Photo Etch Benders

[Chris K. Hale]

 I needed to bend some photo etch piece and after years of trying it with pliers I bought one similar to this, it was a bit expensive $30. and after assembly and adjustment I found it real difficult to work wit...so I put my brain to work, Yeah first time this year, and came up with this    it works a hundred time easier and is much more accurate, I used a piece of 1/4 thick Styrene about 2in x 5 in, a Stainless steel ruler , @ medium Paper clips , see pic, and of course a single edge razor blade, I have done 4 sided bends and fins\d it much easier to line up the parts vs. the other which is thick on the edge and hard to hold the parts in place. Saving $30. was kinda nice too...  the oil cooler on the Lotus was a 4 sided bend done with my home made bender.. Chris

[Chris K. Hale]

I guess I could have shown how it works.... this is a Ignition Box from Scale Production ( I ordered direct from them in Germany and had my parts in a week and saved some bucks also) it is a 4 side bend with additional bends for the mounting flanges..   and thats it!!!! Chris

[robhart]

I have a Hold and Fold that I have only used twice in ten years. I found that smooth jawed pliers along with a steel ruler and a box cutter knife blade would do almost anything the Hold and Fold will do and were easier to use in the process.

[pnance26]

Well if that don't beat all... and here I have everything I need right in the drawer!

[Joel_W]

Chris,
I just read your article on a homemade PE bender, and you've solved my ever annoying problems and issues with my bought one. I've never been able to use my commercial one without a ton of frustration, misalignments, and wasted time. I bought a pair of PE bending plyers that do a much better job. I'm going to copy yours and see just how much easy bending PE just became.

joel