bending photo-etch with a ETCH Mate or Hold & Fold.

[Robin]

I have a hard time bending the photo etch brass for the models. I have seen the ETCH Mate and Hold & Fold. Would like to know if these tools work good and what other tool everyone has used to get the correct bend's on he photo-etch brass. Thanks

[MartinJQuinn]

I have a hard time bending the photo etch brass for the models. I have seen the ETCH Mate and Hold & Fold. Would like to know if these tools work good and what other tool everyone has used to get the correct bend's on the photo-etch brass. Thanks

IMO, an Etch Mate or a Hold and Fold are must have tools, if you are working with photo-etch. I have a large Etch Mate and a small Hold N Fold and find them very useful, especially for parts like inclined ladders, cranes and other parts with complex bends. I'll also use them for bending railing, but more often than not I will use a pliers for bends in railings.

I'd say take the plunge and buy one, you won't regret it.

[Ron Smith]

I have a hard time bending the photo etch brass for the models. I have seen the ETCH Mate and Hold & Fold. Would like to know if these tools work good and what other tool everyone has used to get the correct bend's on the photo-etch brass. Thanks

IMO, an Etch Mate or a Hold and Fold are must have tools, if you are working with photo-etch. I have a large Etch Mate and a small Hold N Fold and find them very useful, especially for parts like inclined ladders, cranes and other parts with complex bends. I'll also use them for bending railing, but more often than not I will use a pliers for bends in railings.

I'd say take the plunge and buy one, you won't regret it.

I prefer the Hold & Fold because I do not care for the Etch Mate's trench. The 4" tool is sufficient for most 1/350 and smaller ship PE. The only things I've done that the larger tools might be useful for are some 1/35 armor PE like complete fenders.

[Robin]

I work mostly with 1/350 Ships and some 1/700 ships. So what size tool should I get? I like the large Etch-mate, but not sure what size from Hold N Flod and do I need both?

[kevinb120]

I want to pick one up, but a couple of straight razors works pretty well for me, or postage stamp tweezers for bending rails(also the best tool for straightening dented parts). I'd rather have a couple more kits though for the price. You can bend things like inclined ladders by putting it on a piece of glass, setting one razor blade flat on the bend line, sliding another under the part to be bent, and bending it up.

The main thing hold and fold type tools help with(sometimes) is bending three-sided items like stair ledges and some towers. Usually though on items like a crane, if you simply 'start' the bend(not necessarilly the full 90 degrees) with the two blades, it will keep the straight fold line so you can manipulate the other sides together. Plain old single edge razor blades should be what you are using 90 percent of the time for all your modeling needs. Sharper with more blade area then a #11 and you can buy them at a price ratio of 20 blades to one. I usually go through about 20 blades on an average build.

[Avery Boyer]

I've never used either, but have always used a X-acto chisel blade and a razor: works great for me.

[Sten Ekedahl]

I have used etched brass for many years on my 1/72 aircraft models. For folding I use two different pair of pliers originally inteneded for electronics and radio jobs. The jaws are completely smoth on the inside. One pair has 5 mm wide jaws and the other pair has pointed tip jaws. They are also very good for straightening out unwanted (accidental) bends.

[Ron Smith]

I work mostly with 1/350 Ships and some 1/700 ships. So what size tool should I get? I like the large Etch-mate, but not sure what size from Hold N Flod and do I need both?

The 4" Hold & Fold is sufficient for most ship work and can be held in one hand easily while using the other to align pieces. I've tried the Etchmate and it would get my vote since it has finer "fingers" if it weren't for the trench they machined in the baseplate.....I'm also not real keen on the color anodizing they chose, I prefer the black base of the Hold & Fold.

[Robin]

Thanks everyone! I think I am going to get the 4" fold n hold.