[tgconger]

Is it possible to bend 2" emt with a generic, hand pump style 16-ton hydraulic pipe bender available through Harbor Freight for about $189 (versus a Greenlee or Enerpac for several times more)? The bender is designed for exhaust pipe but it has the 2 1/2" shoe that should fit the conduit. Any advice or alternate suggestions would be appreciated. By the way, if this idea isn't totally crazy, what are the odds it would bend 2" ridgid?

 

[Speedy Petey]

I have never used them so I can't say from experience. For a couple of kicks or bends they would probably work fine.

What is it you are doing or need? Can you just use stock 90's and 45's?
Can you use PVC? You can bend that with a $20 heat gun.

 

[tgconger]

I am running approximately 50 feet of exposed main trunk line for some telecommunications lines in a commercial setting. I possibly could get away with factory bends but for the fact that it is exposed, I was looking for an option to maybe dress it up a little without breaking the bank.

 

[wirenut1110]

I have a "muffler" bender I use for 2". It works ok for offsets and kicks up to about 45 deg. Bending 90's is out of the question because it flattens the pipe.

The shoes fit pretty good for EMT but not rigid. If the shoe doesn't fit snug it will just kink or flatten the pipe.

 

[J. V.]

I am running approximately 50 feet of exposed main trunk line for some telecommunications lines in a commercial setting. I possibly could get away with factory bends but for the fact that it is exposed, I was looking for an option to maybe dress it up a little without breaking the bank.

I am old school. We always heated PVC to bend it. Now, I here you can bend PVC with a generic hand held bender, or hydraulic bender.
If you want to save money and you are using 2", my suggestion would be an inexpensive induction type conduit heater. The type I am used to is a long box (2'-3') with heating elements inside. It has wheels inside so you can rotate the pipe as you heat it. Once nice and flexible, you can make the all the traditional and untraditional bends you require. Check "Greenlee" on the web and see whats available and how much it costs.
A hand held heater is difficult with 2" pipe.
They also make heating blankets (never used one) that you wrap around the pipe. They are supposed to work quite well.

 

[Speedy Petey]

JV, EMT, not PVC. I was the one to suggest PVC.

 

[tgconger]

That is exactly the information that I was wanting to know pertaining to the muffler bender. I had my suspicions that it was a very limited solution but it might get me out of a jam. Thanks to everyone for the posts.

 

[hayewe farm]

tgconger,
That bender from HF doesn't work for pipe that I know. What I would do is take a piece of the EMT and see if the shoes fit it the shoes are for tubing. Pipe is measured ID while tubing is measured OD. I have one of the HF units and used it for some decorative projects I was working on. If you were close I would let you try it.

 

[frenchelectrican]

To use the HF brenders they are ok up to 45° bend anymore than that don't think about it.

The other issue I am not sure if I did catch the OP mention telecommuation cables if that the case you have to watch out the bending raduis some of them DO NOT like sharp bends espcally with FO {Fiber obtic } cables that something you have to watch out.

Otherwise you can ask any EC some will able bend the conduit for ya for small fee or free { depending on how many bend and how busy they are } If you are in my neck of woods just stop by the shop and I can bend one real quick.
{ if other than stanadrd factory prebends pipe sections }

Merci,Marc

 

[tgconger]

Thanks for the offer frenchelectrician. I am installing the conduit (oversized at the customers request for future expansion) to run ten Cat. 6 cables.

 

[hayewe farm]

You might try a muffler shop, some of them have benders for tubing.

 

[J. V.]

JV, EMT, not PVC. I was the one to suggest PVC.

Thanks for the correction Speedy.

 

[220/221]

Factory fittings.

Plan ahead.

To screw around with anything else would be a colossal waste of resources.:jester: