Aluminum head benders

[Rick 0920]

Iron benders will take more abuse than aluminum. I know that a lot of guys don't care of tools as they should. enough hard drops can throw a bender off. aluminum benders are fine if your employees will take care of the tools.

 

[kwired]

Iron benders will take more abuse than aluminum. I know that a lot of guys don't care of tools as they should. enough hard drops can throw a bender off. aluminum benders are fine if your employees will take care of the tools.

Unless you actually break something off, just how far off are you going to throw something that is still subject to operator for accuracy?

If I bend 45 degrees, I generally don't know if it actually came out 43, 44, 46, 47 or if it was right on 45.

If you use a level or something to check how far you bent, does it matter how accurate it is? A level needs to have a level surface for a reference to begin with otherwise it is somewhat useless unless you can calibrate it for the surface you are working from, but then you also have to orient what you are measuring to the same direction you calibrated to.

If damaged enough that your center of bend or take up mark is thrown off enough to matter you probably pretty severe damage and also have more risk of kinking the raceway.

 

[kwired]

I have a 1.25 inch EMT hand bender. Seldom ever make full 90 degree bends with it. Seems to have higher risk of kinking the tube, brand of tubing you use maybe somewhat a key here? Mostly use it for offsets or other lesser bends. Have bent 1 inch RMC/IMC with it, that can be a challenge even for a fairly heavy person.

 

[Rick 0920]

Unless you actually break something off, just how far off are you going to throw something that is still subject to operator for accuracy?

If I bend 45 degrees, I generally don't know if it actually came out 43, 44, 46, 47 or if it was right on 45.

If you use a level or something to check how far you bent, does it matter how accurate it is? A level needs to have a level surface for a reference to begin with otherwise it is somewhat useless unless you can calibrate it for the surface you are working from, but then you also have to orient what you are measuring to the same direction you calibrated to.

If damaged enough that your center of bend or take up mark is thrown off enough to matter you probably pretty severe damage and also have more risk of kinking the raceway.

If I'm ever bending something exposed that I want 100% accuracy on, I can use a small magnetic protractor to check my bends. Checkpoint and Klein make really good conduit bending levels that provide this feature. Some also have a "no dog" feature for offset accuracy on larger conduits. I've worked with many benders that were 1/4" to 1/2" off. I still used them and deducted my measurements accordingly

 

[kwired]

If I'm ever bending something exposed that I want 100% accuracy on, I can use a small magnetic protractor to check my bends. Checkpoint and Klein make really good conduit bending levels that provide this feature. Some also have a "no dog" feature for offset accuracy on larger conduits. I've worked with many benders that were 1/4" to 1/2" off. I still used them and deducted my measurements accordingly

I bend 3/4" RMC/IMC quite often with my 1" EMT bender. take up for stubs is 8", that comes out close enough on EMT, but I have field marked the bender to indicate must factor in 8-3/8" take up for RMC/IMC. Seems to come out pretty consistent with that figure. Kind of don't need that field mark anymore as it been there long enough I remember it now.

 

[garbo]

Wasnt the 1 1/4" w/the power shoe iron? Ours was, it was a beast. I spent years on that damn thing...

The one I had was aluminum but still heavy. Couple of times had to bring it up to a roof to run several hundred feet of 1.25" EMT . Even use it a few times on a 35' high sizzles lift to make kicks.

 

[rambojoe]

Well i first started, the ol timers would have no problem letting you bend the biggest pipe possible by hand, even if there was a hydro bender at the shop..
I quickly learned in those early days if you didnt make them quick and secure it would quickly add length to 90°s...
Seam up!