Chiff and Fipple Forums

Can anybody advise me where to source a metal hinge suitable for uilleann bellows?

What sort of hinge are you looking for , as in what faces do you wish to mount it to ?

To be mounted on the 2 wooden paddles.

With any deep metal hinge, there is the need for the 2nd fold of each leaf at right angles to accomodate the bellows cheek orientation.
Possible to make those additional folds, one guesses, on something like this - https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/311330878858 - but lot of work rather than just a single strip of leather belt type hinge.
M

Here´s a discussion with some pictures:viewtopic.php?f=6&t=66616&start=15

Bob

edited to add: from Richard Patkos https://reverb.com/item/9234629-patkos- ... od-leather

The metal hinges shown in the articles cited on this thread all have very short bearing surfaces. I make a hinge, all turned on the lathe, with two bearing surfaces of 15mm long x 6.25mm diameter. These hinges fit between the bellows boards in a similar way to the Taylor type. One very heavily used brass example has completed 25 years of piping. It is simple to make and especially durable in Nickel Silver or Stainless Steel.

Anyone wanting pictures can contact me.

One very heavily used brass example has completed 25 years of piping.

Mine is still going, since 1986, and I have put the mileage on it.

Indeed Peter!
It being the Nickel Silver version 35 years of everyday Piping. How many hours do you think ? 15- 20,000 hours.... more ?

Hmm, probably managed that much in the first twenty years.

Brass version of the Woof design - about 15 years (speaking from personal experience). Probably ran too heavy reeds for a long time.
Will have to look at replacing the worn parts with nickel silver - to see out this lifetime - based upon what you say Geoff.
M

Thanks for your responses. The reason why I asked is that I have bellows that are not working efficiently and I think the reason is that the leather hinge has become distorted and when the bellows are closed the two sides are significantly offset (4-5 cms). This hinge is not a very thick piece of leather. I have seen other bellows with much much thicker leather hinges and these would be more stable I am sure but I was thinking a metal hinge would be even better. The idea of modifying a parliament hinge seems to be workable to me and I think I will try it. Brass is a fairly soft metal so folding it should be possible with care. If successful I will advise you.

This type of hinge contains a ball bearing rated to 35000rpm for 8 hours continuous use. A bellows hinge doesn't even do a quarter revolution so that makes the hinge rated to 140,000 ppm for 8 hours. The bearing is also guaranteed for three years. If you play continuously for three hours every day the hinge will last for 533 years.



RORY

Bit of a different design on my 1930s Patsy Brown bellows. Works very well.

Do you know where that hinge you posted can be sourced Rory?

gariwerd wrote: ↑Tue Oct 19, 2021 1:41 am Do you know where that hinge you posted can be sourced Rory?

As with the other hinges pictured, I suspect they are made in house by the pipe maker, the one I posted is by Mark Donohoe.
RORY