BUILD A BELLOWS BUSINESS

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In order to test the valve, put your mouth over the hole on the "exterior" side, and blow. A good value will let air through ... but will prevent it from returning when you suck in.

Making the hinge is easy, too. Just cut a small square of leather or vinyl ... the heavier, the better. Join the two sections of the cut-off paddle with the hinge piece, first using some contact cement (to assure long wear) and then some carpet tacks. A heavy-duty staple gun will also work well for attaching both the hinge and the valve, and will speed up the process, too.

SKIRTS AND BOOTS

The care that you take in measuring and installing the leather skirt can make or break a bellows, so remember the magic word: PATTERN. Each of your designs will have its own unique shape, and you can't afford to waste good leather or vinyl, so cut out a paper pattern before you take scissors to your valuable material. No matter what the shape of your creation might be, the following method can be used to make its pattern.

Lay out a folded sheet of newspaper. Then measure the "back end" of your bellows, starting from the widest point of the belly of the paddle, going up over the shoulders and across the base of the grip, and then down again to the opposite widest point. Now, place the unclothed bellows on the paper, positioning the wide point of the belly exactly half that measured distance (it'll equal "A" in Fig. 2) in from the fold of the newspaper.

With that done, open the paddles so you have a good 5 " to 6 " gap between the ends of the handles. Be sure that both paddles are positioned at the same angle to the tip of the nose end ... and are the same distance from the fold of the paper. (If you don't do this, you'll end up with too much material on one side of the finished product, with no place to put it!)

Trace along the edges of both sides of the bellows and draw another line about 1/2 inch out from the first. When you reach the widest point on either side, extend the scribe straight back to the fold of the paper. Then, at the nozzle end, bring the pencil lines straight out a good 4 inches.

The next step is to remove the bellows, cut along the outer line of the pattern, and open up the paper at the fold. To test the accuracy of your pattern, fold in the edge along the inner pencil line, and position the resulting paper skirt on the bellows to check the fit.

Once you're satisfied, reflatten the justcreased edge, trace the pattern onto the leather or vinyl, and cut out the skirt. Then fold down the skirt's 1/2" border all around and seal it in place with contact cement. (Always provide for plenty of ventilation when you're working with the glue.) This cemented "hem" will give the skirt a finished, professional look.

Next, you'll make the boot ... a decorative cover that fits on the hinge and nozzle end. To do so, cut a piece of leather that's long enough to pass down over the hinge, across the bellows' nose, and up the same distance on the opposite side. Again, leave a 1/2 " margin all around (see Fig. 3).

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