RGS Bends

[Alwayslearningelec]

Is there any problem/difficulty using a hydraulic bender for larger RGS conduits(3"+) or a factory elbows would be more practical?

 

[infinity]

No the proper bender will easily bend RMC. We use a Greenlee 881 table bender. The disadvantage of bending 90° elbows is that they're much larger than manufactured elbows so they require a lot more room to spin them on.

 

[augie47]

Biggest problem for me would be laying out 4k for a bender

 

[infinity]

I think that we pay about $25,000 for the portable 881 with a built-in cart.

https://www.acmetools.com/greenlee-hydraulic-conduit-bender-with-table-pump-881gxe980mbts/783310066453.html?gclid=Cj0KCQjwrfymBhCTARIsADXTabnlaLtx2hNIQEsvtThJfETnvJ03QwOpL_Pz0g5jYQ0835zMnpmPW8gaAiY2EALw_wcB

 

[roger]

On medium to large projects we bent large RMC on the job, if we only needed a few we had someone bend them in the shop (we actually did a lot of prefab) or bought a few factory bends.

 

[LarryFine]

Is it ever a problem that pre-made bends point the wrong way when the joints are tightened?

With factory bends, elbows can be flipped around or swapped out if that happens.

I usually use factory elbows for anything I can't bend with a standard bender, like above 1".

 

[electrofelon]

One problem with factory bends is they often are not 90 degrees. We had a thread on this a few years ago and based on the responses, it's
apparently quite common.

 

[tom baker]

Related, I had a 2 1/2” LR that the the long end hub threaded crooked. Not able to get a replacement, noticeable to a electrican and it was on the outside of a building

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

So I still don't have a concensus? More likely to bend or use prefab? If use a prefab then you might need to cut and thread the length of conduit and provide a coupling as i don't beleive RGS elbows come with coupling.

 

[augie47]

How many bends are you talking about ??

 

[infinity]

Even if you use prefab you'll still need a bender for kicks and offsets.

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

How many bends are you talking about ??

about 3 in each run of 2" and larger and have about 150 runs throughout building.

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

Even if you use prefab you'll still need a bender for kicks and offsets.

kick and offset you mean a slight bend, correct?

 

[infinity]

kick and offset you mean a slight bend, correct?

Yes even with manufactured 90's you'll still need a bender.

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

Yes even with manufactured 90's you'll still need a bender.

Your saying you still need to use a bender on a pre fab elbow? Why?

 

[roger]

Your saying you still need to use a bender on a pre fab elbow? Why?

No, he said there will be offsets and kicks needed.

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

On a side note my estimating program give 4 hours per 4" RGS bend. Seems very heavy.

 

[Alwayslearningelec]

No, he said there will be offsets and kicks needed.

Yes I understand that...and that is what the bender will be for. Thought he was also saying it's used on the pre-fabs which would not make sense....my bad.

 

[infinity]

On a side note my estimating program give 4 hours per 4" RGS bend. Seems very heavy.

Wow that's a lot of labor. The actual time it takes is about 5 minutes to load the pipe onto the bender and to bend a 90° bend with a Greenlee 881.

 

[muddyboots]

You can do offsets and kicks with the 15° 30° and 45° prefab elbows. But you are limited to how small of a kick/offset you can do, and it can be a little tricky getting accurate measurements, but it's a thought I suppose.