Repairing splits in a wooden camera body...

[Rover]

Hello everyone,

I'm in the process of restoring an old half-plate camera. You probably know the sort of thing I mean - all wood, brass, and leather bellows. For those who are interested, it's a Sanderson 'Tropical', and made of teak rather than the more usual mahogany. I don't think it can have been used for a long time, but unfortunately at some stage in its 100+ year history someone appears to have kicked it around quite a bit!

My question is about repairing the damage. There are several 'tight' splits in the main body. In a couple of places these splits have come together and the wood has risen, deforming the panel. How would you advise me to repair these? Since I can't take the pieces apart to apply glue, I'm wondering if there's a glue thin enough to soak in to the split when it's clamped together? ..Or is there a better way?

Any advice will be greatly appreciated, so thanks in advance.

Roger

[tusses]

super glue .. and fine sand paper

apply the glue, sand it in. the sandings will "fill" the split, and the colour will match

practise on a scrap of wood before you try it on the camera.

then you just have to make sure it is light tight inside

[Rover]

Thanks for that, tusses. Really? Super glue... Somehow I've never really taken the stuff seriously. I know there's stacks of different ones in shops, but I always associate it with amateur botched repairs! Obviously I should think again - and I have seen liquid ones rather than the more usual gel types.

Actually, how light tight it is will depend on the bellows... but they're another story!!

Cheers!
Roger

[tusses]

like I said .. get a scrap of wood .. any cheap super clue will do .. try it !
It's not for structural fixes, just cosmetic

I still have plans to build a full plate camera , bellows and all , just never had the time !