How to Bend an Offset in Conduit

[@mikehamelin7520]

I'm a 3rd year apprentice and don't have much opportunity to pipe bend. I watch these to help me remember what I was taught in school. these are helpful. thanks you for these

[@Youcanthandleme319]

3rd year and you don’t get opportunity to bend? I make all my apprentices bend

[@peterohmart707]

I like how you explain things to the new people in the trade. The other thing I find really impressive, you let the experienced or seasoned electricians know in advance. Thank you

[@Mandalawi1987]

I've just completed my first month of classes in an Electrical Techniques program. This video is MONEY. It's going to help me big time in my pipe bending labs. Thank you, Dustin, for taking it slow and explaining very simply and clearly for us baby squids. We appreciate you, Sir ✌🏻

[@13_13k]

Dustin -- you should have covered a box offset for those people who don't know how to do a box offset. It's such a simple thing but so many electricians still can't do them coerectly. You could also have included marking the center of the conduit at the end of the pipe to help prevent doglegging your offset. And or howbto use an anti - dog bubble that attatches with a set screw on the end of your conduit, of course, on the center line of the pipe. Also most if not all emt has a natural centerline seam, sometimes a few of them, that you can use as a way to prevent doglegs in your offsets. This was a good short, instructive video. Keep 'em comin'.

[@DeadShotX-X]

He's actually got an older video on a box offset. Still holds up great though.

[@tonymontana6734]

@@DeadShotX-X your mom holds up great

[@highvoltage1979]

Cory from Lowe’s already covered box offsets

[@13_13k]

@@highvoltage1979 ---- I'm not trying to be a dick but what I'm about to write will most likely be interpreted that way. I apologize in advance. Corey from Lowe's is someone people wanting to learn something about the electrical trade is supposed to know and or take advice from? And because Corey already made a video about box offsets means that no one else needs to make a video about the same subject? If that was the way YT videos worked more than 75% of all videos would never be made or uploaded. There are dozens, if not more, videos on the same subject, using the same video clips from other videos uploaded every day by people. Thanks for the info about Corey from Lowe's. Just from curiosity, does Corey from Lowe's have prior experience in the electrical trade as a certified, or licensed, or union card journeyman electrician before making videos for Lowe's teaching a trade that can damage property and end lives if some handyman or homeowner decided to work on home electrical and makes a mistake because they learned from Corey from Lowe's videos? I would think Lowe's upper management and their insurance policy and their lawyers would make sure Corey from Lowe's knew his shit before letting him make DIY videos. But, even bigger companies have done dumber things.

[@13_13k]

@@DeadShotX-X ---- thanks. I figured Dustin had covered that already but wasn't sure. He has the best videos for people to learn the basics and beyond basics in some cases, that I've come across on KZbin that are educational and yet casual and easy for people to understand. I've been an electrician for 35 years now, I think? Maybe 34? Either way, more than half my life. I've told Dustin we could work together any time and we'd have some fun and do some great work at the same time. I have my own business now for the last eleven years and I am 57 yrs old and I'm ready to just run the business and start slowly doing less work with my tools. Hahahaha

[@dwaineruthannarmentrout1811]

I appreciate you took the time to exactly show where to place your hands and feet during the bend and explained the method and calculations. I'm new to this and it is super helpful.

[@sparky178]

When I do an offset, before I make the first bend I make a mark at the top end of the pipe as my reference when I flip the pipe to make the second bend I can use that to make sure I am straight on.

[@martf1061]

5:55 I find that the best way to do offsets, is to do both bends, standing up. That way, you can better see the 30° mark on the bender, since your eyes are closer to the shoe

[@FishFind3000]

Klein has a nice bender with a plastic insert that acts as a stop when you reach the selected angle. Works pretty good.

[@FOH3663]

I also prefer in the air ...

[@stephenrosenthal5252]

​@FishFind3000 that is genius

[@3rdgenjunkies57]

Only problem is thwt the insert is small and not attached to the bender and easily lost​@FishFind3000

[@PacRimElectric]

Just want to say is that I passed my C10 exam. I am an electrical contractor. Thank you for the help.

[@brandonroome3445]

What were the requirements you had to meet in your state? I’m in California and each time I look up the requirements it’s nothing but complicated 😥

[@13_13k]

Congratulations. Getting my C10 was the 3rd best thing I've done in my life. 1st was becoming an electrician. 2nd was when I got my union journeyman card. 3rd was getting my C10 It's been eleven years now. It has been a lot of work but the money I make is worth the long hours. It sure makes it easier to get out of bed in the morning knowing I'm making a lot of money by going to work and knowing I'm losing out on making a lot of money if I don't get out of bed. LOL

[@michaelarzola59]

Don't ever stop posting these amazing videos Dustin, you have been a great help for me and my upcoming. God bless you, brother!!!

