Etch Buddy Photo Etch Bending Fixture Review

As an arts and crafts enthusiast, finding the perfect tool to make the etching process easier is always a win. As a result of using this bending fixture, I found that it was easy to work with and helped to create clean, precise bends in my metal. The compact size of the fixture also makes it easy to store and carry around. However, the price may be a bit steep for some users on a tight budget.

Poor. This might work for a fairly simple bend, but anything that requires precision would be a frustrating exercise. A machined texture runs along the surface of the base that captures the razor and detail, making it harder to position than it should be. It has a V-shaped groove that runs the width of the tool just in front of your fingers, which should help steady the razor when you bend it. Good idea, but doesn't really help. Ultimately, this makes sharp turns more difficult and instead…

What were you thinking when you designed this thing with a slit cut across the width of the tool? When you bend a photo-etched piece with it, the razor blade goes into the slot (which is rounded) and eventually achieves the same radius at the sharp bend that this thing is said to be able to make. A radiused bend is NOT a sharp bend! Also, forget it if you have tiny parts, like handlebars on airplane dashboards. This cutout in it chokes on small parts, making use with tiny parts extremely…