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#172688 12/23/07 03:18 PM
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 56
S
SP4RX Offline OP
Member
How many of you guys have or do use no-dog levels? Do they make bending faster/easier?

I ask because of some bending I had to do last week...conduit going up from a panel, offsetting back to plywood , then offsetting from plywood back to drywall. I took the time to make all the conduit bends match each other so it looks nice, but I couldn't help wonder how much quicker it might have been with a no-dog. I also have another panel like this to do right after the holidays.

I've thought about buying one of these in the past but I figured I should probably get good at bending without any "cheating" first. Well I think I've gotten pretty good at doing neat, consistent bends and maybe it's time to make my work easier.

Will a no-dog level make my life easier?

Thanks for the input.


Shawn.





SP4RX #172695 12/23/07 06:50 PM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 193
G
Member
I use the greenlee version, doubles as a regular level too.

[Linked Image from news.thomasnet.com]

The bubble is really sensitive though. That is the only drawback it has for me. Besides making bending easier, It just doesn't take as long to get the other side of the offset to line up. Just level it back out and bend away.


"If common sense was common, everyone would have it"-not sure, someone here

GA76JW #172701 12/23/07 09:54 PM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 853
L
Member
Never tried one. I try the measurement and flat surface method.

Funny quick story: Had a helper, errr. (sorry) napprentice) Did 50/60" looked good for a second... Found he had the plumbers level.

So in good spirit... I broke his heart.. Poor thing.

Then WE (he and I) had a good laugh. Thats how you learn. He tried so hard and I knew it.

He is a master now. I hope I had a little to do with his success.

SP4RX #172703 12/23/07 10:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 27
C
Member
I have never used a 'no-dog level'. I dropped my Klein of a ladder so I got this Johnson one and it can take a punishment:
http://www.johnsonlevel.com/jl/product.php?id=lvls007

I just hold the length of conduit up by my head and look down the conduit to see if there is a dogleg. If there is a dogleg I can bend it slightly to correct it (1/2" to 1"). When I do back to back offsets like that, I make sure the conduit is straight in the bender before bending. I also put a mark on the bender where the center of the bend will be so if I need to copy a bend I know it will be the same.

One thing that irritates me is when the conduit isn't straight when you receive it. I try not to use those for surface runs.

canuck #172704 12/24/07 02:33 AM
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 814
B
Member
I tried the no dog but I lost it before I could tell if I really liked it. The way I do them is with a sharpie, I just make a tiny mark at the end, about 1/4" long right in the center. Then I mark the cut edge, then straight down to the opposite side where I draw another 1/4" line. Now I can get each side centered in the bender for a no dog offset, and the tiny lines are not visible once inside the fittings.

SP4RX #172720 12/24/07 03:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 421
Member
I have two of the no-dogs.. one stays on my hard hat until I lose it, then the second one comes out, it will help with bigger EMT and certainly rigid, some guys like the Greenlee style , I just don't have one of them,
>>I think the bubbles are too small for me<<<

I use a no-dog for bending anything that I won't bend by hand, which anymore is anything bigger than 1"


Tom
togol #172722 12/24/07 05:12 PM
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 1,044
Tom Offline
Member
Togol must have had a lot more lead in his, well nevermind, I never could bend 1 1/4" EMT by hand.

Anytime I use a hydraulic or a mechanical bender, I use a no dog, it takes all the guesswork & judgement out of the equation.

The picture posted above combines the no dog with another of my favorites which is a 30 degree bubble for no brainer offsets.

Tom


Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.
Tom #172732 12/24/07 10:21 PM
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 169
R
Member
I always use the anti dog with electric or hydraulic benders.
It sure beats the old way of strapping a piece of unistrut to the conduit and leveling that.

SP4RX #172980 12/31/07 05:09 AM
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 2,876
E
e57 Offline
Member
On smaller hand benders - try this:
http://www.markhellerelectric.com/bendernotches.pdf

I only use my greenlee level on larger stuff.


Mark Heller
"Well - I oughta....." -Jackie Gleason
Tom #172990 12/31/07 09:56 AM
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 421
Member
LOL, I meant to say that I only use a no dog on bigger pipe or mechanical benders


Tom
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