See youtube videos and read articles where some modelers say they never use a special PE bending tool. Just some flat smooth grip pliers and a metal ruler. That's what I've been using as well. Do most of you use a PE bending tool, or feel that its unnecessary?

I do both. I even just use tweezers sometimes. It depends on what I'm doing. I paid lees than $40 US for my PE tool and think it was money well spent.
When I'm doing a lot of PE part like brackets or handles it's nice to be able to load them all in at once and be done. I find the tools is easier to use as well for larger or more complex parts.

In the end it just comes done to what you like and what you want to do.

I use my bending tool, for longer bends. It is also great for keeping indi tracks lined up. The rest of the time, I use tweezers.

I have both a small 2 inch tool "Bug" and a 5 inch one and also just use tweezers. For longer pieces the tool will ensure no warping occurs and you get an even bend. Even the smaller one is good just to hold the etch while you do the final bends.

I've wondered this myself. I do a lot of brass work, both PE and sheet brass. I often scratch build in brass, and I've never used a commercial bender. I use several common items for bending. I have a two types of mini-pliers with smooth jaws-- one has long 3 inch jaws, and is slightly tapered, the other is a shorter 1" square jawed set. I use a reinforced razor blade and my #2 or #11 X-acto chisel blade for tiny parts. Finally, I have a selection of steel rulers, from 6-14 inches for really long bends. I've looked at commercial benders, but they all appear to be made for small bends and the prices seem outrageous. Then you have to fiddle with a knob or two to open the jaws, and clamp the part. The Small shop appears to have the best design though, however, I still don't think I need one. Some might say by the time I purchased all the other tools, I could have purchased a bender-- but, I use the other tools for other purposes too, whereas you can only use the bender for one purpose.
VR, Russ

I use them. In fact I have three of them (different models). I am PE bending challenged...

Come to think of it I am plastic challenged. I need to buy kits instead of building them from scratch from a block of plastic or sheets of plastic

I guess to light my cigars I could go back to rubbing two sticks together instead of using a lighter

Cheers

I have been considering getting one. Pliers, steel rulers, knife blades et.c work just fine for small parts but there are some cases with long bends where I mutter and grumble that I should have gotten myself one of those benders. Two long, straight, non flexible metal surfaces with clean and "sharp" edges (not rounded off) that can be clamped together .....

/ Robin

Interesting thread as I have been considering buying a PE bending tool myself. I rarely purchase AM PE, but I do generally use what comes with a kit. Most times I have little difficulty using tweezers, metal ruler, single edge razor blade and the like for most bending. There are times when I wish I had a dedicated tool, especially for longer bends but those occasions are rare. But I find myself wondering if I would use more PE if I had a tool.