My limit for hand bending is 3/4" HW or 1" emt. Last week I did some minor bends in 1.25" HW using a hole in concrete block. I used my legs, not my back. I also bent a 3' piece of 1.25" HW a few degrees with a 2X4 and a sledge. We tried using a backhoe, but it put a pretty bad crimp in it.
Dave
