I want to make my own PE tool (something like the 4" hold and fold). I've got a basic idea on how it should work and look, but I need help:
What do I need in something like this? What measurements so I need, and what kind of grooves?

by grooves do you mean "fingers" If so.. it's really going to depend on the PE you plan on bending.

Yeah, i meant fingers (I guess...)
I want to make it so I can work with AFV's PE sets, in 1:35 scale

Check out this feature - it may help
Folder Board

thanks Scott, it's not what i had in mind, but it gave me ideas for things I could add. But I want to build something different for PE use, I'm thinking on edges or grooves (or fingers) that I could twist PE on them to make the right angles, or help with making boxes or all the rest little PE parts that are tricky and require some changes made to them. Problem is, I have no measurements and not having dealt with such a tool ever, I find I'm having difficulties in finding exactly what I need.

I've machined several out of aluminum. the depth of the finger will dictate the min width of it as well, as deper and narower it is, the more prone to bending it will be.

I have the luxury of having a mill & lathe in my shop.

Yeah, but I don't though I don't expect difficulties: I'm going to carve the fingers out of wood (or another piece of plastic cutting board) so I think I'm good here

Wood may not provide the resiliency you need. I used a machete and a steel ruler with notches cut into it with a Dremel for the longest time (see any difficulty there?) until I finally broke downand purchased an Etch Mate.

FWIW I agree with 18B.

I simply use flat pliers and a steel rule. I'll be interested to see what you eventually turn out - and how it holds up against PE

hmm, is PE that resilient?

Any way, I got an idea in mind, and I'll use 2 cutting board. hoping to upload some sketches today.
I thought I'd give away the idea of making the fingers (cause I have no idea what they're for and what are the measurements I need, but I got a great idea about bending PE, and cutting it.

Wood will be kinda soft... the corners will round over in time where you're bending the PE

oh, I see.
Well, you're quite right. Anyway, I'm using 2 cutting boards instead, and I got a nice idea how to make an angle-bending tool

Please post pics.... we're all here to give assistace!!!

don't worry, I will as soon as I buy all the stuff I need

you may try some plexi glass. I thought of using it until I got some scrap aluminum from our airframe shop and used the dremil at the house. I made my own because everytime I tried to order one, it was never in stock. The importaint thing is to ensure straight edges.

Dan

So what kinds of fingers did you make? I have absolutely no idea on these, so any help is welcomed

is a good idea for one of the Hold & Folds..... I don't know how narrow.. but using th cutting boards you might want to not make the fingers as deep.

Thanks, I'll see what i can make out of it

I've looked into buying a hold and fold or etchmate. They are reasonably priced when on sale($25-$30) but the shipping quoted to Canada is more than the tool! My current solution is a 1/4" steel plate and a piece of 1/4" clear acrylic held together with a bulldog clip. Bend with a slightly dull single sided razor blade. Not the best solution but virtually free.

when i was looking through boxes in my uncles old garage/ workshop, (he was a jeweller), i found a diddy little anvil for ring making. it's only about 5 cm long and has some really useful clean 90 degree edges as well as other angles and a round side that will be good for small curves. it's hardly a PE tool and completely irrelivant to what you are making but it's something different at least