old timey bending block

[sibbits]

any one know how to make/use an old school wooden conduit bending plank?

 

[Vortigern]

Drill a hole in a 2 x 4.

 

[sibbits]

Drill a hole in a 2 x 4.

is it a diagonal hole or straight .
i heard about this technique when i was an apprentice .
wanted to try it

 

[snowhead]

Yes,.
Plank
Straight hole same size as conduit, to be bent

Away you go

 

[Julie.]

Not sure what's old-school about it, it's a useful technique for bending any pipe etc when you haven't got a bender/former to hand.

Just the right sized hole through a piece of wood, if you have a round rasp - take the bottom edge off the hole approximating the radius of the bend, it helps.

I have used it for the odd time when we couldn't be bothered getting the bender out - especially for the odd plumbing job (although you need an internal spring for copper pipe)

 

[Pete999]

Not sure what's old-school about it, it's a useful technique for bending any pipe etc when you haven't got a bender/former to hand.

Just the right sized hole through a piece of wood, if you have a round rasp - take the bottom edge off the hole approximating the radius of the bend, it helps.

I have used it for the odd time when we couldn't be bothered getting the bender out - especially for the odd plumbing job (although you need an internal spring for copper pipe)

I used an EXTERNAL BENDING SPRING for Refrigeration pipework

 

[westward10]

How I was originally taught never saw a purpose made bender for years.

 

[UNG]

Straight hole same size as conduit, to be bent

Away you go

I was taught at college that the hole in the wood had to be 1½ to 2 times larger than the conduit you were bending to avoid it jamming in the block, used that method loads of times with no problems

 

[trix]

I used to have one in the 70's for 20mm. Drill the 4x2 ( 6" from the top ) a straight 25mm hole. With a 20mm tube heated with a blow torch, manipulate up and down to make formed soft edges. Ideal for awkward bends and also dressing many tubes in parallel.

 

[Vortigern]

Assembled Iron Conduit Bender 3/4-Inch EMT - 56204 | Klein Tools

This Assembled Conduit Bender features a wide foot pedal for comfort and stability. It is made of steel and can handle up to 3/4-Inch EMT. This bender comes with degree scales, multiplier scales, and center bend marks for accurate bends.

www.kleintools.com

I also use one of the above sometimes.

 

[7029 dave]

I used a wooden block once years ago, you still need a vice for threading and cutting, might as well get a hilmor conduit bender.
Remember that old vice had a wooden foot plate years old ha ha.

 

[UNG]

Assembled Iron Conduit Bender 3/4-Inch EMT - 56204 | Klein Tools

This Assembled Conduit Bender features a wide foot pedal for comfort and stability. It is made of steel and can handle up to 3/4-Inch EMT. This bender comes with degree scales, multiplier scales, and center bend marks for accurate bends.

www.kleintools.com

I also use one of the above sometimes.

I've got a 20mm and 25mm of a similar design. They are a handy bit of kit for the odd bit of conduit on a job

 

[Julie.]

I used a wooden block once years ago, you still need a vice for threading and cutting, might as well get a hilmor conduit bender.
Remember that old vice had a wooden foot plate years old ha ha.

Yup, mine is a hilmor - gm32/35 or something, only have formers up to 25mm though.

 

[7029 dave]

Assembled Iron Conduit Bender 3/4-Inch EMT - 56204 | Klein Tools

This Assembled Conduit Bender features a wide foot pedal for comfort and stability. It is made of steel and can handle up to 3/4-Inch EMT. This bender comes with degree scales, multiplier scales, and center bend marks for accurate bends.

www.kleintools.com

I also use one of the above sometimes.

They use these across the pond.

 

[Julie.]

They use these across the pond.

Yup, their conduit is much thinner than here, more like copper water pipe, but in EMT

 

[Dustydazzler]

They use these across the pond.

there was a guy on Utube doing American conduit forming using his knee to bend the pipe , did a pretty decent job of it

 

[Lister1987]

Assembled Iron Conduit Bender 3/4-Inch EMT - 56204 | Klein Tools

This Assembled Conduit Bender features a wide foot pedal for comfort and stability. It is made of steel and can handle up to 3/4-Inch EMT. This bender comes with degree scales, multiplier scales, and center bend marks for accurate bends.

www.kleintools.com

I also use one of the above sometimes.

Do they work for our 20mm? Been thinking of one of them in lieu of a bender

 

[Julie.]

Do they work for our 20mm? Been thinking of one of them in lieu of a bender

US conduit is thinner than UK - they have a wall thickness circ 1-1.2mm uk class 4 is 1.5mm

3/4" US conduit is approx 25mm UK conduit in diameter I think

 

[freddo]

Some scans about bending blocks from a Coker book.

 

[Vortigern]

Do they work for our 20mm?

Yes they do.