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Review: PEPE Superior Ring Bending Tool

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Category: Tool Review

I am a demanding user who values quality and well-made items that are backed with good customer service. I make my own tools so I have a different perspective than the typical consumer. Designs are called out for what they are whether good, bad, or indifferent. Trademarks and copyrights are the intellectual property of their respective owners and used for reference and/or informational purposes.

From PEPE Tools comes the Superior Ring Bending Tool model 301.00A. PEPE stands for Precision Engineered Professional Equipment. Their tools generally work well but not so "superior" for this one. And maybe not for professional use, either. Or precision. It is engineered equipment, however.

The first thing I noticed was the sub-par finish work. All of the dies had sharp, unfinished edges, pits, and gouges. The overall slop was excessive. The cam interface and the piece that held the slotted forming die were machined crooked.

I called the company and the CSR sent me a call tag. He would personally cherry-pick the replacement which turned out to be minimally better but was definitely not "inspected."

The delrin inserts had perfectly machined surfaces, I'll give them credit. Unfortunately, most had a thinner profile than their equivalent metal brethren. Some pieces were too thin to work with the smaller dies. Maybe it's not designed that way, if so a tremendous oversight.

After bending approximately 15 rings, I needed pliers to remove the handle. It is way too spindly considering it would have cost virtually nothing to improve this area.

The cam mechanism is mediocre because it uses an unwise friction interface. Ball bearings or bushings would have worked better. This is a huge area of concern if the handle doesn't break first. It qualifies as a prototype in this aspect!

The base has a decent appearance and finish. However, it's not precise. The slop actually distorts many rings because the dies cant and tilt. I asked the company about this and they said it had to be that way. See the update to show that wasn't true.

They tout it as a way to make spoon or utensil rings. Unfortunately, the die inserts are only tall enough to accommodate the handles, and only if the handles are not too wide or long. The bowl or tine section cannot be easily bent using this machine. Larger inserts would have been pennies more.

These are the modifications thus far. Anyone serious enough to buy a production machine like this shouldn't have to make these adjustments:

Add shims to metal die inserts
File the edges of every metal die and insert
Use pliers to remove the handle
I finally machined 15 tight-fitting stainless steel inserts myself

And here's what I can't fix:

Delrin inserts are too thin and sloppy (metal ones are, too)
Handle is weak
Cam mechanism is poorly designed
Finish work in general

It does an almost-satisfactory job of pre-forming rings though they will require old-school touches. Clearly the company has the means to make this much better.

FINAL RATINGS (0=low/bad/none to 10=high/good/a lot, YES/NO, N/A, or text; hover over topic for specific information)

Item being reviewed: Pepe Superior Ring Bender ▼ What's this all about anyway?
Manufacturer: PEPE Tools ▼ Who is responsible for this gem or monstrosity
Retail price: $259 ▼ Supplied by the manufacturer, discounts are likely to be found with some searching.
Appearance: 7 ▼ Simply, how does it look. It is somewhat subjective but clean lines, professional appearance, etc. It looks slick and its design is heavily copied by other manufacturers
Packaging: 7 ▼ Is it thrown into a box or packed like a new smartphone. This has a nice appearance and is well-packaged.
Initial set-up time: minimal ▼ After removing contents from box, how long before the first use. Expect to spend about 10 minutes before it can be used.
"Plug and play": ready to go Is everything included or do you need to purchase additional equipment, supplies, or parts.
Additional costs or equipment: perhaps ▼ Not included with the purchase, what else will lighten your wallet. This requires a vise or something similar to hold it, maybe a mounting plate of some sort.
Set-up time for each use: minimal ▼ From being stored properly and completely, is it grab-and-go or much more involved. This takes about five minutes.
Storage provisions: 8 ▼ Factory provisions to store equipment when not in use. The cardboard box will work for a while. There is a machined plate for holding all the parts minus the delrin inserts.
Storage time: minimal ▼ Time it takes to store it safely and completely, cleaned and lubed, liquids drained, and ready to go. This takes under five minutes.
Ongoing costs: some ▼ Replacement parts from wear-and-tear, expendables, supplies, etc. I expect to replace some parts as they are not made well enough. The nylon inserts will wear out first.
Maintenance: minimal ▼ What is expected to keep the machine working properly: periodic maintenance, lubing, etc. Keep it oiled and clean with a little more attention to the moving parts.
Usability: 6 ▼ Is it a pain in the ass or complicated to use. They mention making spoon rings with it. Not so good at spoon rings unless it is only the handle and it is narrow. It is unsuitable for the bowl or tine section which could have been easily accommodated by making longer inserts and forming dies.
Functionality: 6 ▼ How well does it do its job. It works OK for most things but some drawbacks were the thinness of the delrin inserts - why they are thinner than the metal ones makes no sense. Their thickness isn't consistent among the grouping either.
Robustness: 4 ▼ Durability, how well-constructed or flimsy it is
Value: 6 ▼ Based on the price-vs-performance-vs-function, is it worth it
Adjustability: none ▼ Can it be easily modified to accommodate different situations
Meeting expectations: 4 ▼ Does it work as well as others say or the manufacturer claims. I was hoping for more given its cost. After using it for hundreds of rings, I raised it from a 3 to a 4.
Innovation: 4 ▼ The ingenuity of the design or concept
Results: 6 ▼ This may or may not replace a manual method or previous way of doing something. In any case, what is the quality of the finished product or process. Anything below 6 - realistically, an 8 - is not jewelry quality.
Timeliness: 7 ▼ How do the results compare to the amount of time it took. If it replaces a manual method, what are the differences.
Skill level: virtually none ▼ What mechanical aptitude or skills does one need to set it up and use it. This item requires almost no skill.
Documentation: 7 ▼ Does it have detailed instructions, whether written (which it should no matter what) or on-line
Customer service: 4 ▼ How quickly they respond, can you speak with someone on the phone, are their answers satisfactory. They have ample contact information. They were mostly helpful but holding them to their word was where they failed.
Comparative: 4 ▼ If other machines or tools are available within the general price range that do the same thing, how does this compare. Spend less money on a generic version. There should be no difference.
Recommendation: Meh ▼ My personal assessment of the device - basically, would I buy it again knowing what I learned about it. It works but there are better tools that do the same thing.

Final thoughts: Somewhat disappointing. The hype exceeded the performance. What I'm learning about this company's tools is that as long as there are no moving parts, they usually work fine. This is definitely not a professional-caliber machine. No way, no sir, no how. It is hobbyist level at best. For me, it walks a fine line between the toolbox and scrap pile. Let me clarify: With all the modifications it has become marginally usable.

Update: The supposed nickel-plated posts rusted fast! Stainless steel posts, for a few dollars more, would have solved that problem. Therefore, I made a taller stainless steel set from 10mm to 24mm in 1mm increments (see last picture). They are much tighter fitting.

Posted by M: December 17, 2019

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