Has anyone on here tried this: 

Trumpeter 09931 - Master Tools Photo Etched parts Bender(L)  [TP09931] I see adds for a new one at $36.20.

No, Jeff and Ausfwerks were the only option

Ausfwerks was the sole source for the Fender Bender

The manufacturer, Ausfwerks, says they have suspended production.Is anyone aware of another commercial source for the FenderBender?

I've just recently ventured into the photo-etched world and my first project was the Tamiya kit for the German tank: Ausf. N with the Aber PE set. I've been frustrated to say the least bending some of the parts within this kit. I've looked at tons of benders and have decided on the Fender Bender by Ausfwerks. To my great dismay they are out of production. If anyone would like to part with theirs for whatever reason it would be greatly appreciated. I don't think I'll feel complete without one. Thanks for listening.

Medric wrote:

I have come home. (said haltingly and with misty eyes) I LOVE tools more than I do my wife. I had a Chouinard climbing equipment catalog from the late seventies that said in the ice tools section ... "put just about any tool in a mans hand and watch a radiant glow permeate his face."

You Sir! Are a man of my own heart! "I LOVE tools more than I do my wife."  I too love tools that Much! And, Being Single again for the 6th Time!... I can, and do, buy pretty much what I want!   But!.... Even though, this is a Super Cool Tool, that I'd normally jump onto in a Heart Beat!...I  build 1:35th scale, Military Armor & Vehicle Recovery Vehicle's, Plus, 1:24th Big Rig Trucks/Tractors..... I'm really thinking: That little $28.00 Photo-Etch Bending Tool I already have, is going to handle anything I need.... And, I don't worry about the razor cutting me, as the first thing I did was run the sharp part of the blade over the file until it was dull & wouldnt cut me when I drew it across my left wrist at the artery area...  Ha,ha...... 

"Put just about any tool in a mans hand and watch a radiant glow permeate his face."  Thank You for this Post you wrote! You Sir!... Said it so Eloquently!.....Ha,ha....."RC"

I believe that at the moment, the FenderBender and Bendicator are only available from www.ausfwerks.com.  Click into the "Ausfshop", then click "Ausfwerks Design", to be taken here:

http://ausfwerks.com//store/ausfdesign/main.html

You will see two prices for everything.  The burnt orange color price is the purchase price off the website ($82.50 for the FenderBender, $24 for the Bendicator), the price in parentheses I discovered is the suggested retail price for whenever they decide to distribute to other retailers.  I know they don't make that very clear, but that is the reason for the two prices. 

The website also has some very cool articles, as well as lots of other cool stuff for sale.  I have both tools, as well as the "Block".  I don't think I'll ever cut photoetch on a glass surface again. \

Enjoy!

All this info is super! How about a place to buy it on-line from? Anyone? Cost too? how much to buy the fender bender? I want one too!

                                         Thanks in advance "RC"

I've actually been using the FenderBender (carefully) to fold the tiny components of the Aber 1/35 Tiger I clamps, and it has made the job remarkably easy.  I also have a Hold 'N Fold Bug, the purchase of which was inspired by the cool hinge assembly instructions for the clamps posted by DSOTM some time ago...I use it to hold the little horseshoe-shaped component while I attach the other parts to it with the world's tiniest tweezers. 

With a little care, one can easily use the FenderBender to fold even the tiniest of parts easily, and not risk slicing your darn finger off with a razor blade.  The device does the work for you.

SteveM wrote:

That tool has been on my list for a while, as well as their Bendicator. That one even more so. Have you seen that, Yann?

Yes I did.  I'm sure it works pretty well.  But I do not buy a lot of aftermarket and I'm not ready to spent that much on a tool to bend PE parts.  Whenever I jump on the darkside of aftermarket stuff, I'll buy one or build one myself.

I love their stuff.  I bought the Fenderbender recently and used it to make my PE fenders for Dragon's M4A3E8.  It made making those long bends really easy!  As for the Bendicator and the Block, I picked those up at AMPS.  I gave away my Grab handlers.