Here in the US, hardware stores have electric charcoal starters. It's a heating element that's not quite the right shape and not controlable. Both of these problems are fixable. The result is cheap-ish. And seemingly effective. I learned this concepts used here from somewhere on the internet. Don't believe me too much, as I'm new and a friend and I are working on our first ukuleles.
2 3/8” aluminum pipe from local metal shop, $10 it so? --I don't remember. We initially used it with a propane torch, clamped in a wood-jawed vice. I wanted to go electric so I'd be able to work inside my apartment.
Electric charcoal starter, $20. I put a hinge on two scrap 2x4s, filed a catch-groove in each, then plugged in the starter until it was hot and flexible and squeezed it in the "press" until it fit in the pipe.
Dimmer switch. $10. Plus 3 wire nuts and a switch box, $3. I cut the (unplugged) cord, wired in the dimmer, and tucked it all in the box.
2 bolts, 4 nuts, two lock washers. I got the fancy stainless steel ones thinking they'd conduct less heat, but maybe it doesn't matter? <$10. Drilled two holes and bolted it up.
Aluminum scrap to plug one end. 2 wood scraps with relief notches for two broccoli rubber bands.
And a vice. Or a series of clamps, levers, pulleys, spindles to hold it firmly in place. I might prefer to have it vertical next time I bend.
I spent a small amount of time dialing the temperature on the dimmer by judging the way water steamed off. Made a mark there and started bending. So far I've bent wood binding.
Precisely $53-ish, give or take. Heats up in less than 15 minutes. This diameter works for the baritones we're building, but it looks like the heating element could be squeezed to fit a smaller pipe. Or it could be put an ovalized pipe for a tighter radius. It's quiet and I can stand at the end of the pipe without burning my nether bits, which is an advantage over how I was using the pipe heated by a torch. And the wind doesn't blow it out.