I'm running some 1" EMT in my garage. First piece with a couple 90s and an offset went fine. Second piece I can't bend a 90 without kinking it. I'm just under 200 pounds and it's taking all my weight to bend. Any advice?
Kinking 1" EMT
- Thread starter gotham
- Start date
Kevin Essiambre
Well-known member
I've never had issues bending 1" EMT and it kinking, and I weigh around 200 lbs as well. I have had issues with not being heavy enough to get it to bend on some brands of conduit, when that happens, I usually jump a little onto the bender while pulling down.
I've had issues with conduit kinking with proper foot pressure, and had conduit split open while bending it. Both instances were bad batches of conduit.
Foot pressure is key with bending EMT. Without it, it will kink. I'd try more foot pressure. You may want something to hold onto so you can get your whole body weight behind it.
Just my 2 cents.
Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.
I've had issues with conduit kinking with proper foot pressure, and had conduit split open while bending it. Both instances were bad batches of conduit.
Foot pressure is key with bending EMT. Without it, it will kink. I'd try more foot pressure. You may want something to hold onto so you can get your whole body weight behind it.
Just my 2 cents.
Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.
This might sound stupid, but are you using a bender ?
Dustball
Well-known member
Yeah, what are you using to bend the conduit with?
wyliesdiesels
Well-known member
looks like an air bend using your hands
Terry D
Well-known member
Please post a picture of your bender, and we will go from there.
Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
nadogail
Well-known member
Jack Benfield wrote "the book" on hand bending EMT. IMHO, there is no better reference on the subject. The Benfield Conduit Bending Manual, available from Amazon.
coljar
Well-known member
I didn't have a 1" bender, so I bought pre-bent 1" 90's at my commercial electric supplier and used straight connecters. A whole lot easier when you get up into that size of EMT.
Terry D
Well-known member
I have had that book for years. It is probably the best book i have ever seen for bending pipe.
Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app
Marctrees
Well-known member
Hire these guys..............
Marc
Marc
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
..... It's also available as a FREE download
https://www.scribd.com/document/264807271/Jack-Benfield-Benfield-Conduit-Bending-Manual
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Jim greengo
Well-known member
Keep your foot on there,and constant steady pressure on end of handle while you're pulling on it.
rburke65
Well-known member
More foot pressure
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
I don't know if this applies, because I've mostly bent scheduled 40 water pipe, but the lower quality stuff I've worked with needed a little creative ingenuity to keep the center of the pipe rising out of the middle of the former.
Could you use a clamp of some sort to hold the conduit tight on the arch? If it can't rise out of the form it shouldn't be able to kink.
Could you use a clamp of some sort to hold the conduit tight on the arch? If it can't rise out of the form it shouldn't be able to kink.
SALIV8
Well-known member
Try heating the conduit a bit where youre going to bend it?
Kevin Essiambre
Well-known member
Without filling the conduit with sand or something I believe this may end kinked as well. Plus its galvanized conduit...
Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.
Jim greengo
Well-known member
kevink1955
Member
Like has already been said foot pressure, only pull on the bender handle not the end of the conduit. pulling on the conduit causes it to slide in the bender and kink.
If your conduit slides in the bender the bender may be worn, clamp the conduit to the top of the bender, you cannot let it slide at all
If your conduit slides in the bender the bender may be worn, clamp the conduit to the top of the bender, you cannot let it slide at all
Old Man Roger
Well-known member
Ya heating galvanized conduit makes that pretty yellow gas that messes with your nervous system, probably not a great idea.
Bogie1632
Well-known member
As has been said... foot pressure. Eat your wheaties. I find it easier to stand on the conduit with one foot as I step on the bender ( straight down as it rolls) and pull (keep it aligned with the length of conduit). Conduit has to stay in the benders groove as you go. I've gotten links if I let it slip a little. For me, it seems to help keep everything aligned with my fatness as I bend by stepping on the conduit. YMMV.
Good luck.
V/R
Bogie
Good luck.
V/R
Bogie
ard
Well-known member
Carbs.
Kevin Essiambre
Well-known member
Yes, I'm not too fond of that yellow gas... I have almost unlimited amounts of galvanized material that we weld... a big fan helps with that gas when welding...
Sent from my new phone. Autocorrect may have changed stuff.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
Pull out an extra foot of conduit. Long length on the floor. Bend away from the short end, one foot on bender push down steadily. Cut off excess from the one foot if required for fit. Just use connectors and cut accordingly.
How are you even using both feet?
How are you even using both feet?
Last edited:
sparky 1971
Well-known member
Try putting the end of the conduit against a wall before you bend it. I have never had trouble with 1", but 1-1/4" will occasionally give me problems when using the step bender. Also, if you are bouncing on the bender to get it started, make sure it isn't moving around on the conduit.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
Good grief Marc everyone knows that pipe is only good for air compressor feed lines.
Thanks guys. I'll give it another go. Bender is definitely not worn. I'm pretty sure it's not slipping.
I get one foot on the bender, lean back, get one hand on a table to balance, then get my other foot on the bender.
I get one foot on the bender, lean back, get one hand on a table to balance, then get my other foot on the bender.
Terry D
Well-known member
1" can be tricky to bend. It has to be a steady foot pressure, to much, and the bender will want to lift off the ground before the 90 is bent and this will cause a kink. if the pipe is slipping in the bender, this will also cause a kink. A lot of times, I will back the conduit up to a wall, so when you bend it, it will not try to slide on the floor. With those seams opening up like that, there is a possibility that the conduit is defective. I have seen it before. Only other thing is that there is something wrong with the bender itself. Did you just buy it? if so, maybe exchange it for a different one
Marctrees
Well-known member
"A lot of times, I will back the conduit up to a wall, so when you bend it, it will not try to slide on the floor"
I never did much over 3/4, but I do recall this trick helped alot IIRC.
Marc
I never did much over 3/4, but I do recall this trick helped alot IIRC.
Marc
m32825
Well-known member
Is there a "best side" to put the seam on when bending?
Terry D
Well-known member
Not really, it shouldn't be a issue. I have never had a problem with it. If the pipe is splitting at the seam, I would think possibly faulty conduit
Jim greengo
Well-known member
sparky 1971
Well-known member
I have never paid attention to the seam.
Marctrees
Well-known member
Benfield does not specify seam location ?
I don't know, just asking.
Marc
I don't know, just asking.
Marc
alfredeneuman
Well-known member
To emphasize the importance of foot pressure>>>
1-1/4" EMT benders have an extension to the "foot" that increases the leverage.
I've never seen a 1" with the feature though
1-1/4" EMT benders have an extension to the "foot" that increases the leverage.
I've never seen a 1" with the feature though
Just remember the next time you buy ...
sberry
Banned
I have an inch. Can't even remember the last inch I used wiring. On small jobs/building gs I never use it, every wire in the place doesn't need to run down 1 pipe and a few are single circuit. It's another layer of fittings and boxes I dont care to stock.
It doesn't help the op but it's something to think about for others designing most garage wiring.
It doesn't help the op but it's something to think about for others designing most garage wiring.