Photo etch tool useage

[Erik]

Good day everyone,

Recently back into building and havent done anything with photo etch until now. I have done a fair amount of research about PE bending tools and noticed there is a ton of info out there about what is recommended to get, the different types and styles and their quality, and a lot on how to use your typical straight edge portion of the tool.

I totally get how to bend straight portions of PE, and i understand there are tools for rolling as well, but what about the other portions of the bending tools - how do you use the different grooves, angles, tooltips and curves? I was unsuccessful scouring the forums and internet videos on these.

Thanks.

[Jim R]

I have a couple of PE bending tools with all sorts of ...

different grooves, angles, tooltips and curves

To be honest I rarely use them. The tools are useful for nice, sharp, straight bends but fiddly bits can often be best done with a pair of smooth jaw pliers and a 6" steel rule and one of those safety razor blades.
Jim

[Dave Ward]

Erik,
I have a PE bending tool, but unless it's something really awkward, I tend to use tweezers, or miniature pliers! Rolling curves, I find a suitable round object ( like a brush handle ) to use as a former. For myself the PE tool is nice to have, bur rather expensive & not essential. A good pair of precision pliers & tweezers is more versatile ( and a cigarette lighter to anneal the metal! )
Dave

[Tim Marlow]

I think most of the “fingers” are there to give you access to smaller folds when forming boxes etc Erik. I am unsure though because I pre date these tools and learned to use etch without having access to one. It is amazing what you can do with good box jointed smooth pliers, a couple of steel rules and a quality bench vice I do have a miniature rolling mill and a drop riveter, but have only used those a dozen or so times each.
Does seem strange though. They aren’t cheap tools and the manufacturers could at least give you some sort of instruction set to go with them….

[rtfoe]

Have always wanted to get a set but have been bending etch freehand with flat tipped pliers, all types of round handled tools like paint brushes, tweezers and miniature pin vice. Satisfied with the results so still procrastinating on the purchase.

Cheers,
Richard

[Erik]

Thank you everyone,

Each of the tools has different sized tips, curves, notches, sections, etc built into them. I am looking for something that describes what each of those specific portions of the tools do.

Hopefully i find something but based on the comment by Tim, am not positive i will find something lol!!

[Tim Marlow]

Best bet is probably contacting the manufacturers Erik.

[Jim R]

There might be something useful on YouTube.

[Erik]

Best bet is probably contacting the manufacturers Erik.

Fair enough, i will keep that in mind.

There might be something useful on YouTube.

I did try, so if you happen to see something, please let me know!!

Thanks again everyone.

[Ian M]

If you have a specific tool in mind, maybe a picture or two could help. There are almost as many PE tools as flavours of chips/crisps

[outrunner]

Try this link, loads of videos on photo etch tools, how to's etc.

Andy.

[Ian M]

there is a ton of info out there about what is recommended to get, the different types and styles and their quality, and a lot on how to use your typical straight edge portion of the tool.

And 99% is from the people that make them.
They do not show how to us it in case you figure out that you do not need a special tool that costs dozens of beer tokens to bend a bit of brass that is under .5mm thick.
I have a Tamiya PE pliers that I use once in a while. Cost many beer tokens.
I have a set of cheap "hobby jewellery" pliers that cost fewer beer tokens and they get used a lot.
I use a mini PE folding tool with a turnable head so it has four sides that have different 'tools' on. One long side for long bits...? The next has several narrow bits for smaller bits. side three has some very narrow bits which I use for folding boxes up with. The forth side... Holds side one and three together?
A firm rubber mat and a selection od drill bits is my rolling bed.
Have used these for everything from a 1/72 biplane to a 1/35 boat and all inbetween.

[Guest]

I have a bending tool (bought second-hand, as I feel that they’re too expensive new), and really only use it when I need to bend a piece of etch or other thin metal that is too long to comfortably fit in my long-nosed, flat pliers. It’s useful at times, but not indispensable to me. Other people may have other opinions, because modelling is really all about finding a way that works for you, I’d say

[Strenko J]

Erik,

like the rest of the gang,I too rarely use the bending tool unless I need a crisp edge on some PE.
best of luck in your search for the right one