Tools for Photo Etched parts?

[Jon Haigwood]

Just started working with photo etched parts , any good tools out there for bending and cutting ?

[Belugawrx]

A good photo etch scissor, simple bending jig,..and my homemade 3 1/4" benders (electric planer blades epoxied into some vice grips)..works a treat!

Oh and a good steel ruler or similar thin steel blade to get under the p/e to bend it up with the middle tool...

 

Edited January 18, 2019 by Belugawrx
forgot sumpin

[Casey]

 

[tom q vaxy]

there's almost too many, but most work on the same principles.

http://rptoolz.unas.hu/en/sct/0/

https://thesmallshop.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=3

http://umm-usa.com/onlinestore/index.php?cPath=21&osCsid=2dff73521dbfa37f356f33a4b9de7619

[BigTallDad]

Toe nail clippers (not very expensive) work very well for cutting, and are available with convex, straight, and concave cutting edges.

[aurfalien]

I'm pretty much a tool minimalist at this point so my list;

Xuron Photo Etch Scissors - 9180ET

 

Tsunoda Photo Etch Pliers - MEB-135

 

Tamiya Photo Etch Diamond File - 74066

 

These AK Interactive bending pliers look intriguing as well.

Edited January 19, 2019 by aurfalien

[70mach1]

Google images  "Metal Earth" tool kits  

[Jon Haigwood]

Thanks for the info and suggestions. Not sure which I dislike more, PE or BMF LOL 

[Tom Geiger]

If you buy the Xuron cutters, make sure you use it only for photo etch and nothing else!  Otherwise you will dull it and it won't be effective on photo etch.  I keep mine in the box with my parts to avoid grabbing them on the bench.

Also, stick your photo etch parts to Scotch tape prior to cutting from the fret. The tape will keep the part from springing off to another dimension.  It will also give you something to hold onto.    

[Pete J.]

Bending and clipping is only part of the equation.  You should also spend the time and money to get a really good set of tweezers to handle the small part with.  Cheap tweezers will cost you more in lost parts that you will ever spend on the best tweezers out there.  Jewelry supply houses such as Otto Frei carry a wide variety, but spend the money.  Good tweezers are carefully ground to parallel and with near perfect alignment.  These are "Diamond" tweezers, designed for jewelers to handle precious stones.  They don't want them going "twing" and see a diamond disappear before your eyes. I have a couple of sets.  One in brass for handling parts that have been magnetized.   Go cheap and spend your time on the floor looking for impossibly small parts. 

Edited January 21, 2019 by Pete J.

[MrObsessive]

I second what Pete mentioned about tweezers. I happen to have a set of 'em and they are indeed invaluable for handling tiny stuff. No way would I ever be able to do the details that I do without 'em. It'll be money VERY well spent!

[Tommy124]

23 hours ago, Tom Geiger said:

If you buy the Xuron cutters, make sure you use it only for photo etch and nothing else!  Otherwise you will dull it and it won't be effective on photo etch.  I keep mine in the box with my parts to avoid grabbing them on the bench.

Also, stick your photo etch parts to Scotch tape prior to cutting from the fret. The tape will keep the part from springing off to another dimension.  It will also give you something to hold onto.    

Thanks for the tip with the Scotch tape, Tom. So simple, but this WILL help. Btw., some months gao I checked on what tool to use for cutting PE parts and all traces lead me to buying the Xuron cutter. Had to order it from the USA but it was worth it!

[peteski]

Did someone say "tweezers"?  Yes, those are quite important for handling photoetched parts, and for model building in general.  I have accumulated a decent collection over the years.

[Tommy124]

2 hours ago, peteski said:

Did someone say "tweezers"?  Yes, those are quite important for handling photoetched parts, and for model building in general.  I have accumulated a decent collection over the years.

You surely have. Looks like collecting tweezers could become a hobby of it's own... 

I must admit don't have a single pair of tweezers dedicated to handling PE parts. I surely have "regular" ones but 95% of the time I prefer to handle them with the wax pen.

[peteski]

16 hours ago, Tommy124 said:

You surely have. Looks like collecting tweezers could become a hobby of it's own... 

I must admit don't have a single pair of tweezers dedicated to handling PE parts. I surely have "regular" ones but 95% of the time I prefer to handle them with the wax pen.

I accumulated them over the years, so I guess it makes me a tweezers collector.   I did make that holder for them so I don't have to keep digging for the right pair in my tool drawers.  And like you, I also use other tools for certain photoetched parts.

And like I said, they are not just for photoetch - they come in handy for many different tasks.

Edited January 24, 2019 by peteski

[Pete J.]

2 hours ago, peteski said:

I accumulated them over the years, so I guess it makes me a tweezers collector.   I did make that holder for them so I don't have to keep digging for the right pair in my tool drawers.  And like you, I also use other tools for certain photoetched parts.

And like I said, they are not just for photoetch - they come in handy for many different tasks.

Yup, like occasionally poking yourself to make sure your blood has not completely coagulated!

[peteski]

2 hours ago, Pete J. said:

Yup, like occasionally poking yourself to make sure your blood has not completely coagulated!

Exactly!

[Scott - Elm City Hobbies]

On 1/18/2019 at 5:08 PM, Jon Haigwood said:

Just started working with photo etched parts , any good tools out there for bending and cutting ?

Great company not far from you Jon, Kalma Precision/ The Small Shop in Kalma, WA, probably the best PE benders on the market.