I have a bellows with a leather hinge that feels like it may have stretched too much, allowing for too much movement in the paddles. Does anyone know where I could find a strip of quality leather thick enough to replace the hinge?
Why don’t ye take it off cut it down a bit and rescrew it on?That way ye will take the slack aff it.
or visit your local saddler or shoemaker and ask for a scrap or
http://www.leatherunltd.com/hardware/tools/tools.html?source=google3&gclid=CM3yoeygzpwCFU0A4wodvVinJQ
Uilliam
I did this very thing on one of my bellows a few years ago. It worked out just fine for me.
I suppose I could give that a shot. I had hesitated to do this previously due to the poor aesthetics of excess holes in the leather. Now that I consider the fact that it will result in a more efficient bellows for my learning and that I’ll not be playing in front of anyone anytime soon it seems a little silly to be concerned with aesthetics 
I’ll try it out.
Thanks,
Johnny
Make sure to do it on the inside of the bellows (i.e. the side of the bellows that faces you).
Thanks for the advice fellas. I did as Uilliam suggested and adjusted the leather hinge to reduce the slack. That drastically improved the efficiency of the bellows.
Johnny
If ye end up with a hole or two too many simply add another screw or maybe glue a sympathetic patch o leather over it.
Uilliam
Instead of leather you could also use a shoelace.
sympathetic patch… W T F is that?
straycat82,
Go to a shoe repair shop. They have all the tools, materials and know-how for working with leather.
Depending on the design and how much the leather has stretched I suggest to have them glue a thick strip UNDER the one that stretched, the added thickness will be enough to compensate.
This repair won’t be noticeable, so I consider it the preferred way especially if the strap has been tacked to the wood. Otherwise, you may have to replace the tacks as the tops sometimes break off from the nails.
If the strap has been screwed on, I suggest a similar method. Remove the screws, glue the strip under the original leather hinge and screw the hinge back in the same holes so you cannot see it’s been repaired.
Given he has fixed the hinge, yer advice is a bit on the late side not to mention offensive and pompous.For your information W T F is sympathetic, is a piece of leather strip that will blend in with the existing strap and therefore not clash with the aesthetics of the bellows which is whit oor friend was clearly worried aboot.I have not come across tacked hinges but that doesnae mean they don’t exist.Ye also want the shoe repair person to fix the hinge for him,no doubt for a fee, again ,when he has already said that he has fixed it hisel.
Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective so all in all Tony, your post is a load o cobblers.(Apologies to shoemakers)
Peace and tranquility to ye all 
Uilliam
The Leather Factory in Pheonix and Tuscon has scraps:
Phoenix
425 N 19th Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85009-3845
(602) 271-4088
Tuscon
6061 E. BROADWAY BLVD TUCSON AZ
Tucson, AZ 85711
520-512-0044
(in case it wears out again) 
Liam, that’s quite a pleasant comeback. I see you haven’t changed much over the years. A little moody now, aren’t we?
Sometimes the simplest solution is the most effective so all in all Tony, your post is a load o cobblers.
Why yes… my suggestion was to take the very SAME PIECE of leather and place it under the original hinge.
Not so difficult a plan to envision.
Sorry you took such offense to my comment enough to blow some smoke to cover your exit. No need to reply, I’m sure the board members don’t need to hear any more of your unpleasant responses.
Bit late to start calling the kettle black methinks...just to remind ye twas yersel that wrote “sympathetic patch… W T F is that?” W T F being the trigger for my response.That twas a totally unnecessary expletive and ye got whit ye deserved. 
I can see that ye have conveniently left aff my quote after cobblers..(Apologies to shoemakers)
A cobbler being a shoemaker and yer reference to take the bellows thence for repair.Thus ye can read the remark either way.
Ye happened to chose the more offensive because your mindset was already fixated on an angry response.
Again ye started all this yersel so don’t go blaming me.
Your suggestion by the way was akin to asking someone to look oot fer last nights shooting stars,bit late, as the hinge was already fixed.
Cutting a wee bit aff is a lot more easily done than feckin around wi a cobbler in tow.
The leather had stretched so would need cutting anyways ,tools required a knife 
time taken minutes, cost nil,satisfaction aplenty.
Take it to the cobbler, time taken,find a cobbler travel there and leave it up to said tradespersons to decide when it will be ready.Cost depends on whit said tradespersons decides to do.Satisfaction zilch.
Whit does Why yes… my suggestion was to take the very SAME PIECE of leather and place it under the original hinge.
Not so difficult a plan to envision. mean??
How can ye take the same piece and place it under the original hinge..it IS the original hinge is it not?
Wi reference to me not changing,why thankye kindly ,I would hate to be inconsistent.
Ye have certainly changed.I remember a time when ye welcomed everyone to the board mesel included and I thought whit a nice chappie, then ye stopped ,maybe because I happenstanced to comment on the fact that that appeared to be yer only contribution to the board after we fell oot over something or other.I could be wrang of course.
So welcome back to the board 
peace and love to ye all
Uilliam
…oh for chrissake..