[@anjamesonusn]

Been years since I needed to bend conduit. Thank you for the refresher.

[@zacharysherry2910]

Another pro tip: If you aim your bends toward a light source, it's much easier to get visual contrast to notice if your offset is dog-legging. (Especially in basements/etc).

[@marshallm.7709]

As a beginner that's my biggest problem, I can't wait to try that on Monday at work

[@MindKontrolleProject]

Will I see 🅶🅾🅳 if I look at the light source too long?

[@ramiroserna362]

Could we maybe get a video of how we get an offset measurements. I know many people get there measurements based off of different references in the field.

[@SubdolphinX]

Thank you. This is I think the best demonstration on bending offsets I've ever seen. Great detail.

[@martf1061]

5:05 Should always MAKE SURE that the FLOOR is level also if you use this technique. Especialy when you doing a 90°, and want to make sure its good. If the floor is not horizontaly level, then its useless to use it verticaly.

[@Ephesians-ts8ze]

Good point! I see so many (even journeymen) pay no attention to whether the floor is level or not. I’ve even seen people make that mistake bending on a floor that’s deliberately sloped to drain

[@martf1061]

@@Ephesians-ts8ze 😋

[@zacharysherry2910]

Lol I like to find a level spot on the floor first too and do my bends there

[@tylerbulloch5889]

My god thank you for this video. I’m running electrical in my basement (do hvac and have never bent conduit) and this is the best video I’ve seen explaining this

[@butters742]

Please make more EMT bending videos. Make a series that gets into the details. There is so much on the fly at work. It's such an in-depth skill that all sorts of situations need their own video.

[@ottoroth9377]

Very good point, to prevent the bender handle from kicking out, I cut a 36 inch piece of 2x4, and in the middle of that, attached a 12 inch piece of 2x4. Drilled in a 1 inch hole in the smaller 2x4. This way, I have a non slip method bending up in the air. You can step on the longer 2x4 too. Gotta think practical and safety!

[@saebyeokhusband3913]

You should make a video about it

[@provethioaltum3276]

Love this channel ive been an Electrician a year and i love learning from A to Z . Always be humble willing to learn.

[@stevebusby6618]

Three questions. #1: Does it matter which way the bender is facing on the conduit (I know it has to face the same way for both bends)? #2: Does it matter which bend you do first? #3: I know for 90° bends, you have to have to move your mark to account for the bend. Do you have to do that for an offset bend? Thanks for the video demonstration. It was very helpful.

[@elitesoccerblogs4947]

Thank you for the conduit bending videos ! I’m going to trade school and they show us how to troubleshoot electrical equipment from low voltage to high voltage sources but for what ever reason it’s not in the curriculum to teach conduit bending !

[@natpickron9788]

U can also use the star for a 90 don't deducted and spin pipe around from where u pull tape from

[@gregorydentice7717]

I'm a low voltage tech in NY, so I'll probably never have to do this but thanks for a very simple explanation!! Appreciate all the content

[@brandonroome3445]

Great video Dustin. Any more on pipe bending coming up? I’d love to see more. Thanks brother!

[@dankelley9361]

Excellent demonstration on getting the proper offset for EMT.

[@fartherstill]

Awesome demonstration!! Thanks man. Never worked with the stuff and needed this info to clear a partially exposed corner post in my pole barn in order to make the 90 degree turn to continue along against the adjacent wall. Great video! All info without the kind of B.S. from some of the other guys who love to hear themselves talk.🤣🤣

[@mathewbrown5989]

It wasn’t an eighth too high…that was clearance so the next electrician could get the four square cover off😂

[@FosterFarmsOk]

Much better than the Lowe's video showing how to bend conduit. Lol.

[@yomommaNyadaddy]

I know this doesn’t have anything to do with the video but since it’s the newest I thought people would see my comment more and reply. I start electrician school today and I’m excited but my only fear is the dangers of shock and electrocution, how many ways are there to get shocked? And how to avoid it?

[@DeadShotX-X]

Just learn what you're dangers are and always stay vigilant. There is plenty of safety gear you can wear too. If you're ever worried, measure for power or double check that the source is properly locked out. It is very dangerous, but can easily be handled.

