Bending EMT for beginners? Help please.

[MexTex]

I am about to tackle the electrical in my 40x40 shop. This will be my first experience bending EMT. Can someone recommend a good video or how to on bending EMT for beginners? Also, is it code to transfer from EMT to FMC with a coupling? I have some very difficult areas to get around due to a huge storage loft I built. Thanks in advance.

 

[3rdgen]

If you type in Ideal bending guide into google you will get the pdf and the videos that they taught us with at trade school

 

[Dagny]

If you use a coupling intended for it. Don't use any flex just buy alot of emt it's cheap so you bend it wrong throw it to the side start over.

 

[Shiftless]

If you use a coupling intended for it. Don't use any flex just buy alot of emt it's cheap so you bend it wrong throw it to the side start over.

I don’t like flex either. Bending EMT can be satisfying. A well done complicated run is a work of art. Check out newly remodeled restaurants and brew pubs. Exposed conduit is now considered “Industrial Chic”

 

[Lonnies Performance]

Get an App for your cell phone. It gives bend/offset dimensions to do most basic conduit layouts.

A few are iBendpipe & iBendoffsets for iPhone if you happen to have one.

Also "My Bender" App give basic use info for various bender brands.

 

[GrayFlattop]

If you type in Ideal bending guide into google you will get the pdf and the videos that they taught us with at trade school

^^ This ^^

They used to hand them out at electrical supply stores in the 70's

But here's your link.https://www.google.com/search?q=ideal+EMT+bending+guide&rlz=1C1EODB_enUS535US546&oq=ideal+EMT+bending+guide&aqs=chrome..69i57.5525j0j8&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=1



Buy a bundle of conduit and if you mess up just get another stick. It's not that hard - don't over-think it. It takes awhile to learn, like any other skill worth learning.

 

[PoorOwner]

I used this video.. I had to watch it a few times, but now I am good on my own.

I use a calculator app but can never get the offset to work, always need to unbend or bend some more until it works.

I started installing EMT about a year ago, it was $2.8 for a 10 ft 1/2 EMT, then later in the year it was $3.0, now it is $3.3... guys, it's no longer a throw away item when it raised about 20% a year!

 

[fasteddie]

Biggest mistake I always made and sometimes still do is measure the 5" take up from the wrong end. Buy a bulk pack of couplings, they fix lots of mistakes.

 

[Mr. T]

I started installing EMT about a year ago, it was $2.8 for a 10 ft 1/2 EMT, then later in the year it was $3.0, now it is $3.3... guys, it's no longer a throw away item when it raised about 20% a year!

I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic but 100ft of conduit for $33 is a small price to pay for a lot of “practice.”

 

[48RON54]

I don’t like flex either. Bending EMT can be satisfying. A well done complicated run is a work of art. Check out newly remodeled restaurants and brew pubs. Exposed conduit is now considered “Industrial Chic”

Agree on the work of art thing. It always amazes me when I see all the bends at a permanent generator install. I wish I could do that.

 

[kschauwe]

There's videos all over youtube on bending EMT

 

[Bert_]

For starters just focus on measuring and bending a stub up first. Then you can work on a simple 30* offset, no calculator needed if you can multiply by two. And last a back to back 90. If you can do those halfway well you can pipe a whole shop with no problem.

The Benfield guide is good.

Spend plenty of time planning how you will run your conduit. Don't just do one piece at a time, think of all the conduit you will run. Try to route it so the bends are easy and eliminate offsets and saddles if possible. This will save you a lot of headaches and time.

 

[Marctrees]

I was an Electrical Contractor in MN for about 18 yrs, doing mostly semi hi end res remodel work mostly.

I rarely had a need, so never got good at bending EMT.

Hated it, major PITA,... always a problem to do it nice.

And took forever.

The Guys that do multiple parallel runs on commercial / industrial work can get VERY good at it.

My specialty was fishing to pull Romex in existing enclosed wall/ ceiling/attic/ whatever situations, became a master at that.

And cutting in old work boxes in custom marbelized painted old plaster walls... crazy demanding stuff... often directed by "Designers" and Decorators.

Damn good at that, ***** at bending EMT.

Marc

 

[rkevins]

youtube has some very good videos, but find the ones by the people that do it for a living

 

[nadogail]

Benfield, the inventor of the EMT Bender wrote and published "the book" on this subject.

 

[Ji m]

Repeatability is key,
a 90 is 90 degrees,
you overbend it a little (spring back) to get there and check it against a known 90.

Being able to make the same 90 over and over helps,
then you learn how to bend an offset (two equal bends in opposite directions)
then 4 bend saddles (two offsets)
then 3 bend saddles (more difficult saddle).

Then understanding why you might want one type of offset for one application,
but not another.

Planning ahead for multiple runs,
or trying to fit into an existing place where the last three guys didn't plan ahead is what comes last.

Eyeball the pipe to make sure your bends line up correctly,
or use pipe with a straight line on it to help line them up,
or use a "no dog"
^little clip on 1 bubble level to make sure you spin the pipe exactly 180 degrees when turning the pipe over for the next bend of a saddle or offset.

Take your time,
try to figure out how you made a mistake of you don't like how the piece came out.

If you are kinking it you might not be putting enough pressure on the back of the bend,
or trying to make too big of a bend in the air.

Being able to bend the same bends the same exact way over and over is 50 percent of being good at piping,
the rest is knowing what bend should be used and where,
and being able to measure correctly.

