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Conduit bending 101

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Todd.Brock

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Hey all, I am running conduit in my garage for some receptacles. 1/2" emt. I bought a Klein conduit bender to use. I am wondering , how do you make the small dog leg bend to go from right up against the wall to the knock out in the junction box. Same question for coming out of the box and going back to flush against the wall. Thanks!
 
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hammlm

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It's pretty easy, once you get the hang of it. For small (box) offsets, I always think I'm better off doing them in the air, rather than with my foot (especially with 1/2"EMT).

Learn one offset first (I use 30 degree bend offsets 95% of the time). It helps with figuring out the take-up or shrinkage if you just remember one type.

Basically, for a 30* offset, you take the offset depth, make two marks on your pipe (make them the whole way around until you get good at it) that are twice the depth of your offset apart. Make a 30* bend with one of the marks on the star, then rotate the pipe 180* in the bender and move the second mark to the star.

(Ideal benders use a star, I'm referring to the mark exactly opposite the bender handle.)

Practice, Practice. 1/2" is cheap and easy to learn on.

Or, if you get the shits of it, you can spend 200 and get an offset bender --- I loved it when I had one of these on site:

http://www.build.com/greenlee-1810-exposed-conduit-offset-bender-for-1-2-emt/p605893?source=gba_605893

Good luck, and post pics.
 
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awdblazer

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very easy make a mark about an inch or so from the end of the pipe, put that to the arrow, bend a little, turn it 180 degrees and bend about the same
it is all about the feel
 
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Norcal

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Use a Greenlee little kicker. A little pricey but quick ........:thumbup:
 
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Aceman

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Point the handle towards the floor, slide the pipe through the bender until it's flush with the hook, put a little bend in it, just under 10 degrees, slide the pipe about 3-4" through the bender, rotate 180 degrees and bend it the same amount as the first bend so it'll match.

Nothing to it.

You shouldn't need a tape measure for box offsets either, these are all done by eye.

If your bender has a casting ridge running right down the middle of the shoe, file it down, so it doesn't roll your pipe and make you dog leg all your bends. That'll save you some frustration.
 
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Thruxton

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Do it! Waste some pipe, 1/2 and 3/4 is cheap (even for me!) and then you get the hang of it (above advice is helpful) and you get to be really proud of what you ahve done.
 
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metaldad

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Aceman said:
1 hole straps are way cleaner than minnies, and they don't stick out to snag everything either.

Minnies have their place, but it isn't in a home garage IMO.
Click to expand...

to each his own. kinda hard to use a ******** a 2x. careful placement will minimize snags. :beer:
 
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PRH44

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The most professional look is bending box offsets with one straps as Ace mentioned. Another option that is specified frequently in exposed installations below 10' is a one hole strap with a back strap. It will hold the conduit off the wall for a straight shot to the KO. Minnies stick out too far and will snap things too easily.
Home depot has the following straps you can get them for EMT or rigid.

f9a80c46-51f9-43ce-8e70-ce118d41859b_400.jpg
 
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Norcal

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oleguy said:
electricians guide to conduit bending by RICHARD A. COX.
Click to expand...


http://www.buildersbooksource.com/cgi-bin/booksite/2304


BTW, here is a link to the "Little Kicker".

1/2"

http://www.toolup.com/greenlee_1810_little-kicker-offset-bender-for-12-emt.aspx

3/4"

http://www.toolup.com/greenlee_1811_offset-bender-for-34-emt.aspx

These buggers are expensive............ The 1/2" model has increased in price a lot since I bought mine, & thought it was expensive in the late '90's.

My orig. post was sent from a iphone so details were limited.
 
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rabidsquirrel

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Wow, I don't know if I could justify that even if I was doing hundreds of box offsets. If you're doing pipe a lot it gets to the point where you don't even have to measure for a box offset. I generally only measure when I have two conduits close together or I'm trying to match.

I did spend 10 minutes doing the trig to figure out how much the 90º and kick would shrink so it would center up on the rack though...
 
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BFBOB

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OK, what is a minnie (or minny)?? Yes, I did a web search. Some talk, but no pix. Would someone please post a photo, or mfr. part no. ? something to satisfy my curiosity??
 
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BFBOB

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Perhaps you're talking about a Conduit Hanger? Halex 67821B. I've used them, but never heard them called "minnies". I like them for concrete ceiling work, especially when I'm working single handed. Used on walls, they certainly could be a literal pain in the **** -- or hip, shin, shoulder, etc.
 
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Gooch

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BFBOB said:
Perhaps you're talking about a Conduit Hanger? Halex 67821B. I've used them, but never heard them called "minnies". I like them for concrete ceiling work, especially when I'm working single handed. Used on walls, they certainly could be a literal pain in the **** -- or hip, shin, shoulder, etc.
Click to expand...

