Black bellows - leather or paper?

[fatt_mazio]

I got a set of replacement bellows whose papers were black but printed on white paper, which makes it look a little cheesy, so I've been playing with the idea of putting on new papers. I like the look of some all black bellows have found differing opinions on the matter of using real or faux (paper) black leather. What have been people's experiences with either or? I could easily source some paper and less easily the leather. I would assume you'd want both to be quite thin, which makes the leather a little harder to get. Thoughts always appreciated.

[alex_holden]

I've done both. IMO real leather is more work but looks a little nicer, though you have to be fairly close up to notice the difference. The faux leather paper I use is a black coating on white paper so I paint around the edge of each one with black ink before I glue it on.

[DDF]

I have used Skivertex book binding paper and it looks fine. 

[fatt_mazio]

Ya, I've seen your work before Alex - looks good. When you've done the leather, do you have it skived pretty thin? 

 

I'll check out my local art supplies to see if they have any textured paper, otherwise, I'll look into that Skivertex paper.

[alex_holden]

5 hours ago, fatt_mazio said:

Ya, I've seen your work before Alex - looks good. When you've done the leather, do you have it skived pretty thin? 

 

Yes, I cut strips of the same leather I used for the rest of the bellows and skived it as thin as I could without getting holes in it (maybe about 0.3mm).

 

 

 

[fatt_mazio]

That does look really good, though I don't have access to any skived leather in the states...

 

Running by the art store, they didn't have any leather supplies or textured paper, but suggested maybe using a black masking tape - thoughts? Could the adhesion pose issues?

[wschruba]

In the USA, it's probably the most expensive source you can get, but the quality is A+++.  Talas sells bookbinding supplies out of New York, which will have literally everything you need to construct a bellows of any design, other than fixtures.  They have a bewildering supply of paper, leather, adhesives, and tools.

 

If you're okay with rolling dice, you can order skiver (already split lightweight leather) from ebay, Tandy, Etsy, or other vendors.  Just remember, you still need to skive the edges down to a feather to prevent a hump at the end of the piece (this can be done, albeit painfully slow, with a piece of smooth granite tile and a razor blade).

[Chris Ghent]

Car upholsterers have been using fake leather for ever, as have book binders.  It usually has a woven fabric core with  black ‘something’ laid on top and impressed with a Moroccan leather style finish. I have a large roll of it, the second I have owned, I bought it because the first has a white warp and weft and this has a black one and does not need edge dyeing.  Mine came from a book binders supplies. While suggesting such a source I should acknowledge it was some time ago and the last time I went past the place not only was the business gone but the entire building as well.  

[Alex West]

4 hours ago, Chris Ghent said:

Car upholsterers have been using fake leather for ever, as have book binders.

Leathercloth is what you're describing.  I got a roll to cover a case I made and also to use to see if it would produce valves for a "vegan" concertina; partially successful

 

Even skived leather may need some further thinning.  Professional (and serious amateur) bookbinders would use a litho stone but I use a bathroom tile and a skiving knife I made from a hacksaw blade (similar to those available from bookbinders suppliers.  The knife needs to be ultra sharp  

 

Alex West