Bending IC legs

[Ice-9]

Use SMD chip, no need to bend em any more.

+1 on the bend those legs on the bench method. cheaper than a £120  tool. 

[pinkjimiphoton]

heck, i can barely see to solder the pins on a full size chip.

[greaser_au]

For the hobbyist who has everything:

http://www.hosotec.com/new_page_3.htm

I've used a bit of gear VERY similar to that... 

david

[Ice-9]

Another method I use is to fit one side of the pins in the holes and run the back of my thumb nail along the pins while using my other hand to apply a little pressure to the top of the IC, it just drops in easy that way.