ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Eying offsets?

I was wondering if other electricians acually use formulas or the multipliers when bending offsets when using 1/2" or 3/4". Or do you just eye it?

A single "quickie" offset can be done by eye.

However, multiple, lined up, in-and-out, etc offsets should be done with the measurements and formulas.

Peter

[schwartzenegger]You must vuse de formulars![schwartzenegger]

If its one pipe by itself, I'll eye-ball it. Thumb and feel.

If its 30 next to each other, I use the multipliers, and a magnetic protactor, levels, calculator, chalk-line, lasers of varying types, and a fresh jolt of coffee.

I just got done with a job doing about 20,000'+ of 1/2" and 3/4", all exposed for an Arch's office. If I saw anyone eye-balling I'd throw a fit, if not an object. I had under 10% waste, not bad considering, the amount that actually got bent. 50%

Small offsets I just do without thinking. Otherwise I will use formulas unless it's in bad working conditions.

Tom

I use the formulas also on larger and repetitive bends.

We are not taking rocket science here, an offset made of two 15 degree bends has 4 as the multiplier an offset made of two 30 degree bends has a 2 as a multiplier, either are easily done in your head.

A multiplier of 1.4 works well for 45 degree offsets.

One of the conduit bending sites had a great trick. A standard hickey is 30 degrees with the handle straight up so you use 30s for your offset and the magic number is 2.
So if I want a 2" offset I put the marks on the pipe 4" apart and line it up to the first mark on the hickey, bend them until the handle is straight up.

A 30 in a single shot with a hicky is a little too tight. IMO

"Straight up" only depends on what you're bending against. All those benders with levels in them make me laugh, find a level floor first.

Site line benders work well, but you can't move your head, or its useless. Hard to do if you need to put your body into 3/4 or larger.

And whats with this.... Some benders are 30 straight up, and some are 45 straight up.

Anyway, I think there needs to be a better bender, and I have some ideas...