Advice on conduit bending

[evercl92]

I'm going to upgrade the electrical in my finished garage from the single outlet that is there now (which conveniently is tied into the circuit on the wall it shares with the interior of the house). I plan on putting in 5-8 outlets, likely split across two separate breakers.
The plan is to run the wiring from the panel in the basement, up the interior of the wall in the garage, exiting the wall about two feet from the ceiling (10ft). From that, run EMT horizontally, then do vertical 'drops' to where the outlets will be. I have a bump-out along one wall and a bump-down along the ceiling that I need to work around.

I'm familiar with running electrical, just not with the actual bending of conduit. I got a bender / pole setup, but looking for where to start on how to make the EMT do what I want it to.

 

[Need more space]

I just did this in my shop, never done it before. I watched a few YouTube videos and it turned out great. Took me longer then a pro, but sure went smooth.

 

[Need more space]

 

[Need more space]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?t=1s&v=GBpSOWkEBVk

Those where the two that gave me the needed info to run mine

 

[evercl92]

Awesome. I browsed around youtube university, apparently I didn't come across the ones that spoke to me.

 

[acer66]

 

[matt_i]

PreYouTube: If you buy a new EMT bender like an Ideal or Greenlee, they should come with a little pamphlet (book) that details bending all of the typical offsets, saddles, etc, using the marks on the bender. 90s are not too hard What separates the men from the boys is whether you can dig up the book in a few minutes' notice

 

[Crazyjake8493]

Bending EMT isn't difficult, just takes a little practice and a lot of math. Luckily, it's cheap to practice with.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The ultimate conduit bending manual>>>>

http://www.stateelectriccorp.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Benfield-Conduit-Bending-Manual.pdf

 

[finn]

I’v Had my bending tools for about forty years, and use them maybe every five years , just enough to be semi competent.

Always have trouble making neat, consistent box offsets, so, for the last project I bought the die cast offset fittings.
Not as nice as a well bent tube, but functional and easy.

 

[evercl92]

I’v Had my bending tools for about forty years, and use them maybe every five years , just enough to be semi competent.

Always have trouble making neat, consistent box offsets, so, for the last project I bought the die cast offset fittings.
Not as nice as a well bent tube, but functional and easy.

Yeh, I bought those - figuring the lack of frustration with the extra bends will justify the overall minimal cost.

 

[Norcal]

I’v Had my bending tools for about forty years, and use them maybe every five years , just enough to be semi competent.

Always have trouble making neat, consistent box offsets, so, for the last project I bought the die cast offset fittings.
Not as nice as a well bent tube, but functional and easy.

Yuck.

 

[finn]

NorCal must be an electrician

 

[bigb56]

When learning box offsets attach a box to the end first and air bend it, box facing up for first bend and down for second. This will help avoid dog legs. Also easy does it, as soon as you feel the conduit bend slightly flip it over and do your second bend. Hold it all against the wall to check before mounting.

To check for square on 90s use a window/doorjamb, mortar joints or concrete expansion joints.

I agree about the die cast offsets, they scream DIY or Handyman. A professional looking installation will be something you will be proud of.

 

[OneOfEm]

Buy a few more pieces of conduit than you'll need. They'll become test pieces (even if they don't start out that way).

 

[Crazyjake8493]

NorCal must be an electrician

That or he knows that box offset bends are a piece of cake and the offset fittings look like ****.

 

[sberry]

The box offset isnt hard but i got the tool for 1/2. I manage with a hickey and 3/4.

 

[Falcon67]

I can't bend pipe for ****. Brake lines either.

 

[evercl92]

Buy a few more pieces of conduit than you'll need. They'll become test pieces (even if they don't start out that way).

As cheap as it is, I got two extra 10ft sections for just that purpose.

 

[evercl92]

That or he knows that box offset bends are a piece of cake and the offset fittings look like ****.

I'll give it a shot. Of course I want it to look nice, but they'll be a cut-off on how much time I'll be devoting to that part of it.

 

[Norcal]

That or he knows that box offset bends are a piece of cake and the offset fittings look like ****.

I was offered a large box of offsets & turned them down. b

 

[bigb56]

I was offered a large box of offsets & turned them down. b

We used to use them to mount a box under a surface mounted 3r panel till the bubble covers came along and needed more room to open.