[@icevariable9600]

Learn to "trust, but verify". Always, always remember that just because someone (like your foreman) says the circuit is off, doesn't mean it's off. The wrong breaker could have been flipped. So verify. - You can do this with a tig tester or "non contact voltage tester". Klein makes one, a NCVT3P Dual Range Non Contact Voltage Tester. Buy one. ALWAYS carry it with you or on your tool belt. Whenever there are breakers in the panel, pull it out before working on switches and outlets, unless you personally checked all the breakers. - MANY old timers will whine about tig testers, saying they're called "widow makers". Don't listen to them; you'll notice they complain about everything. EVERYTHING. Just get one that has a light and/or laser; Klein is well trusted and the only one I use. - You can also get a plug tester. Klein makes one for less than $10. The RT110 Outlet Tester. - Study, on your own, how a circuit works. You will need to understand that for the most part, current is on the neutral conductor, as it returns to the source, the panel. Learn the flow of electricity, especially during a ground fault. No, AC "electricity doesn't want to go to ground"; this isn't true, no matter how many people say it. Study on your own. The more you learn how a circuit works, the more confident you'll feel about electricity and the wires you're working with. - Be conscious of what you're stepping on. If you are standing on something that is conductive to the ground, and you touch a hot, or neutral wire, there's a very good chance you'll get shocked. If your boots are well insulated or you're on a rubber mat or not kneeling on dirt, then there's a good chance you either won't get shocked or you'll get minimal shock. I literally saw it today, one guy took apart a live switch to fix it and kept touching the hot wire to see what we'd say. Once we noticed it, we were totally confused. He started laughing and said he had new boots on and wasn't grounded...not something I would try. - Wear gloves. I use Maxiflex Endurance 34-845 and they work great. But you'll only get about 2-3 weeks out of each pair. And remember to not rely on school for all your learning. Definitely study on your own, as if this is a profession that you want to excel at. Understanding the code when installing GFIs, 20 amp vs 15 amp outlets and 12 gauge vs 15 gauge wire and when you should be derating Romex is a good thing to know. Good luck.

[@yomommaNyadaddy]

@@icevariable9600 thanks for all that 👍 what do you mean by standing on something that’s conductive to the ground?

[@icevariable9600]

@@yomommaNyadaddy Like metal, a metal ladder vs a fiberglass ladder, kneeling on the ground where your knee is in contact.

[@patrickwendling6759]

Thank you for your knowledge and videos USA 🇺🇸

[@jonnywick4402]

Thank you mate. Really helpful. As an apprentice 1 year in solar this really help me a lot.

[@Nao_chan369]

thank you so much! this is so helpful and easy to understand. i didnt understand when my teacher was explaining it to me, thank you thank you thank you

[@fisforfriendship6093]

do those benders come with an attachable level? i feel like that would be handy

[@Lewdacris916]

i really think you are on to something with youtube trade school, i wish there was more channels like this for low voltage. Im a commercial sercurity tech and ive yet to find a channel for my line of work

[@danielsimanski6102]

What kind of advice would you give to people who are constantly doing the correct angles, just backward? Especially back to back 90°s? I've always shown my apprentices to use like a scrap 12g solid to see what the bends they wanna do look like. For some that helps, some seem hopeless lol.

[@Iam_jardow]

Have him stand on his head lol

[@isaacb.m.5397]

Hey, Electrician U, you should gives us tour of all your Electrical Books.

[@REDPILLTLK2]

Does it matter what degree bend We Choose Or Is That Just Based On The Room We Have To Work With.

[@HerbieBancock]

The multipliers they print on the benders have a lot of rounding errors baked into them and you can easily wind up 4-5 inches off if you use them to jump over something big like a cabinet.

[@michaelgiordano1004]

So if the box (obstruction) is 34" from the last piece of emt where do you make your offset marks?

[@ronardetchu6671]

Thank you so much.the video help me alot,i'm a second year apprentice

[@muffmuncherz41]

What about the shrinkage? I thought you had to add that in there? At least that's what my instructor mentioned?

[@JQ_Vegan]

I appreciate the detailed explanation, many other videos I have seen are vague and fast. I am wondering about a technique to measure for where to put the bend in, for example you are joining into another conduit and have limited space and don't want to cut the conduit.

[@johnsaake2303]

This video was meant to be a simple explanation of an offset.A lot of benders have charts that will help a lot with where to make your marks. 30 degree offsets are very easy math though. the distance between your bends is the height of your obstruction multiplied by 2. the shrinkage is .25 or 1/4 of the height of the obstruction.

