Tips/Tricks for EMT Conduit Bending

[FordsnFishin]

Not sure what you mean by a metal L box.

Depends on the location, where you are coming from. A picture might be the best way for me to direct you.

But sounds like you are trying to go down the wall for receptacles or the such? No way possible to slip behind the 4x6 is there? If not, you will probably have to do whats called a 4 bend saddle. Which is essientally 2 offsets put together. ___/----\____

 

[bmxdad]

Here is the situation ... arrows are pointing to the location on the beam I need to go behind.

View media item 44350
I was thinking of a small LB box like this:

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Id bend a 90* with just a little longer tail than where you want to go behind beam,then throw an offset between the 90* and end of pipe.
You can sneak up on the offset a little to fine tune what you need to get it straight behind the post.
It would probably be best to come out of the bottem right hole in the box.

 

[FordsnFishin]

What box are you coming from? Appears you have 2 by 6's behind your 6 by 6, which should give you plenty of room for a 1/2 conduit (7/8" thick).

Im assuming you are coming from the bottom box. What you need to do is kick a 90. Bend a 90 about 1/2" longer than you need. Lay your pipe down, and put the bender on the pipe just after the 90 degree bend stops and give it a little bend. How much bend depends on where you want the pipe to lay. (flush with tin ect..) That will give you the little offset you need to get past everything.

 

[FordsnFishin]

Little tip, set your torpedo level underneath the pipe on the side you're kicking back to the wall. This will make sure you dont have a crooked bend.

 

[bmxdad]

What box are you coming from? Appears you have 2 by 6's behind your 6 by 6, which should give you plenty of room for a 1/2 conduit (7/8" thick).

Top box has the GFIC, so I was going to come from that. Yes, there are 2x6 Perlins? that space the siding off the beam.

Awesome information ... will try tomorrow, and see if I can crack this nut. Thanks

 

[fireguy]

We are not allowed to bend conduit. If we need to change directions, we use these

http://www.hillershop.com/cp5.html
http://www.unitedfire.net/product/elbowpulleyr102.html

 

[Eriehunter]

We are not allowed to bend conduit. If we need to change directions, we use these

http://www.hillershop.com/cp5.html
http://www.unitedfire.net/product/elbowpulleyr102.html

Those are pretty cool, however those are for dry chemical fire release cable systems and not for wiring ( I'm sure you know this but I am posting for the benefit of others that may not know)

 

[FordsnFishin]

No problem, and good luck! Once you get the basics down, bending conduit can be pretty fun!

Any questions feel free to ask.

 

[toplessHO]

These are the **** if you are doing a lot of conduit.

http://www.evansbenders.com/

I never knew bending small conduit could be so complicated

 

[Monkey_Wrench]

Tag - as I'll be wiring up my new garage soon...

 

[Eriehunter]

I never knew bending small conduit could be so complicated

Not complicated at all, that bender is a real time saver when you get on a job with miles of conduit to install.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Not complicated at all, that bender is a real time saver when you get on a job with miles of conduit to install.

Generally if youre on a big commercial job requiring that much pipe youre going to have a crew on it,im not going to have a crew of guys standing around waiting to use a fancy bender.

 

[bmxdad]

Well, broke down and used Romax, for now. When I have time I'm going to redo it with a bent saddle bend. Spent way to much time on it ...

 

[Eriehunter]

Generally if youre on a big commercial job requiring that much pipe youre going to have a crew on it,im not going to have a crew of guys standing around waiting to use a fancy bender.

600sl was looking for a bender that would make offsets up to 4" this fits the bill and then some. Great tool if you run a bunch of conduit.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

600sl was looking for a bender that would make offsets up to 4" this fits the bill and then some. Great tool if you run a bunch of conduit.

You can bend a 24" offset with a hand bender if you really wanted tnly time Ive ever used any kind of mechanical/Chicago bender in 30 plus years was for running a bunch of 1 1/4-1 1/2" about 20 years ago,anything bigger than that or rigid you better have an electric bender on site.

 

[Eriehunter]

You can bend a 24" offset with a hand bender if you really wanted tnly time Ive ever used any kind of mechanical/Chicago bender in 30 plus years was for running a bunch of 1 1/4-1 1/2" about 20 years ago,anything bigger than that or rigid you better have an electric bender on site.

Bending 1-1/4 Emt with a hand bender is a good way to wear yourself out prematurely If I'm doing that work send me the Greenlee 855.