Bending tool.

[mkane]

   Is there a tool I can purchase for making nice smooth bends on resistor / capacitor leads? thx

[mcandmar]

I use these, simple but effective.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/1-set-Axial-Diode-Resistor-Capacitor-PCB-Soldering-Mount-Leg-Bending-Bender-Tool-/271835647496?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f4aaace08

[Chris65]

Same here, simple & useful.

[Grainger49]

I use a pair of needle nose pliers.  If you are bending diode leads that span a number of terminals this works perfectly.

[Deluk]

I confess I laughed out loud when the eBay page opened up. Based on how I think they might work, I'm not very sure, they might be useful if you have a batch of 50 boards you've got to populate.
+1 for needle nose pliers. Good for ALL of your bending, wire ends and components. Buy good quality! Needle, flat and pointed nose pliers and a couple pairs of cutters and you're good to go.

[mcandmar]

They really come into there own populating PCB's, once you figure out the hole spacing you can bend each components leads to exactly the correct width time after time.  Also ensures the resistor body is exactly in the middle, and part numbers all face the same way, very important for those of us afflicted with OCD

[EarWorm]

The plastic ones on eBay are cool.

Then there is this.
http://www.techni-tool.com/612PA6016

https://www.paceworldwide.com/sites/default/files/5050-0055%20ConForm%20Tool%20Rev%20C.pdf

[Strikkflypilot]

Now that PACE Conform tool is brilliant! 
I've used Seeger Ring Pliers for the Mainline.
Also gives a great result without denting the leads.

[Doc B.]

I hate to burst bubbles, but sharp 90 degree bends aren't necessarily the best thing for leads. The leads tend to be somewhat crystalline in structure and thus sharp bends can create broken crystals that will increase resistivity in tiny amounts. I would have thought nothing of this before I heard long crystal copper wire vs more mundane copper wire many years ago. There are certainly some places where it can't be avoided, but I wouldn't go out of my way to make sharp bends where they don't need to be.

If you guys want to build for looks, it's really cool. I love to see our stuff built to obsessive proportions. Just remember that sometimes that less than sharp bend or less than orthogonal wire routing has been done for a reason.

[Strikkflypilot]

Good point.
Thats what I like with Seeger ring pliers.
The bend looks more like an angle in a pipe.

[braubeat]

go to a jewelry supply store. they make pliers specifically to bend wire into a perfect circle, or half circle. they are tapered to make any size circle you want. much better than needle nose as they avoid any right angle bends. 

michael

[braubeat]

here is one

http://www.amazon.com/Beadsmith-Jewelry-Round-Pliers-PL513/dp/B000SNBC74

michael

[mkane]

^^^^^^^just what I'm looking for. A tool for making swoopy bend's, thank's. MKane

[Strikkflypilot]

Or these. Certainly makes swoopy:)

http://www.herramientasmannesmann.com/en/categoria/toolkits/retaining-ring-pliers-set-seeger/

[Grainger49]

I'd say, go with whatever you think will work for you.  I'm sure Dan is right about straight bends but my system sounds stunning and it has all 90 degree bends.