Which conduit holders for metal conduit?

[nicebutdim]

I have seen the conlock stuff and while I can appreciate how easier it is to do (more so given I don't have my own conduit vice/bender...) I would not be very happy relying on the grub screw fixing to make the structure the CPC.

I had doubts about this also, but the powers that be deem it to be acceptable. What I will say is that the connection between conduit and accessory is quite good - grubs screws are fine, tighten up well and press conduit firmly against box/coupler, but the supplied hex keys are junk.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Have used ConLok a few times and it is lovelt to work with , no more threading just nip up the grub screw and done.
I did some ConLok in a sport centre and have been back since and while there I did check the grub screws and all were still perfectly tight. Unless modifying some old threaded , I will only use ConLok now for the occasional conduit jobs that I do

 

[nicebutdim]

Have used ConLok a few times and it is lovelt to work with , no more threading just nip up the grub screw and done.
I did some ConLok in a sport centre and have been back since and while there I did check the grub screws and all were still perfectly tight. Unless modifying some old threaded , I will only use ConLok now for the occasional conduit jobs that I do

It wouldn't be my first choice, but is certainly quick to install.

 

[Dustydazzler]

It wouldn't be my first choice, but is certainly quick to install.

I was pretty sceptical when I first installed it, thought it might be a bit flimsy, but if you nip up the grub screws properly then its a pretty solid. I have used the ConLok system twice and on both occasions its been quick, and does the job.
I won't go back to threading unless its for an alteration of an already thread job

 

[ipf]

It may have a use in light duty situations.
Many of us will regularly come across old threaded conduit systems, up to 60 years old. No way ConLok could compare. It will not suffice, nor last, for heavy duty industrial purposes. I still use galv threaded regularly.

Then again....many of us believed, and still do, that MICC was best in loads of instances.........look what's happened there. Shame, but I suppose it's down to cost more than anything........again.

 

[Dustydazzler]

It may have a use in light duty situations.
Many of us will regularly come across old threaded conduit systems, up 60 years old. No way ConLok could compare. It will not suffice, nor last, for heavy duty industrial purposes. I still use galv threaded regularly.

Then again....many of us believed, and still do, that MICC was best in loads of instances.........look what's happened there. Shame, but I suppose it's down to cost more than anything........again.

Time , cost , speed , ease of install , ease of modifying install something like ConLok will win every time.

Will it last 100 years up on a warehouse wall ? maybe / maybe not , I won't be around to inspect it

Probably some young sparks in 100 years time will look at ConLok and say what a load of old tat and have some new funky bendy flexible metal conduit they use to replace it all

 

[ipf]

Time , cost , speed , ease of install , ease of modifying install something like ConLok will win every time.

Will it last 100 years up on a warehouse wall ? maybe / maybe not , I won't be around to inspect it

Probably some young sparks in 100 years time will look at ConLok and say what a load of old tat and have some new funky bendy flexible metal conduit they use to replace it all

Says a true domestic expert.... ......wink.

 

[nicebutdim]

It may have a use in light duty situations.
Many of us will regularly come across old threaded conduit systems, up 60 years old. No way ConLok could compare. It will not suffice, nor last, for heavy duty industrial purposes. I still use galv threaded regularly.

Then again....many of us believed, and still do, that MICC was best in loads of instances.........look what's happened there. Shame, but I suppose it's down to cost more than anything........again.

I guess that's the factor that determines a lot in every industry. The choice between best option and something 90% as good is easily swayed when the 90% option costs 25% more in materials, but saves 30% on considerable labour costs.

A while back I looked into replacing a run of MICC that had shorted after 70 years, as it had been bent to tightly when originally installed. Sadly the cost difference between it and 1.5mm Tuff Sheath was so vast, there was no way to justify the longer lasting option as the only factor in its favour, other than longevity (on a building that will be torn down before Tuff Sheath passes its use by date), was gaining experience of working with it.

 

[Dustydazzler]

I must have been one of the last generation of college students to have to make off Micc as part of the course

In 20-25 years time they new lot won;t have a Scooby Do what Micc / Pyro is / was

 

[ipf]

I must have been one of the last generation of college students to have to make off Micc as part of the course

In 20-25 years time they new lot won;t have a Scooby Do what Micc / Pyro is / was

Probably right there. And any help wanted they'll be whistling for it as far as I'm concerned....

 

[pirate]

An alternative might be to use brass for an improved aesthetic...pricey but nicey!

Antique Brass Conduit

Developed by us and made entirely in Birmingham our solid brass conduit and accessories is exactly what you've been waiting for. The conduit is hand finished and waxed to order in a beautiful antique brass finish.

theworkshopbelow.com

 

[Dustydazzler]

Many years ago we did an art gallery in London using brass conduit , but actually from what i was told and could tell from all the brass conduit and fittings is that they were not indeed Brass but a alloy metal that had been dipped / brushed to look like an Antique Brass.
It was so expensive just the antique brass conduit and fittings ran into the £100,000+ , that was before it was even fitted or wired.
They even had custom made plates and switches to match made by Wandsworth that also ran well over £100,000+
Some people just have too much money to spend...

 

[pirate]

Yes, some folk do seem to have money to burn, but the OP was about a small bit of conduit to a few accessories, and the owners are happy to pay the price, so it may be that the expensive option would suit them on this occasion....and it'd look very nice!

 

[davesparks]

I was pretty sceptical when I first installed it, thought it might be a bit flimsy, but if you nip up the grub screws properly then its a pretty solid. I have used the ConLok system twice and on both occasions its been quick, and does the job.
I won't go back to threading unless its for an alteration of an already thread job

Interesting, how much quicker is it? I've never found the threading of the conduit to actually take all that long.

For me the biggest issue with steel conduit is the bender, getting it to and from site and then trying to find somewhere remotely close to where I'm working to set it up.
If there was a lightweight alternative for bending the conduit that removed the need to drag a hilmor type bender around then I'd certainly give Conlok a go as that would then make my life a heck of a lot easier.

 

[loz2754]

This is a good video showing the pros and cons:

 

[davesparks]

In 20-25 years time they new lot won;t have a Scooby Do what Micc / Pyro is / was

There's a lot of people now who haven't a clue, which is great as I can charge a premium for working with it.

I've got a few drums of it, and boxes of fittings, all acquired for free when people have been clearing out their stores.

 

[Dustydazzler]

Don't know why we just don't adopt the American EMT pipe , its still gives good mechanical protection , you can get loads of speed fit fixings and adapters and it can be bent using a simple plumbers hand pipe bender

 

[davesparks]

Don't know why we just don't adopt the American EMT pipe , its still gives good mechanical protection , you can get loads of speed fit fixings and adapters and it can be bent using a simple plumbers hand pipe bender

It would be helpful to have a regularly available light duty metal conduit like that here.

 

[nicebutdim]

I must have been one of the last generation of college students to have to make off Micc as part of the course

In 20-25 years time they new lot won;t have a Scooby Do what Micc / Pyro is / was

It's still taught, but not part of AM2.