As the title says are there any photo etch benders for doing curves
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Peter do you mean for making tubes, round items ???
If this is so then you can obtain a set of round nosed pliers, mine are by EXPO but rarely used. I normally use a drill shank the size or just a tad smaller and benf the etch around the shank while holding it down with two fingers.
But if you need to make a curve, the you will need to work on a metal plate, heat up the brass untill is has a 'cherry' glow and then work the brass around the curve you wish to make. And then you soak the brass in water.
Mike. -
That is the only way I know other than to make it out of 10th plasticard which is about the thickness of etch brass.
Just been looking at a photo ofthe real thing, would it be possible to use copper wire, heat anneal it first and then flatten it in a vice with smooth jaws and then bend it to shape.
If I have an odd shape like this I would normally make a template from thick card or 80th plasticard and then bend my wire around the template to get the rough shape and then finish off by eye. I had to do this when making the rail at the back of the Challenger stowage bin to replace the kit offering, plus the grab handles...
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Something as fine as that I would have thought it could just be formed around the part it needed to fit to. You can buy rollers, or as Mike said round nose pliers for tiny parts or a form for the bigger ones. I have had good results with a drill bit and the cutting mat. Just roll the bit over the part whilst on the mat while pressing down. The hard drill against the softer mat makes the PE curl.
Ships rails I just start at one end and glue one post at a time, following the curve.Comment
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I have a pair of small jewellery pliers bought from Hobbycraft that is useful for bending wire, but for sheet metal a parallel rod of suitable size and a mouse mat can work.
On the bench: Airfix 1/48 Sea King HC4, Revell 1/24 Trabant.
Coming soon: Airfix 1/72 Phantom FGR2.
Just finished: Airfix 1/48 Stuka & Airfix 1/72 Sea King HC4.Comment
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Literally depends on the curve you want Peter. I would think an etch bending tool would struggle to cover everything you need. You are better off using an appropriate household item as a former. For simple bends and curves I’ve used everything from coffee jars to paintbrush handles as formers. If the shape is more complex, I’ve made templates from sixty thou plastic sheet. For complete cylinders, like locomotive boilers, I have a modellers rolling mill I bought about thirty years ago. Not cheap, and I think I’ve used it twice……certainly not a cost effective purchase. As to annealing the metal, some swear by it and some swear at it. I don’t anneal because I think you get a crisper finish without it.Comment
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I agree with Tim: a cheap solution is to press anything into service for another purpose. Drill bit shanks, even guide rollers that I kept when stripping down a computer's DVD drive.
I have the roller set that Paul mentions above; but I haven't used them yet :tears-of-joy:Comment
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Also remember that the brass will spring back a bit after you bend it, so find a former that’s a little smaller than the curve you actually need.Comment
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I agree with the others use things you find around the house they are far cheaper.Comment
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