Mini's are just like every other item in the electrical industry, has a nickname based on the most popular brand, in this case Minerallac.
 
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BFBOB

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Minnies (minnys, mini's)=Minerallac??
Minerallac makes a wide range of electrical products - just like other manufacturers. In fact, I have a couple of boxes of Minerallac products sitting on my shelf right now. They are one-hole straps, just like everyone else's one-hole straps. So, to refine my question, WHICH of Minerallac's myriad of products is known as a minnie??

I'm not an electrician, but as a communications contractor, I use a lot of the same parts, and sometimes rub shoulders with them on the job. I can think of only a couple of nicknames, and both are based on trademarked product names, not manufacturer names: Wire-Nut for any twist-on wire connector, and Romex for any non-metallic sheathed cable.

The only nickname I can think of in my area of specialty is "beanie" for any crimp-on wire connector, Type B. Originally made by Western Electric, they aren't called Westies.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just seeking order in a chaotic world!
 
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Gooch

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BFBOB said:
Minnies (minnys, mini's)=Minerallac??
Minerallac makes a wide range of electrical products - just like other manufacturers. In fact, I have a couple of boxes of Minerallac products sitting on my shelf right now. They are one-hole straps, just like everyone else's one-hole straps. So, to refine my question, WHICH of Minerallac's myriad of products is known as a minnie??

I'm not an electrician, but as a communications contractor, I use a lot of the same parts, and sometimes rub shoulders with them on the job. I can think of only a couple of nicknames, and both are based on trademarked product names, not manufacturer names: Wire-Nut for any twist-on wire connector, and Romex for any non-metallic sheathed cable.

The only nickname I can think of in my area of specialty is "beanie" for any crimp-on wire connector, Type B. Originally made by Western Electric, they aren't called Westies.

I'm not trying to be argumentative, just seeking order in a chaotic world!
Click to expand...


I understand Minerallac makes more than just these conduit hangers, but it's just the nickname the industry gave them, I didn't name them.
 
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BFBOB

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Thanks, Aceman- nice to know I got it on the third guess ... after several hints.:eyecrazy:
 
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Roots

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Norcal said:
Use a Greenlee little kicker. A little pricey but quick ........:thumbup:
Click to expand...

They are the cats meow. A bit pricey for a home owner though!

OP: It takes practice to bend conduit, a lot of practice. It won't look as "sharp" but you can always just buy off-set box connectors, instead of messing with bending conduit. It's a heck of a lot quicker, unless you bend conduit on a weekly basis.
 
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Norcal

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Roots said:
They are the cats meow. A bit pricey for a home owner though!

OP: It takes practice to bend conduit, a lot of practice. It won't look as "sharp" but you can always just buy off-set box connectors, instead of messing with bending conduit. It's a heck of a lot quicker, unless you bend conduit on a weekly basis.
Click to expand...


Unless you get a deal on a little kicker, I agree they are not cost effective. My 1/2 was around $180, my 3/4 was part of a lot of goodies I bought for $40. EMT is cheap enough to practice on & the chart on the bender handle can help a lot.

BTW, I was joking a bit when I 1st posted, but w/ a smartphone it was limited, or is it the user was limited??? :D
 
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jeffmoss26

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I like the conduit hangers similar to the above pic but instead of a bolt, they snap closed. Minerallac and Caddy make them, among others.
 
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frankush

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In my 30 years, I've never heard em called cowboys. Back in my apprentice days, I had a JW ask for gozintas. I looked at him and said who? "Goes in to" or connectors.

Get a Benfield conduit bending manual. They invented the marks on most every hand bender. If you understand what the marks are used for, you can bend most anything.
 
OP
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Todd.Brock

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After trying my hand at a few offset bends, they are functional but nothing too professional looking. I think I'm headed towards minnies,caddies, cowboys,greenies or whatever else you guys ca think to call them...
 
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hh76

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Todd.Brock said:
After trying my hand at a few offset bends, they are functional but nothing too professional looking. I think I'm headed towards minnies,caddies, cowboys,greenies or whatever else you guys ca think to call them...
Click to expand...

I love minnies for long runs that are not seen, but would rather use offsets in my garage.

Offsets with 1/2 are easy once you get the hang of it, don't give up. Even if you're a little off, 1/2" will give enough that you can make it work as long as things are secured.

The key is consistancy. Figure out what angles to use, and what distance apart, and use those measurements for every one. I don't really pay attention anymore, but I'd assume 10deg bends as close together as possible would give you the right distance from the wall for most standard boxes.
 
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