 

[alfredeneuman]

I'm pretty sure Norcal was talking about these:

and you're thinking of these:

 

[dscheidt]

Yeh, I bought those - figuring the lack of frustration with the extra bends will justify the overall minimal cost.

Every time anyone -- including you -- looks at them, they'll think "whoever installed this pipe was a lazy dog". It's worse than seeing minerallac straps on 1/2 conduit. Learn to bend offsets. Not hard, makes the job look better, and they're easier to pull wire through.

 

[rjn2649]

I am a "self taught" pipe bender, the hardest thing was those offsets, all I can say is practice... practice... practice, well worth learning. I liked the little booklets that came with the benders. The other thing I want to add is, IMO if your pipe is exposed. it's more important that it LOOKS straight than to be straight. That means parallel to walls and windows sometimes it's a compromise, that can drive you a little nuts...at least it does me.

 

[rburke65]

Ya.....just practice the off sets. I was never good at them, but at least try. Don't know why I was never good at it.....happy to hear I'm not the only one.

 

[Norcal]

You can always buy a Greenlee "Little Kicker" for offsets, only problem is that they are **** your pants expensive.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/offset-bender

 

[ronzmtrwrx]

Me and a buddy are wiring my new shop. I’m pretty happy with how it’s going. The offsets are the hardest for us being novice pipe benders, but we’re getting there.

 

[ronzmtrwrx]

Hmm. Don’t know why those loaded sideways.

 

[PoorOwner]

offsets are actually not too hard even when starting out, the only problem is that I can't put an offset close to another bend, it just won't fit into the bender no matter you make the offset or bend first.

I guess that's where the offset bender tool comes in handy.

It gets more difficult when your run change planes, or you need the pipe to fit back to back exactly which is what pros would need to be good at.

 

[alfredeneuman]

You can always buy a Greenlee "Little Kicker" for offsets, only problem is that they are **** your pants expensive.

They also bend the conduit a little more than is needed for a standard box, and there is no way to bend less than the bender's full cycle .

You'll end up either with the conduit rolled to one side or another, or the box doesn't fit flush with the wall.

 

[Brian_WK]

I can bend copper like non other but I still manage to screw up at least a half dozen bends in conduit. the back to back U bends are the worst. At least conduit is cheap!

Brian

 

[evercl92]

Me and a buddy are wiring my new shop. I’m pretty happy with how it’s going. The offsets are the hardest for us being novice pipe benders, but we’re getting there.

Looks nice. I won't be doing nearly that much for mine.

 

[bigb56]

offsets are actually not too hard even when starting out, the only problem is that I can't put an offset close to another bend, it just won't fit into the bender no matter you make the offset or bend first.

I guess that's where the offset bender tool comes in handy.

It gets more difficult when your run change planes, or you need the pipe to fit back to back exactly which is what pros would need to be good at.

Instead of trying to put an offset at the end of a 90, just bend your 90 then kick the end out just before the 90 out enough to fit the box-no offset needed. In other words your 90 will come away from the wall just enough to fit the box, and you will strap it right near the end of where it is in contact with the wall.

 

[exranger06]

I couldn't seem to get the hang on bending offsets either. Every one took me a few tries and I wasting too much time and material, so I eventually said "screw it" and bought a box of offset fittings. What a huge time saver! I really don't care what anyone thinks when they see them, and I think they look just fine. It's surface mounted conduit in a garage with unfinished walls. It's not exactly the prettiest room of the house anyway.

 

[rjn2649]

.... It's worse than seeing minerallac straps on 1/2 conduit....

OK, I'll bite...whats wrong with straps? Or do you mean the wrong type of straps?

I thought Minerallac was just a brand name.

 

[matt_i]

You mean these man-killers...

I say that because of all the blood I've spilled catching the sharp metal edge of either the strap or the screw end...

 

[alfredeneuman]

You mean these man-killers..
I say that because of all the blood I've spilled catching the sharp metal edge of either the strap or the screw end...

It's too tempting to hang "stuff" that shouldn't be there from the conduit too.

 

[rjn2649]

Wait... those clamps aren't "hang rated"...you mean my extra set of cleveland heads, old sporty jugs, and my 10 speed don't belong on the 6' length of 1/2" conduit ?

 

[evercl92]

For anyone still following this - i finally got around to doing this. Of course i messed up a couple pieces but i expected that. Im content with the results.