Etch-mate?

Tools, Techniques, and Reference Materials Tools
1

I am starting modelling again and need all new kit http://www.finescale.com/fsm/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=34519

Never having worked with PE before I am wondering if I need to invest in an Etch-mate or Grabhandler. I will be working 90% with German WW2 AFV.

2

Hi,
The etch mate is a marvellous tool which if you use PE extensively then it is certainly worth investing in.But if you are like myself who use an average amount of PE then it would be something maybe for the future.For now I use some very well crafted mini vices on my workbench with manipulating tools like a piece of small steel no bigger than a razor blade,small jewellers hammer and clamps.The grabhandler again is very handy to have and will invest in one soon but I tend to use a few different scales in copper / steel square piping.
Hope it helps,
Simon.

3

Thanks Simon - as I’m starting from scratch (and have no workshop) I think it might be best to invest in both - making my own jigs/tools/etc would be beyond me :slight_smile:

4

I have an etch mate and I love it. It was well worth the investment or me. I would also take a look at the Hold-n-fold. Its basicly the same thing but it has a few more options to it.

Good luck

Dave

5

Here is a pic of the Hold & Fold range…in the USA…lots of Hobby Stores sell them…such as R&J, Great Models or you can go direct to TheSmallShop.com

In regards to the tool for grab handels etc…why not use a pair of plyers ??..get a set of beaked ones and use them…measure across and mark with a pen…then bend away till the cows come home :)…natrally you can also use them as plyers as well. :)…way more jobs within one tool…jm2cents

[img.nr] http://smallshopeu.com/2%20inch%20pics/BUG%20HAND%20200%20SMALL.jpg[/img.nr]
2"

[img.nr] http://smallshopeu.com/DEmmo%20ics%204%20inch/Untitled-1.jpg[/img.nr] 4 inch (I use this one most of the time)

[img.nr] http://www.smallshopeu.com/images/8_inch1.jpg[/img.nr]
8"

Welcombe back to the world of modeling

Ali1kj

6

Sorry for my incomplete tool advice. It won’t happen again

Ted

7

Thankd guys - I guess I’ll get both - any advantage of Etch-mate over Hold-n-fold or vice-versa?

8

I think first decide if you really need them as they are quiet expensive.
As was said above it depends on how much PE you plan on working with.
I had a look at the locally available “hold and fold"s both 4” and 8" and nearly fainted at the price tag. [;)]

I will soon have instructions for a home-made grab-handle maker, which is differently to the one posted by tediam(and likely cheaper and easier to make).
Unless of course you got access to a proper machine shop like tediam seems to have.
For me paying $50 for an item I can make from scrap at home seems to be a waste.

9

If you need to compair…a British guy did a review a while back…it was posted here as well BTW…but here is the link…
(I was asked before how fair this was…all I will say is the author is very very honest and a very well respected ‘chap’…so you can trust his review totally…and as he can do this type of work…well he KNOWS what he is doing for sure :slight_smile: (gasp)

http://smallshopeu.com/LeeLLyod_REVIEW8.htm

A review by the fantastic PMMS web site is also a good one
http://smallshopeu.com/8%20Hold%20&%20Fold%20PMMS.htm

Ali1kj

10

Yeah - I also spoke to Alistair at smallshopEU and he pointed me to that review. The detail in that Tiger interior is beyond belief. The new design Hol-n-fold arrives in 3 weeks - have ordered one together with the 2" Bug

11

I bought the 4" Hold-n-Fold from the Smallsho EU a couple of weeks back. The price is abit wallet wilting, but having used the hold-n-Fold a couple of times already I think it will pay for inself soon enough.

As for grab handles, try a model railroad store as I know in the UK at least, you can buy templates for the creation of grab handles which are way cheaper than the Grab-handler.

This is a link to a UK site which sells these bending jigs for a variety of scales. They’re not as fancy as the Grab-handler, beu then they don’t cost anywhere near the same.

http://www.mousa.demon.co.uk/Cat7/Catalog7.pdf

Karl

12

If you plan to use a large degree of PE for every one of your projects, then it might be worth the investment. Otherwise, I think it’s way overpriced and not worth it.

13

The reason to choose a Brass Bending tools is not wether you do a lot or a little…just how complacated the brass you are using is…and if as a limmited user you wish to avoid early and these days costly mistakes which we all have when we use new products…
It is on that basis that you should choose…

Ali1kj

14

I recently made the choice and bought the Small Shop’s Hold-n-Fold tools, after losing a few too many 1/72 PE pieces or my bending did not come out so great. The price of some of the PE sets is the same or more then the kits themselves.

I purchased the 8” Classic Workstation Kit plus a 2" Workstation which includes the following items.

8” Hold & Fold PE Parts Workstation
Standard PE Part Rolling Set
PE Part Cut Off Kit
8” Folding Blade & Safety Case

This is probably one of the best investments I’ve made in tools so far, which of course I buy a lot of [:D].

If you can afford the tool and will use it then buy it. I have not been disappointed yet with making this purchase.

I mean think about it the next time your going to buy a couple of new kits that will sit on your already growing unbuilt / to-be built later pile, maybe it’s time to use those funds to buy the tool. [:)]

This is just my opinion and like bad relatives we all have one or maybe two [:D]

HTH

Cheers
Thom