You need to know how to bend conduit correctly and safely if you want to make a furniture masterpiece.You can bend conduit to fit around corners, under or over ceilings, and past other structures.Applying just the right amount of pressure to make a good bend is the hardest part of bending conduit.
Step 1: Measure the length of the conduit.
Measure from the corner to the end of the conduit, usually a box.The corner should be marked with a pencil on the conduit.If you don't do it often, you should have some extra conduit on hand.It is easy to make a mistake regarding the take up of a bend.
Step 2: The amount of extra conduit you need to calculate.
As the conduit is bent in the direction of another plane, you lose length.The diameter of the conduit will affect the amount of conduit you need.A 12 inch pipe requires 5 inches of extra conduit, 34 inch takes 6 inches and a 1 inch conduit pipe takes 20.32 cm.
Step 3: Remove burrs from the end of the conduit by cutting it to the size you need.
To get rid of burrs, use a conduit reamer or knife.Before you install the conduit, make sure all burrs are removed.This may cause a fault after the wire has been installed.
Step 4: Work with a tool.
Any conduit bending project requires a bender.If you need to use a conduit tube, the tool should fit it.Before you start the bending process, you should find any instructions on the conduit bender that describe how much conduit should remain past the end of the shoe.Follow the standards for the size conduit you are using if there are no instructions on the bender.The 90 mark should be one of three or four distinctive features of the bender.A bent conduit can reach a right angle at this point.It's one of the most common angle marks.There are other angle marks.The 10 and 22.5 are common angle marks.There is a Stub height mark.The mark will usually list a number to use for the take-up.
Step 5: The conduit needs to be put into the bender.
The amount should be left past the arrow on the shoe.Put your foot on the foot of the bender by setting the conduit on a level ground.Your foot should be able to steady it if the top of the pipe comes through the bender.
Step 6: The bend can be created with the help of the bender handle.
A firm and steady motion is needed to avoid crimps in the conduit.If there is a small slip in the conduit, you will need to start over with a new piece of conduit.Make sure that you apply firm pressure with your foot.If you bend, you may need to compensate for a spring in the conduit.This should be done slowly and carefully.
Step 7: If you want a desired corner angle, bend until you reach the 90 mark.
The marks for 15, 30 and 60 are included in most benders.Take your time and go slow.
Step 8: Make sure you bend at the right angle.
You can either hold it up to the wall or use a level against the front side of the pipe.You can check it by holding it to a surface that is level.
Step 9: Understand how to bend in a pinch.
Most of the time, you'll bend the conduit using a bender and the floor.If you're doing a back to back bend or an offset bend, you won't be able to use the floor as a fulcrum.Put the hilt of the bender on the ground if you need to twist your conduit.Put it in place with either feet or an anchor.Put the pressure on the conduit by keeping the bender straight.The bender shouldn't be used to airbend.As the conduit bends into the cradle, make sure the head of the bender stays rigid.
Step 10: For the type of conduit you're using, use the correct-sized bender.
It's tempting to think that your bender is a one-size-fits-all tool.You need to bend different types of conduit.The 2 inch conduit shouldn't be bent using a 1 inch bender.
Step 11: To double-check the measurement, use a level and protractor.
Measure your angles with certainty by using a water level and protractor.Sometimes getting the exact angle on a bend isn't important, but sometimes whole conduit systems will be thrown out of whack if just a single angle is off.
Step 12: Make sure the bends are straight.
It's important on conduits with multiple bends.When you shape conduit, be careful about creating a dog leg.A dog leg is where multiple bends on a line don't line up in the same plane.Before bending off, look at the alignment in all directions.
Step 13: Try different kinds of bends.
A 90 bend is not enough for a typical electrical job.There are many different combinations of bends you can use.It is helpful to bend a few of them.Practice makes perfect!Back to back bends.There are two 90 stub up bends on opposite sides of the conduit.The bends are offset.This bend incorporates two 45 angles in order to shift the conduit beside an obstacle but still run in parallel with the old line.The saddle bends.A variant of the offset, where the 45 bend returns after clearing an obstacle.A four-point saddle has more clearance.
Step 14: Keep practicing.
It can take some time to bend conduit correctly.If it doesn't come out the way you want it to, just be patient and keep practicing.Your skills will improve over time.