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.

 

[Lister1987]

Yes they do.

Ooo may have to get me any UK suppliers?

 

[Julie.]

Don't know, lots of similar for water pipe.

I would look at getting a proper one if I were you, you will need one or something similar to hold the vice for threading the conduit in any case if you are using it in anger.

There are some cheap hilmor copies around, or a second hand copy in the order £40-£80 on various sites.

 

[Vortigern]

UK suppliers?

Got mine on Ebay, I do have a hilmor one of the old types got it for £30 and painted it.

 

[AJshep]

This will gives you some idea.

View: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=k2Zzg3GxPNY