bellows wear and repair

[thomas hourican]

here is a photo of my carroll concertina .( circa 2018 ). it has some bellows wear on the bottom and was looking for advise on a repair . no doubt my habit of resting the corner of the concertina on my thigh is at fault. any suggestions on materials and procedure for repair. thanks in advance for any help. Thomas 

[Matt Heumann]

Seems really excessive for just resting the corner on your leg. I always play with my concertinas left end on my knee/leg and have never seen that kind of wear even after 50 years of use. Since its on a non-moving part of the bellows you could simply recoat it with a product by Edgekote (a commonly used leather coating). I would recommend their product called Dura Edge which dries into a harder surface, yet remains flexible and should not wear off like traditional leather finishes. I have used it sparingly on frayed leather and it leaves a smooth durable finish. Comes in black and brown. But I wouldn't use it flexing joints.

https://fiebing.com/product/dura-edge/

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

Best put a soft cloth pad on your knee when playing to reduce wear on bellows.

[Matt Heumann]

1 minute ago, SIMON GABRIELOW said:

Best put a soft cloth pad on your knee when playing to reduce wear on bellows.

Which I also do when wearing rougher fabrics. I actually use a thicker version of bellows leather. Also helps prevent the concertina end from sliding on knee while playing. I've only seen that degree of bellows wear on bellows (mostly centers) dragged across the leg while playing (both EC & Anglo).

[SIMON GABRIELOW]

It doesn't look to severe why not stain it with a small touch of ink ) Indian ink) this stains wood quite nicely and could be one idea ( on the tiny area of wood showing beneath.would disguise the scuff, and protect ..Applied with a small fine brush and dabbed over with tissue or cloth afterwards.🌝it can also be polished if required to match the lustre of the existing bellows nearby.

Edited March 7 by SIMON GABRIELOW

[Doug Barr]

Hi Tom,  I have to agree with Matt and Simon.  Very unusual, excessive wear for a spot that really doesn't move. You need to brush off all that saw dust before playing. Just kidding.  LOL You could check with Wally (DM him here) but I say use the product Matt recommended and start to playing with a soft cloth on your leg where you  anchor the box.

Good luck and say hi to Deb.

Doug

[RAc]

@thomas hourican : My prime suspect for that kind of wear would be the case, have you checked if there is anything in there that could rub against that spot while the case is in movement? Just a shot in the dark, apologies...

 

[Alex West]

Thomas

 

It's mostly decorative at that location but where I've seen that sort of wear before, I've glued a strip of skived goat skin over the top of the worn patch just to provide a "sacrificial" wear strip and prevent the wear going any further into the critical bellows hinges.

 

Resting the bellows end on your leg is perfectly acceptable and far better than bending the middle of the bellows over your knee as some folk do - a guaranteed way to over-stress the bellows hinges and cause collapse.

 

Having said that, I have heard folk say that bellows are consumables (in that they are just an air pump and relatively easy to replace.

 

But why not ask Wally?  I'm sure he'd be prepared to consider a repair/reinforcement - even if he would charge for it

 

Alex West

[thomas hourican]

THANKS , to all who responded to my post. you know who you are.  it seems Fiebings "dura edge " looks to be a silicone base product and their other product "edge kote " is acrylic base. the "dura edge" proposes to be more robust with a glossier texture.  I will contact Wally and see what he suggests . trusting him as the maker , before I do anything.

 as Alex suggested , I was thinking bookbinding leathers ( skived thin ) might be a suitable  material for a wear patch . would hide glue be the correct  adhesive as it is reversable ?

 

I am lucky to also own a Suttner concertina and notice the bellows to be of a thicker leather than the carroll .the Suttner shows no ware in the same location . both instruments are played daily . 

[Alex West]

5 hours ago, thomas hourican said:

 as Alex suggested , I was thinking bookbinding leathers ( skived thin ) might be a suitable  material for a wear patch . would hide glue be the correct  adhesive as it is reversable ?

Why not talk with Wally?  He may have some of the original leather (Goatskin?) that would be the best match.  And yes, I'd use a hide or rabbitskin glue.

 

Alex West

[Tiposx]

I suspect that the ends of the binding met on that corner. If so that might be why it has worn so. I have a modern concertina with that arrangement, but I avoid it on my own bellows.

i would use fish glue on the patch, it is very easy to remove when needed.

[Wally Carroll]

And you (Tiposx) would be wrong 🙂. We do all overlaps at the point where the logo sits to avoid the seams coming apart. This is pure worn through leather and not something I see too often.  I’ve sent a message to Thomas and have recommended putting on a patch with white PVA. I like Tandy’s Leatherweld.  One issue going forward will be that this patch will sit on the corner that rests on the knee so it may occasionally need to have its edges reglued back down.  I think some of the products mentioned above could also work to cover up the damage though I don’t have much experience with them. The area in question doesn’t really need to be flexible so probably any would do. 

Edited March 8 by Wally Carroll

[thomas hourican]

thanks wally for getting back to me . 

[Frank Edgley]

My experience with Edgekote has been very positive. It was designed originally for making belts. Once applied it can me buffed to match the surrounding leather.