Don't get frustrated,
no one starts out great at it.

 

[Ji m]

Last couple points,
since it's your own shop, and you mentioned going around multiple obstacles...
if you put a piece up, and it's straight, all the bends line up right exactly the way you thought you wanted them,
but it doesn't look right because it doesn't hug the corner right, or tucks out when tucking in would look better,

no matter how long it too to make,
take it down and try again.

No one else in the world may notice,
but because you did it,
that one oddball pipe will jump out at you every time you walk in your shop and make you crazy

And don't use more than 360 degrees of bends without a pull point.
270 max is even better.

Good luck and post pics!

 

[jeffmoss26]

my buddy Stan (Shadon HKW) did some nice conduit bending videos:

 

[alfredeneuman]

Benfield, the inventor of the EMT Bender wrote and published "the book" on this subject.

....and here's the .pdf file https://www.scribd.com/document/264807271/Jack-Benfield-Benfield-Conduit-Bending-Manual

 

[MexTex]

If you are using one pipe for multiple bends, say you need to make an offset bend and then a doglegged 90 degree bend...where is your starting point for the second bend? I made offset bend just fine, but where do I measure from to make the next 90 degree bend? Thanks

 

[fasteddie]

Say you made an offset into a box and want to go up to the ceiling then bend left or right? I would measure from the box to the ceiling minus the 5" take up.

 

[metschers]

EMT is cheap enough... trial and error. It's a lot cheaper to do it yourself. All my electrical is in EMT that I did myself. I had never bent EMT before but, if I can anyone can. I actually enjoyed it....you can get creatative.

Not sure if it's code, but I thinks it's cool.

 

[Marctrees]

EMT is cheap enough... trial and error. It's a lot cheaper to do it yourself. All my electrical is in EMT that I did myself. I had never bent EMT before but, if I can anyone can. I actually enjoyed it....you can get creatative.

Not sure if it's code, but I thinks it's cool.

VERY clean VERY nice work.

Avoiding offsetfs makes itf much easier, and , tfechnicallyj, Code, yjo\ need st\raps, butf good.


Beer on keyjboard anomalyjs.
Marc

 

[alfredeneuman]

VERY clean VERY nice work.
Beer on keyjboard anomalyjs.
Marc

I thought you said you don't drink

 

[Marctrees]

HoneSTFLYJ... NO... PRETFTFYJ sy\re I never S

kEYJBO GOING NUTFs gotftf gotftf

 

[Marctrees]

keyboard went nuts.. plugged in new one.. going to faucet.. bb soon

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

Ok, nother keyboard plugged in now.

Was hosed out a few weeks ago.

If you spill on desktop keyboard, unplug ASAP ASAP, the go douse thoroughly w hot water, drain for a moment, re douse thoroughly... like 3 times upside down and in every direction...then shake out an leave in Sun for a few days.

95% of time, all good after that.

Just like a Blender base that gets overrun w sugary Margarita.

All good now.

So, no, I don't think I ever said I don't "Drink"

Actually, I do not understand why NOBODY has added that in the "How would you improve your life today"?" thread.

Cut wayyy down from a year ago, but still a habit.

Doing pretty darn good, but could be better.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

EMT is cheap enough... trial and error. It's a lot cheaper to do it yourself. All my electrical is in EMT that I did myself. I had never bent EMT before but, if I can anyone can. I actually enjoyed it....you can get creatative.

Not sure if it's code, but I thinks it's cool.

So, anyway, it looks great... but could be made better if you figured out a way to neatly add at least one strap per pipe... codewise... and also to secure it if you keep wild monkeys in the shop.

Other then strapping, appears to be good job !!!!

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

I always try to strap within approx ballpark 6" of box. NO matter the wiring method.

Marc

 

[Marctrees]

I thought you said you don't drink

Thank you for caring.

Arthur doing OK ?

Huggsss.... you give great accurate info on this Board.

You KNOW I mean that.

Thank You for that.

Marc

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

My Klein 25’ tape measure has a handy guide on the reverse side of the blade just for this purpose.

 

[alfredeneuman]

HoneSTFLYJ... NO... PRETFTFYJ sy\re I never S

kEYJBO GOING NUTFs gotftf gotftf

I apologize Marctrees. It was teamextreme that said he doesn't drink.

(And my plant friend Arthur is doing quite well. Thanks for asking!)

 

[evercl92]

I just ran emt for outlet in my garage. Having never done any bending work, the results are rewarding to myself. Before i started, i asked a couple of the electricians at work for some pointers - they said they rarely do 45 deg bends, because of the multiplier (1.4), but rather do 30deg (2.0) making the math/measuring easier.

I started a similar thread:
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=387976

I got lots of good advice there too

 

[toplessHO]

I wasnt around for my buddy roughing in stuff in his shop walls so bent him a lot of 90s various lengths ,offsets etc. I told him make sure it was all at least 5 ft long before a coupling. He got the wall roughed in without me. All the exposed work, I did.

 

[Jim greengo]

Jack benfield books.

 

[Shiftless]

Here is a commercial installation that illustrates the beauty of an EMT job well done.

 

[signcrafter]

For someone like me that bends conduit once every great while one of the easiest way to bend conduit is to not try and measure for the bend. By this I mean if your going around a corner and say it's 56" to the corner instead of measuring and calculating make sure you have 60" on one side of the bend and then line it up where it goes and mark it and cut it to fit. A lot lease thinking and less chance of screwing it up. This isn't always possible but for most normal runs it is.