Conduit bending

[brother]

any one know any good links to conduit bending?

im still learning the trade. Just curious as to does anyone know where to set a bender to bend a certain angle to match an existing angle.

lets say for example, there was a 22 degree kick angle of conduit already in place and you were running another conduit right beside (parrallel) to it. You want your kick to match their angle at the same time even though your run of conduit is shorter. I know there is a formula for it, and I know how to make 22 degree bends (by aligning with the degree marks on the bender), and i know how to find the center of a bend on an existing conduit. But to be sure my bend center is the same as the existing how do you know where to place the bender?

Do you place the arrow on the measured out space(lets say the center of the bend of the existing was 20 inches away) or the star or the notch? or do you deduct anything to find it? Hope my question seem clear . Thanks ahead for any help.

 

[iwire]

Re: Conduit bending

A couple of ways I know to handle this.

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• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Use a scrap piece of pipe and put a mark on it. Put the bender arrow on the mark and bend the pipe 22 degrees. Now measure the distance from the center of the bend to the mark you had put the bender arrow on. Now you know the distance to use for the new pipe.</font>
• <font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Just make the the bend further down the pipe then it needs to be and cut it to match.</font>

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[esox39]

Re: Conduit bending

The most common bending angle is a 30 deg. Multiplier is 2, and on hand benders, the handle staight up and down is 30 deg.

 

[hbiss]

Re: Conduit bending

I agree with Bob. If you are trying to match an existing bend you really have no idea what angle was used. Might be a bit wasteful but I use a scrap piece and trial and error until I get it right. Put marks on the piece so you know where your bender goes as you adjust the bends each time. After you get it right, transfer the marks to the piece you are going to use and bend to match the template.

-Hal

 

[brother]

Re: Conduit bending

well thanks for the info, thats basically what ive been doing, trail and error. I noticed the bender has a notch for the 45 degree center, and a star for the center of a 90 degree. too bad it doesnt have the notch for the center of the other degrees on the bender.

I just thought there was a formula i could use that i did not know of. thanks any way.

 

[physis]

Re: Conduit bending

I agree with Bob too exept that I just make it longer the first time.

I use a lot of trial and error too. One thing that helps me is "unbending". I learned from a hillbilly (he wasn't really but he talked funny) if you flip the bend upside down on the bender you can subtract maybe 5 or 10 deegrees from the bend without distorting the pipe much. Be careful not add angle in a different axis though. That might not help too much when matching, it'll probably be noticable.

It sounds like you already know the bending techniques but I keep an Uglies guide in one of my tool bags, it's has a good bending reference.

 

[buck33k]

Re: Conduit bending

Here is a site that looks like it would be helpful:
www.idealindustries.com/pdf/bendguid.pdf

esox made some good points. (multiplier of 2 and handle straight up for 30 degrees on good benders.)

multipliers;
22 deg 2.6
30 deg 2
45 deg 1.4
60 deg 1.2

I use the notch (cntr of 45) to make saddles and as you probably know, the arrow can be used for bending to the "back of the bend."

[ November 27, 2004, 02:59 PM: Message edited by: buck33k ]

 

[russ]

Re: Conduit bending

As far as finding the center of the bend on the bender it self, I just make three experimental bends. Mark the front of the bender and then bend the 22% bend take the conduit out and find the center of the bend and mark it. Put the conduit back into the bender, lining up the first mark at the front of the bender, then mark your bender where it meets the center of your 22% bend.

I usually mark the center of 15, and 30 for small saddles and 221/2 the 45s already there for larger saddles.
Their there for ever if you use your hacksaw to notch the bending shoe

 

[bigjohn67]

Re: Conduit bending

Try doing this:
Locate the "arrow" on your 1/2" bender used for Bending 90 degree bends. Using your sharpie measure back from this mark toward the back of the bender 1" and put a mark on both sides of the bender. This will give you the center of a 30 degree bend. This will put the center of the bend exactly where you want it every time. To match existing bends simply measure between the center of the bend on each side of the offset that is existing. Bend your first mark to match the existing angle then bend the other side to make the entire offset Straight.
I find it easier to use this center line when bending any conduit.