Just started using my new Ausfwerks FenderBender today–similar to the Etch-Mate, but with a hinge for a built-in folding system. It’s never been easier–great for larger parts, like tank fenders, but worked extremely well for extremely tiny Aber hasps on the front fenders of my Tiger I (the ones held down with the wingnuts). I’m very, very impressed. Definitely not cheap, even more pricey than the Etch-Mate, but if you don’t own either and are thinking about getting one, definitely consider the FenderBender. I think my Etch-Mate shall retire soon. Nice not to have to manipulate razor blades for bending. The company also has some other cool stuff, like a perfect resin block for photoetch cutting (reasonably priced), and a simple device for making wire handles that I think is easier to use than the Grab Handler.
The website also has some great general articles on armor building as well.
I love their stuff. I bought the Fenderbender recently and used it to make my PE fenders for Dragon’s M4A3E8. It made making those long bends really easy! As for the Bendicator and the Block, I picked those up at AMPS. I gave away my Grab handlers.
I totally agree. I got a fender bender for Father’s Day and love it. I’ve also got the BLOCK and use it exclusively for cutting PE. It is also great for those embossing tasks of which Aber and Voyager are so fond. I’ve been using the Bendicator for making handles to replace the little plastic lumps on the hatches of the new DML M4A3E8 and it’s fantastic. I don’t hesitate to recommend these tools to anyone doing PE work.
Yes I did. I’m sure it works pretty well. But I do not buy a lot of aftermarket and I’m not ready to spent that much on a tool to bend PE parts. Whenever I jump on the darkside of aftermarket stuff, I’ll buy one or build one myself.
The Bendicator allows you to bend your own rods that you may have in your metals stash, or even a paper clip. It’s not for PE. You can become your own aftermaket supply… for some things. Not everything, but replacing the plastic grip handles and such is something I do standard, but my bent pieces do not look as crisp as that tool seems to produce (with practice) in a matter of seconds. Oh well, it;s still on my wish list. SteveM.
I have come home. (said haltingly and with misty eyes) I LOVE tools more than I do my wife. I had a Chouinard climbing equipment catalog from the late seventies that said in the ice tools section … “put just about any tool in a mans hand and watch a radiant glow permeate his face.”
I was thinking of buying an Etch Mate so is the Fenderbender better or is it just to bend longer items. I work mostly on armor and you know how small some of those things are[?]
Here are three reviews of each product. I don’t do any PE bending, but if I did I think I would splurge on the Fender Bender as it doesn’t require the use of a razor blade to act as the folding brake.
Actually I would probably buy both and a Hold and Fold, since I’m a complete sucker for tools!
I’ve actually been using the FenderBender (carefully) to fold the tiny components of the Aber 1/35 Tiger I clamps, and it has made the job remarkably easy. I also have a Hold 'N Fold Bug, the purchase of which was inspired by the cool hinge assembly instructions for the clamps posted by DSOTM some time ago…I use it to hold the little horseshoe-shaped component while I attach the other parts to it with the world’s tiniest tweezers.
With a little care, one can easily use the FenderBender to fold even the tiniest of parts easily, and not risk slicing your darn finger off with a razor blade. The device does the work for you.
I believe that at the moment, the FenderBender and Bendicator are only available from www.ausfwerks.com. Click into the “Ausfshop”, then click “Ausfwerks Design”, to be taken here:
You will see two prices for everything. The burnt orange color price is the purchase price off the website ($82.50 for the FenderBender, $24 for the Bendicator), the price in parentheses I discovered is the suggested retail price for whenever they decide to distribute to other retailers. I know they don’t make that very clear, but that is the reason for the two prices.
The website also has some very cool articles, as well as lots of other cool stuff for sale. I have both tools, as well as the “Block”. I don’t think I’ll ever cut photoetch on a glass surface again. \
You Sir! Are a man of my own heart! “I LOVE tools more than I do my wife.”[}:)] I too love tools that Much! And, Being Single again for the 6th Time!.. I can, and do, buy pretty much what I want! But!.. Even though, this is a Super Cool Tool, that I’d normally jump onto in a Heart Beat!..I build 1:35th scale, Military Armor & Vehicle Recovery Vehicle’s, Plus, 1:24th Big Rig Trucks/Tractors… I’m really thinking: That little $28.00 Photo-Etch Bending Tool I already have, is going to handle anything I need… And, I don’t worry about the razor cutting me, as the first thing I did was run the sharp part of the blade over the file until it was dull & wouldnt cut me when I drew it across my left wrist at the artery area… Ha,ha…
“Put just about any tool in a mans hand and watch a radiant glow permeate his face.” Thank You for this Post you wrote! [^]You Sir!.. Said it so Eloquently!..Ha,ha…“RC”
I’ve just recently ventured into the photo-etched world and my first project was the Tamiya kit for the German tank: Ausf. N with the Aber PE set. I’ve been frustrated to say the least bending some of the parts within this kit. I’ve looked at tons of benders and have decided on the Fender Bender by Ausfwerks. To my great dismay they are out of production. If anyone would like to part with theirs for whatever reason it would be greatly appreciated. I don’t think I’ll feel complete without one. Thanks for listening.