ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Bending EMT

We use lots of 1" EMT for a new product line and have to make 2 90 degree bends with a hand bender. Why does every 20th or 30th bend come out kinked on the bottom & flat on the top? Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Tim,

I would say that it is because you are not applying the right pressure in the right place. If you are bending it on the floor, you have to make sure that you are applying your weight with your foot on the bender and not pulling with your hands, that is when it gets kinked.

Bill, thanks a lot, we will do it that way. BTW, is the floor the best place to bend? Are there any other benders available that don't cost thousands of dollars? Thanks again.

Tim,

Bending 1" conduit takes a lot of oomph!
I think it is much easier on the floor and much better results with the foot. When you try pulling with your hands it will often kink up.

Thanks, Bill, Yes it does take some oomph! It seems impossible to get it started by just using the foot.

Do you think our guys are maybe not keeping the pressure on the foot portion when pulling and it rises up off the floor and kinks?

Thanks again, we're learning but its expensive, 4 bucks per mistake!!

Tim: Check out rotary benders. Some conduit prefers not to be bent. Experiment with location of seam, if one is visible. Experiment with different brands. Will factory nineties work for your project? What is your project? Just curious, no answer expected.

Tim,

Yes, that would be my guess that they are pulling more with the hands than they should. You have to keep it on the floor. When it pulls up off the floor that is when it will almost always kink.

Thanks Bill & Bennie, for some things to check out. The rotary benders seem to be out of reach for now at $1500, until product takes off. The product uses 2 pieces of 10' EMT, each bent twice into U-shape. Bennie, do you know if factory 90s are available is such a configuration?

Thanks again for your help!

Tim

Tim,

Now I don't know if this is an electrical product you are talking about or not, or even if it is feasable, but if you have a number of these to make (not for Electrical use - not sure the bends would be suitable for pulling wire through) perhaps you could take a stock of pipe down to a local muffler shop and ask them to bend some for you. They usually deal with larger than 1 inch, but their equipment may be capable. - Just a thought.

Thanks for all your help. Based on your info, we made a device that engages only the foot of the bender and arcs thru, no flat spots on the top & no kinks on the bottom.

Tim