Foam Rubber bellows construction frame

[Alan Day]

Many bellows jobs have been put off due to the complicated bellows construction frames. Many concertina bellows are not the same size and an increase in bellows length ie four fold to six fold etc are nice additions. 

A thought comes to mind ,which I am happy if you do not like the idea and I will not be offended, is that it would be easy to construct the frame from rubber foam. Easily cut to size and any length no problem. The cardboard which forms part of the construction would help to firm up the assembly and the foam would be easily removed after the concertina has dried out.

Your comments good and bad would be welcome.

Al

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Maybe you should patent this idea Al?😊

[Tiposx]

I don’t think flexible jigs would work for the way I build bellows. I use a lot of pressure on various hand tools to help stick things down securely, especially in the valleys. I use a simple wooden hex former (and also an octagonal one) that is long enough for 8 folds if necessary. It has a long axle through the centre.  It was very easy to make, the only tools I needed were a hand compass, a bandsaw, a drill and a disc sander, but I could have used hand tools. The bellows slide on and off easily as required. I also have an antique wooden former if I need to work on the peaks. I have a 3D printed collapsible  former that is very fancy with both peaks and troughs, but It doesn’t work for me as it bends under the pressure I use.

i have read on this forum of one pro builder who uses a round plastic builder’s pipe as a former, but I haven’t tried that method.

I try to avoid bends, twists or distortion whist building bellows. I can’t see how a flexible jig would be useful.

 

[Alan Day]

I think it depends on the rubber being used. I was thinking in terms of twenty five or fifty mm thick rubber, flexible enough for removal, but strong enough to give support when you are working on it. It could have a removable wood rod insert up the middle for additional strength. The rubber foam hexagonals  stuck together for whatever fold number you require.

 I appreciate your feed back ,It makes for a good discussion.

Al