Steel conduit - tips and tricks?

[DavidSpark]

Hello!

Got a few jobs on the way that involve large amounts of conduit work. All surface mounted and will mostly be mounted externally around the building.

I was just wondering if anyone has any good tips, tricks or good points to think about when doing it to be quicker and more efficient. This includes tools or working methods.

Thanks all.

 

[Squid]

Also a decent draw tape to pull the cables through.

 

[freddo]

Try 32mm conduit.........

Was doing some the other day, upwards, without extension bar...

 

[Simonslimline]

Was doing some the other day, upwards, without extension bar...
View attachment 44230

All about the bandsaw, very handy.

 

[DavidSpark]

Is that a ratchet threader you have on the end of that conduit?

 

[Squid]

I did it with a normal set of stocks and dies, had to tape on some conduit to the handles though and I was a scrawny 21 year old.

 

[freddo]

Is that a ratchet threader you have on the end of that conduit?

Yes, it also has an extension handle to double the length (shown in photo below), will do all steel conduit sizes from 25mm to 2". Got it second hand from ebay, appears to have BT numbers stamped on it, the dies were all in their original wrapping, seemed never to have been used. I've posted a photo before, also have a conduit bender that does up to 2", though it works better on screwed steel pipe.

 

[Pete999]

Always a prob going round external corner,outside,some take out the brick,others,end box,conduit into that,whatever.

Conduit end box would be my preferred method, it worked for me when I was working, and nothing much has change in the reseeding years, knocking bits off the brick corner is not good practice in my book smacks of Cowboyism. Do the job properly first time, have some pride in your craftsmanship, don't turn into a conduit thrower.

 

[Nigel]

Always a prob going round external corner,outside,some take out the brick,others,end box,conduit into that,whatever.

I have seen people chase out the brick. So poor in my opinion.

 

[cliffed]

Try 32mm conduit.........

Never used that ,thank god

 

[telectrix]

View attachment 44226 There you go,it’s so easy

easy my arse. the hard part is getting the reverse bend at exactly 180deg. to the first. couple of degrees out and you end up with a donkey's hind leg.

 

[Squid]

I have seen people chase out the brick. So poor in my opinion.

Conduit terminal box with a 20mm hole drilled in the back then continue the run.

 

[Squid]

easy my arse. the hard part is getting the reverse bend at exactly 180deg. to the first. couple of degrees out and you end up with a donkey's hind leg.

I managed all those bends in one length of conduit, you should see my tray and trunking work..........

 

[Pete999]

Conduit terminal box with a 20mm hole drilled in the back then continue the run.

Off center.

 

[Squid]

Off center.

Only if you bend the conduit.........

 

[Squid]

Never used that ,thank god

I looked like Popeye at the end of the day........

 

[Squid]

One of my jobs....... drove me round the bend......

 

[freddo]

I managed all those bends in one length of conduit, you should see my tray and trunking work..........

If you do a few loop in installs and you can get quite into it, I enjoy doing that. I did it on some sockets on the same job to demonstrate measuring the bends in one piece for an apprentice. And no I didn't do the wonky bit feeding the switch the other side of the wall. Of course I could have gone straight across, but there's no need to demonstrate that. Cables can be pulled in after plastering.

 

[Squid]

If you do a few loop in installs and you can get quite into it, I enjoy doing that. I did it on some sockets on the same job to demonstrate measuring the bends in one piece for an apprentice. And no I didn't do the wonky bit feeding the switch the other side of the wall. Of course I could have gone straight across, but there's no need to demonstrate that. Cables can be pulled in after plastering.
View attachment 44233

My OCD is getting the better of me ;o)))))))

 

[123]

@freddo was there a reason not to go straight across? I'm trying to work out why you'd go up, do a double 90 and come straight back down insead of going sideways for a much easier and shorter run.

 

[freddo]

My OCD is getting the better of me ;o)))))))

The wonky one behind was already there from when the building was built. Any spacing issues on the front 2 are an illusion.

@freddo was there a reason not to go straight across? I'm trying to work out why you'd go up, do a double 90 and come straight back down insead of going sideways for a much easier and shorter run.

As I said it was for a demonstration, that and I didn't want to wreck the wall, the noggins were well nailed in with long ring shank nails.

 

[freddo]

One of my jobs....... drove me round the bend......

What was the application?

 

[Squid]

What was the application?

A bet, I won.........



I may be telling fibs........

 

[Squid]

an illusion.

 

[Pete999]

You better off just hiring the pipe vice/bending equipment.
Get a 110v threading machine hired as well

Depends on the size of the job.

 

[7029 dave]

If you do a few loop in installs and you can get quite into it, I enjoy doing that. I did it on some sockets on the same job to demonstrate measuring the bends in one piece for an apprentice. And no I didn't do the wonky bit feeding the switch the other side of the wall. Of course I could have gone straight across, but there's no need to demonstrate that. Cables can be pulled in after plastering.
View attachment 44233

I like that, why, because it is fully rewirable , don't see much of that these days.!!

 

[freddo]

Have been doing a bit of it recently in local fire stations, it has been easy altering the existing lighting wiring within the buried conduits, and good fun putting new conduits in the new parts. Wish I could do it more.