Stupid question from someone who has used PE for some time now...

Which way are you supposed to bend photo etch parts when there is a scribed line to indicate where a part is to be bent? Do you bend it 'toward' the scribed line (that is, where the scribed line is 'inside the bend' or should the scribed line be on the 'outside' of the bend (i.e., where you can see the scribed line on the outside of the bend).

The groove is the inside of the fold bud.

Thank you

Hi

Darren is right. But you should look carefully on the instruction sheet. There is still a chance the designer will make the groove is on the outside, especially if you have to fold more than 2 times on the P.E.

To save cost, and keep the thickness, one side of the P.E will not attack by acids. In this case, to fold a Z, the upper groove is inside, but the lower groove is outside.

T

As a general rule the fold line is on the inside, but as mentioned some manufacturers put all the lines on one side and it can happen a couple of folds have it on the outside. Keep an eye out for etched features that need to be on a certain side like threadplates, grooves, locks, and plan your folding. Some PE sets do not tolerate refolding and will break if you try to fold it the other way (guess how i know that).

Ummmmm, I've encountered that little characteristic, too....

That's a pretty common thing with brass, bending hardens the metal making it brittle.
If you need to rebend a piece annealing it might help, but it's still risky with thin sheet pieces.

It is kind of like carpentry. 'Measure twice, cut once'.

In this case, check the instructions to what it should look like, then check again against what the kit part you are replacing looks like, then fold.