Best Value for money Etch tool?

[Rathalos]

Ok so I'm new to the forum ,and I thought this would make a good first post.
I have recently got a BIG ED kit for my 1/35 centurion ,and with all that photo-etch ,I want to make a good job of it, problem is I don't have an etch tool.
I know Trumpeter do a photo-etch bending tool for about £34 ,but then I saw the (5 Speed) Hold and Fold for about £54 ,so is it worth the extra £20? or are there alternatives out there?
Thanks

[chief5437]

Hi rathalos, welcome to the forum!

If you've got the cash, PE tools are a good tool to have in the arsenal. But they're not a necessity. I managed for a long time just using whatever I had to hand. Pliers, tweezers, xacto blades, whatever got the job done. I recently invested in a purpose built tool by master tool. To be honest, I've only used it a few times, when it was the right tool for the job. I still use the other stuff more frequently as its a lot quicker for the simple stuff.

If you're new to PE, I'd see how you get on with the tools you already have before shelling out for a 'hold n fold', it's a lot of money for what they are!

My must have tools for PE are fine point tweezers and a Ultimate PE placer. HTH buddy

[Rathalos]

I have been using tweezers ,and my blade to some success ,however on some parts I do get some round edges ,I think I will go with the Trumpeter Master tool Etch bender due to it being priced £20 cheaper ,for what looks to be a quality item. I don't really see me using all the notches and bends on the Hold'n'Fold 5 ,and the ones on the Master tool look to be adequate for me.
Thanks for the tips ,and for saving me £20

[Paul]

I have been using tweezers ,and my blade to some success ,however on some parts I do get some round edges ,I think I will go with the Trumpeter Master tool Etch bender due to it being priced £20 cheaper ,for what looks to be a quality item. I don't really see me using all the notches and bends on the Hold'n'Fold 5 ,and the ones on the Master tool look to be adequate for me.
Thanks for the tips ,and for saving me £20

You can get the hold and fold bug for not a lot more money and its a far superior tool

[Rathalos]

I have been using tweezers ,and my blade to some success ,however on some parts I do get some round edges ,I think I will go with the Trumpeter Master tool Etch bender due to it being priced £20 cheaper ,for what looks to be a quality item. I don't really see me using all the notches and bends on the Hold'n'Fold 5 ,and the ones on the Master tool look to be adequate for me.
Thanks for the tips ,and for saving me £20

You can get the hold and fold bug for not a lot more money and its a far superior tool

I have seen the bug ,however I just think its a bit too small ,though it is well machined ,and made ,I just cant see it bending large fenders or tool boxes.
The trumpeter bending tool ,is over 103mm longer ,and has about the same amount of edges (not sure what you'll call them). The thing that the BUG prevails in is the quality of its construction.
But I have no experience in these tools ,so any comment is helpful
Thanks

[Paul]

The trumpy tool isn't a very well made tool compared tot he small shop tools, you get what you pay for basically

[Lee]

The hold and fold five speed is the best all round one imo

[Rathalos]

Thanks for all the input guys ,but I think I am now swaying towards the Hold'n'Fold 5speed ,it may come at an extra cost ,but the quality looks great ,and it will last a lifetime.
Once again thanks!

[SergioSolo]

Great choice. I have the bug, and although I don't use it very often, it's very well made

[JohnModeller]

The trumpy tool isn't a very well made tool compared tot he small shop tools, you get what you pay for basically

I can vouch for this, used to have a trumpy one 3 yrs ago, then bought a Medium Small Shop Hold and Fold for my WW2 1/48 and 1/32 aircraft modelling as I am a prolific Eduard Big Ed and detail set user, and have never looked back based on Paul's recommendation.
John

[digger303]

The trumpy tool isn't a very well made tool compared tot he small shop tools, you get what you pay for basically

I can vouch for this, used to have a trumpy one 3 yrs ago, then bought a Medium Small Shop Hold and Fold for my WW2 1/48 and 1/32 aircraft modelling as I am a prolific Eduard Big Ed and detail set user, and have never looked back based on Paul's recommendation.
John

very true

[DasAbteilung]

You can get some good hand bending tools quite reasonably in craft shops. The sort that might be used for jewellery making etc. Hobbycraft, if you're in the UK. Pliers with smooth jaws and square edges, tapered nose smooth jaws, semicircular, V or round jaws etc. And usually good fine cutters too. And shaped formers for bending circles, triangles and squares in wire. Tamiya's bending pliers and etc scissors are over-priced.

I have a "bending blade" which I find useful. Basically a strip of stainless with a double-bevelled edge: like a knife blade but thicker and blunter. There are a few bending tools actually made from etched metal which quite useful. RB Tools do something called the Flip-R, which has some add-on attachments: it's still $30+ though. I got mine from Hobby.dn.ua in Kiev. You can save about 20% by paying in local currency, Grivna/Hrivna (UAH) compared to EUR or USD.

As noted, hand tools are often easier and more convenient than the expensive bench benders. The only real advantage of those is for longer bends like, say, trackguard lips.

[04Stefan07]

I have The Small Shop 5.5" (5 Speed) Hold and Fold (SMS004) and it's a must! I used to bend photo etch parts with pliers or my hands.

A bit on the pricey side. I was going to go for the cheaper Model Master version which was less than half the cost of the Small Shop one but I am glad I went with the Small Shop. It's made from high grade materials and is a pleasure to use.

I am now eyeing off their roller set mmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

[DrGlueblob]

Good, cheap alternative is a SMOOTH jawed pair of hemostat. I do like those wax pick up pencils, too.