PE: I would rather walk across flaming Legos covered in ants

[outerlimtz]

I like photo etch to a point. But how do those of you who do it with the small pieces, actually do it? I spent 30 minutes trying to put this clamp together and said nada. Don't need it. Tried using blue tac to hold the base piece so I could attach the other two pieces. Even using a lighted headlamp with 4.5x magnification, ain't happening.

Was going to build two of these for equipment on my StuG, but I'll pass for now.

[keavdog]

I'm with you. There are some things I really want to do so I bought tools and have desire but my experience has been a bit frustrating. Ironically before PE I had done stuff with brass sheet.

[Tobi]

I use two fine tipped tweezers on such occasions. The blue tack won't work and also double sided tape can only hold to a certain extend because of the small surfaces. When it comes to soldering at that size both would be in the way, anyway.

Tweezers with clamping function can help enormously.

[eaglecash867]

I have a set of smooth-jaw hemostats I bought from a guy on Etsy who makes them. They hold the smallest PE securely so you can file the little attachment nubs smooth, as well as being able to fold them. With the smooth jaws, they won't damage the PE part. My biggest issue with PE is that I never seem to be able to figure out which direction to fold things sometimes, and there are only so many times you can bend a thin, soft piece of metal back and forth.  More magnification is always helpful too.  4X magnification is pretty much my baseline these days, and I go up from there with detail work.   I have sets of relatively cheap magnifying reader glasses, along with clip-on magnifiers so I can jump up in magnification just by flipping that down.  I definitely don't have the steadiest hands in the world, but the higher magnification seems to be working to calm that down.

[Tojo72]

Yeah,I can't deal with that stuff,and I can't believe the ones that are able.I can do screens and bigger bits but that's it.

[Tobi]

 Tools of the trade
 1/35 M1 Abrams turret box handle
 1/35 T34 tool box
 Functionally


I don't know if I could pull off this type of stuff still, but probably.

Had to use magnifiers back then already and concerning the steady hands: don't try somehow free floating. My hands and arms up to the elbows are resting on the table when I do something like that.

[TOWGunner]

You really can't do PE properly unless you have these -

Small PE bending tool. The big ones are ungainly and you'll get much more use out of the small one.



DSPIAE micro PE bending pliers. These make razor like bends in even the smallest parts while holding the part steady.




Xuron flat jaw needle nose miniature pliers. Will hold the smallest parts secure while you file off the burr. Also great for making instant, longer straight folds.
Also, 2 pair of high quality needle nose tweezers that won't cause tweezer launch.
I also use +4 - +6 reader glasses for PE work. Lightweight and work great.

[Medicman71]