur. Do one strip and see how you it goes. If happy & confident do the rest that need doing.
Dont remove the bottom one (or top, but you wont usually need to do that) its put on before the wood, so its tucked in and glued. If you feel you have to do the bottom, come back for more advice.
Make sure excess adhesive is wiped off everywhere with your damp cloth as you dont want to stick the bellow folds together.
If not confident, put grease-proof paper slips between retaped folds to be on the safe side - you could stick to the grease proof paper which aint great - but it aint ruining the bellows and the greaseproof will rub off with your damp rag.
Rinse the cloth out regularly so youre not handling a gluey cloth.
Do all necessary replacements on one side, and then compress the bellows with a weight to keep tape in place and leave for a couple of hours or so to dry, before doing another side.
Leave overnight and reassemble the bellows to the KB & bass. Take your time dont panic and youll be good.

 

[Soulsaver]

See this for inspiration - extract what you need for your method, sizes etc.


It will go more like this.. And I dont know about his glue reccommendation.

 

[Soulsaver]

And let us know how you do...

 

[JIM D.]

Ed seems to have the process covered quite well , but, if I may add when ordering a small amount of tape for repairs get the 24mm wide tape for repair instead of the standard 19mm. Also a white glue such as Elmer's Multi - purpose glue will give you more setting time and can be removed at a later date.

 

[goldtopia]

When I see anything on the corners of the bellows that looks like its going to fray, I use gaffa tape. This protects it before it could be come damaged. Cut to suitable measurements and applied. It works well and not really noticeable.

 

[smdc66]

well that's the theory covered

thanks for detail

can you pick you're own backing track to work to or do you have to use lester's

 

[Soulsaver]

Ed seems to have the process covered quite well , but, if I may add when ordering a small amount of tape for repairs get the 24mm wide tape for repair instead of the standard 19mm. Also a white glue such as Elmers Multi - purpose glue will give you more setting time and can be removed at a later date.

Good suggestion, and in the event your first piece comes off difficult, I believe you can go over your existing tape when using 24mm which makes it less of a trial. Strip of the loose/frayed bits of existing tape first, carefully using a craft knife - avoiding cutting the bellows card, obviously.

 

[smdc66]

I believe you can go over your existing tape when using 24mm which makes it less of a trial. Strip of the loose/frayed bits of existing tape first, carefully using a craft knife - avoiding cutting the bellows card, obviously.

are we saying possibly you can glue over old worn tape with the wider tape and save removing the old tape with less potential wear on the bellows

gaffa tape is strong / easy to use but dont think this is good for the bellows if it ever has to be removed if that then gets worn
surprised that there is not a self adhesive bellows tape though

 

[Soulsaver]

I believe you can go over your existing tape when using 24mm which makes it less of a trial. Strip of the loose/frayed bits of existing tape first, carefully using a craft knife - avoiding cutting the bellows card, obviously.

are we saying possibly you can glue over old worn tape with the wider tape and save removing the old tape with less potential wear on the bellows
[/quote]
Ive found that the old tape comes off easily enough, so never tried it, but I believe that it is possible & one reason why they sell the wider tape..

 

[Soulsaver]

Maybe obvious but you prob shouldn't do more folds than necessary the overtape way as the additional thickness may make it a struggle to clip the bellow snaps.

 

[smdc66]

...... as the additional thickness may make it a struggle to clip the bellow snaps.

you may need to extend the bellows straps with this approach too maybe

 

[Theo]

When I see anything on the corners of the bellows that looks like its going to fray, I use gaffa tape. This protects it before it could be come damaged. Cut to suitable measurements and applied. It works well and not really noticeable.

But dont leave it on in the long term. Most self adhesive tapes end up either as a sticky goo, or go hard and crusty. Gaffa usually goes to goo and is horrible stuff to remove.

 

[JIM D.]

When an accordion comes in for bellows repair and has any type of adhesive tape applied, the cost of repair will always increase. In most cases the removal of the tape and residue will take as much time or more than the repair itself.

 

[smdc66]

i have worked out that i need 568cm of black striped patterned tape to do one side(the tape on the other sides look as new)

16 lengths of 35.5cm

i think i will use 3/4 inch and remove the old tape if its just a case of pulling it off as dont want the bellows straps to become tight

also i think the tape has been replaced before as i noticed one side is not straight along the edge near the corner clips but cut at an angle and on the ends there is slight knife cut marks where someone has maybe cut across ends of tape to have it all straight edged

it looks like the tape overlaps the metal corner clips by 1.5cm - does that sound right?

 

[Soulsaver]

Usually you dont need to do ALL the folds at the back?
The length of the tape on the long folds on back = same as on the front, same as on the old... if, when placed centrally, that covers the corners by 1.5cm then that's right.
The amount covered varies by model in my experience, but I have an elderly Hohner Lucia with 1.5cm and one (Verdi) with only 0.5 - both as from new.

 

[smdc66]

Surely you dont need to do all the folds at the back?

well the thing is it seems (a small part of) all the lengths (on one side) are worn in varying degrees from a little fraying to the 1.5cm covering the corners having completely worn away (so the corners are completely exposed)

i think this occured with a previous owner , maybe where this has clashed with clothing? belts? as think i am careful!

im wondering if the glue is available in diy stores (or in my shed :roll: )but it needs card,metal appropriate quailities?

 

[Soulsaver]

If youre ordering the tape of CGM, may as well get the right glue unless youre trying to save a fiver? http://www.cgmmusical.co.uk/CGM_Musical_Services/Bellows_Tape.html

Do you mean PVA? Will work but may not strip without damage in years to come. Jim says Elmores white but we dont get it in UK.

 

[smdc66]

Do you mean PVA? Will work but may not strip without damage in years

dont really mean anything, other than assumed there could be a glue that could be purchased locally / maybe found locally for convenience especially if its sitting in a shed near you
and i dont think ill need much


im a little inexperienced in glue

im interested i suppose in the properties of this special glue

regards

 

[JIM D.]

AMAZON.co.uk. has the Elmer's E1321 16 oz. /473 ml Glue all multi-purpose -- looks like it's 5.42 GBP & free shipping