Bender question

[GrantOpus]

I am getting ready to wire my shop and am using 3/4” EMT. I asked some friends if anyone has a bender I can borrow and one has a 1” bender saying it will work for anything 1” or less. I’m assuming the smaller diameter 3/4 tube will kink and they make diff size benders for a reason.

Am I nutts?


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[LXCam]

It'll flatten out and in some cases kink if the sides aren't supported. Plus it'll look like garbage with a huge radius that isn't symmetrical thru the entire radius. but he's right if you were using rigid, emt not so much.

 

[matt_i]

The "half moon" dish inside the bender's radius is what supports the sidewalls of the tube as its getting compressed so it doesn't buckle and so the outer radius can stretch. I would think there have to be a lot more 3/4" benders out there than 1" versions if you are looking good-used or looking to borrow.

 

[Evan(CA)]

Benders are cheaper than you'd think.

 

[Norcal]

Buy a bender and be done with it, using the wrong tool is just making the job harder and makes it look bad.

 

[sberry]

I agree, buy it.

 

[GrantOpus]

Ok thank you everyone.


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[TractorJeff]

Craigslist or Let Go!
Guy at work just bought a 1/2", 3/4" and 1" for $25 on Let Go!

 

[slow]

Find a used bender, example: https://orlando.craigslist.org/tls/d/longwood-electrician-tools-pipe-benders/6759062172.html sell it when your done.

 

[nsula_country]

Benders aren't prohibitivly expensive. Personally I have one for 1/2", 3/4" (1/2" ridgid) and 1" (3/4" Ridgid) EMT. Any Ace Hardware, box store or electrical supply house has them. Should be able to get one under $50.

The bender needs to be the correct size for the conduit. Hence why they have different sizes!

Good Luck.

CT

 

[teamextreme]

I've never heard of a bender with that inscription or claim. A 1" bender will do 1" EMT or 3/4" rigid, but not everything below it, as others have said. This is the perfect instance to do a Craigslist rental if you're not going to have use for it after this project. Buy it on CL, sell it for what you bought it for when you're done. I ended up doing that twice with drywall lifts.

 

[alfredeneuman]

Buy the right tool for the job.>>>> https://www.homedepot.com/p/NSi-Ind...-4-in-EMT-or-1-2-in-Rigid-Grey-CB75/303983880
You can use any piece of 3/4" threaded pipe as the handle

 

[Pingel85]

Ive found that you can bend 3/4 on a 1" bender. It it will flatten slightly but won't kink if you keep decent pressure on it. 1/2" will kink every time. The only time we do this is if we have a pipe rack with the 2 sizes as it keeps the radius the same and looks better. But other than that get a 3/4 as others have said.

 

[rburke65]

Gosh, you should be able to get one from C list for $20 I’m sure.

 

[sberry]

A new one isn't too far from 20$.

 

[matt151617]

A new one isn't too far from 20$.

They aren't cheap- $35 for a 1/2", about $40 for 3/4". I kept watching craigslist until I found a really old one for $10.

 

[nsula_country]

A new one isn't too far from 20$.

Right!

Ideal, Klein, Greenlee are in the $50-$100 range. My 1" is an Ideal, NIB surplus from EBay for about $60 shipped.

ACE Hardware has Gardner Bender brand without a handle. Just add whatever length of threaded pipe you want for a handle. I use a 3' on my 1/2" and have a 4' on my 3/4".

Home Depot, Gardner Bender 3/4" EMT bender head less handle $28. Uses threaded pipe. May have a piece already.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Gardner-Bender-3-4-in-EMT-and-1-2-in-Rigid-BigBen-Aluminum-Hand-Bender-961/300348690


CT

 

[alfredeneuman]

about $40 for 3/4".

https://www.homedepot.com/p/NSi-Indu...CB75/303983880.

 

[nsula_country]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/NSi-Indu...CB75/303983880.

There ya go! $17 and just add your own piece of threaded pipe or conduit for a custom length handle!

CT

 

[alfredeneuman]

The only time we do this is if we have a pipe rack with the 2 sizes as it keeps the radius the same and looks better.

Huh?
The radii aren't the same.
Could you be confusing this with concentric bends?

 

[GrantOpus]

Well I picked up one from HD. This what they stocked. Couldn’t find any 3/4 local to me on CL.

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[Pingel85]

Huh?
The radii aren't the same.
Could you be confusing this with concentric bends?

The radius is the same if the same bender is used for both a 3/4 and 1” conduit.

 

[alfredeneuman]

The radius is the same if the same bender is used for both a 3/4 and 1” conduit.

I thought you were using a 3/4 bender for 3/4, and then a 1 for 3/4.

 

[Max]

Your new 3/4” bender looks like a Klein made in the US. I have its 1/2” brother and am very happy with it.

Max