Just some thoughts....I am a professional Stone Setter so I spend most of my time under the microscope setting stones...but I do have one of these and it works great. It is important to remember with any manipulation the metal must be, without exception, properly annealed. I do notice the extra play in the handle like yours has but I do not find this an issue when using the device. When the metal is properly annealed very very little force needs to be applied in order to properly bend the material. I have never made rings out of spoon handles or coins so maybe that world is different. Just some thoughts :)

As this is still just a hobby, I couldn't spring for a Pepe or Flatwearable, and bought the best reviewed Amazon cheapie I could find. I had the same insufficient torque issue that you describe and it was more problematic for me because I am working with silverplate not sterling. As I anticipated, the handle broke within a few weeks (it's a common complaint). However, it ended up being a blessing in disguise. We drilled the hole out deeper and wider and added a new, wider and longer handle (we threaded the hole so it screwed in). Voilà! Now it's turbo-charged and I have more torque than the rest of the bender can handle. So, if you can't shell out $300-400 for good equipment, you can play Dr. Frankenstein to limp along.

I use a PePe tools bender, I find if you bend the ends first then bend the center last and it will close up nicely, for heavier spoons and thicker metals I use a Flatwearable Artisan bending kit that attaches to a 1 ton arbor press

Another trick is to use 1 size larger outer piece. The same size inner and outer leaves no gap/relief space (size of material being bent) I know - I have one so do this to minimize/eliminate marks on metals when bending

So I purchased this one for $30 the user had same issue. So I did some modifications and it works perfectly fine now. I lined all the ring press Adapters with leather and that kept it from marking my rings. I also threaded a piece of all thread as the handle made it longer and taped it for comfort. I the cut a couple wedges to slip between where the handle meets the press and gives me less movement before it actually starts to press. Hope that makes sense.

That handle was dancing the wobble blue that you mention it 🕺🏽 😲

This is so interesting. You learn something new if you look for it.Yeh, does t look secure at…beautiful ring

omg I wish I would have seen this video before I orderd and received one exactly like it. I'm not a seasoned ring maker like you but I had some people that are come check it out and they say the same thing, worthless. Thanks for the video.

Mounting it to workbench will help A Lot!

interesting TOOL JT. Pepe makes great tools! THANK YOU FOR SHARING Sir.

Try bending each end of your rings first and the do center ,on yours you was bending from one end to the other

thanks for your info,so glad i did some looking around before i bought a cheap one,looking forward to getting my tool

Very informative. I new to the craft and excited to learn from your videos

In order not to leave marks just glue a piece of leather on the metal! Good luck.

I got a ring bender and it’s working pretty good. I just don’t like that the nylon dies are getting out of shape.

You should have secured the bender to a table or vise. If it ain’t secured, u can’t get the tool to work properly. Also you realize that pepetools is 3-4 times the cost of most economy benders. Let’s compare apples to apples sir. Good luck. I use a similar economy version and once secured it, it works like a charm.

I agree that the Pepe looks like a much nicer unit

50 percent of your issues is that your tool isn’t anchored. Good luck 👍

Interesting. Thanks for the information and advice.

Appreciate your review.

I have a durston. Works well

You meant to bend the ends first and then the middle last. More uniform and easier to achieve that nice curve. 👍

Thanks for keeping it real

JT Brother would it help to anneal the spoon handle? Soften it a bit?

Thanks for sharing 😎

I have heard that pepe tools is the way to go if you are serious about making rings..

I wish they would send me something new because it's not really been denying asleep in Mark's you're exactly one hundred percent right but you can't get your money back and lets it cost you more to send it back so they get you ever way they can and if you do send it back it cost you more money than what it's worth

Thank you.. Peace✌️

Could this bender be substituted with a ring bending pliers? I just started doing research today, and the price points between pliers and these benders are quite substantial. If I can save some money that would be great

Mine didn't work too good either

Tell me is the base is metal or not

Thanks!!!!🐼✌🏿

Visto che hai fatto tanta beneficenza perchè guadagni milioni posso lasciarti un mio iban ?

I'm leaning towards Pepe's

looks like you're not using this big guy muscles pull it ffs lol