Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
Is there any problem/difficulty using a hydraulic bender for larger RGS conduits(3"+) or a factory elbows would be more practical?
RGS Bends
- Thread starter Alwayslearningelec
- Start date
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
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.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
I think that we pay about $25,000 for the portable 881 with a built-in cart.
LarryFine
Master Electrician Electric Contractor Richmond VA
- Location
- Henrico County, VA
- Occupation
- Electrical Contractor
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".
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
Senior Member
- Location
- Cherry Valley NY, Seattle, WA
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.
apparently quite common.
- Location
- Bremerton, Washington
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
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Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
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.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Even if you use prefab you'll still need a bender for kicks and offsets.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
about 3 in each run of 2" and larger and have about 150 runs throughout building.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
kick and offset you mean a slight bend, correct?
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
Yes even with manufactured 90's you'll still need a bender.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
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
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
On a side note my estimating program give 4 hours per 4" RGS bend. Seems very heavy.
Alwayslearningelec
Senior Member
- Location
- NJ
- Occupation
- Estimator
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.
- Location
- New Jersey
- Occupation
- Journeyman Electrician
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
Member
- Location
- Florida
- Occupation
- Electrician
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.