[@johnsaake2303]

If you’re running a lot of conduit shrinkage is good to understand but tbh if you don’t do a lot of bending and you’re not very good at it quite yet just go a little long with it.. it’s better to run it long/ cut it to length and use couplers as opposed to waisting conduit and time.

[@johnsaake2303]

a single ten foot stick of 3/4” emt costs about the same as 25 couplings to put it into perspective

[@--JohnDoe]

The most accurate way is to use your electricians level, bend till the 30° bubble says you are at 30, then flip it and bend it level. You have to bend half of the second bend in the air.

[@Ephesians-ts8ze]

A quick way to find your multiplier if you have an iPhone open the calculator and turn your phone sideways to get scientific calculator mode. Type in the angle of the bend, then hit the “sin” button, then the “1/X” button. It works on any scientific calculator, of course but it takes an extra step or 2 on an android phone.

[@stonedsocrates7499]

First year apprentice this was very helpful

[@redd605]

I see plumbers use a pipe bending equipment with a former. Is that better to use or is the pipe structure to hard to use on a plumbing one.

[@martf1061]

7:47 😆 The face you make is priceless 🤪 Are you sure it's Aluminium conduit..😋 Usually, 3/4" aluminium can be bent just by looking at it 😉😉 Good video btw.

[@--JohnDoe]

@7:57. Pro tip, look down the end of the tubing, not from the side. Like a gun, and match it up to the degree line. From the side is, hit and miss.

[@isrramingonzalez5660]

When done bending your offset, just to make sure your measurement for the offset is correct do I measure the top of the emt or bottom?

[@DylanWhipp]

How did you get the first mark? Do you measure to the box?

[@usahobbies9067]

I have an issue with Aluminum pipe because if it catches fire from a short, it can cause a bigger fire. With steel, maybe the fire is contained.

[@tashiholland7866]

Hey Dustin name is Tashi Holland I’ve been a electrician for 8 years. Taking the journeyman liscense. I’m in Ohio question I have is should I sit in one the code classes to get fimilar with code questions??

[@tundrawhisperer4821]

I have a 1-3/4 offset obstacle so I set a starting mark and then a mark at 3-1/2” up from that starting mark, which is double the obstacle like you said if using a 30 degree bend. But it’s not working. My offset finished at 3-3/4”. So that not working. Don’t know why.

[@spressne1]

Thank you so much for your video! 1st time, a perfect off-set! Make me look like I know what I'm doing! LOLZ

[@aaronvillatoro231]

On your first mark that you made, do you just choose it anywhere before the obstacle or right at the start of the obstacle?

[@hectorruiz7496]

What channel can I watch for rudgid 1/2. 3/34, 1inch bending

[@kirin347]

Multiplier for 45 is sqrt(2) and for 60 is sqrt(3). 30 degrees is definitely the best!

[@sameernelson9684]

You kick a##, keep up the great work 😊

[@brent52]

Instead of pencil … I use dry erase sharp point marker. Makes it easier for the apprentice to see the bend lines

[@AJ-ox8ev]

Does this conduit stand up to strength like traditional EMT? I'm a bit skeptical!

[@donuts24]

I used to love telling 1st years to go to the truck for the "wire bender".

[@michaelwhitehurst]

Awesome content, especially for a pretty capable DIYer like me. Thanks!

[@LuisLopez-qf4gn]

Do have a 3 point and 4 point saddle videos?

[@manuski14]

Can we get more of the videos like this with different versions and types of bends with the time you took to make this one? I think these videos and any type of tip and tricks you are aware of, are great videos. Tips like snaking a bx cable or flex cable to the back of an existing 1900 box or installing a gem box for a device that needs power. There is a trick on putting the snake inside the hole of the cable to pull it into the box and install the lock ring and pull out the snake.

[@stephenrosenthal5252]

30 degree is the old go to. Multiplier of 2 so easier maths. And adds less degree of bend which makes pulling wire smoother and you cant have more than 360 degree of bends in a run unless you add a junction or pull point and then you reset and can start bending some more bends. So for an offset with to 30 bends that offset is a total of 60. And like he was saying about 60 degree bends. That offset would have a total of 120. That means only 3 offsets before you add a box. The 30 degree bend alllows double the amount of offsets at 6

[@martf1061]

3:40 Why use the arrow? I was taught to line up with star, and still do it like that. Because the star is the center of where it bends.

[@skiball83]

The u is center. Star is outer edge

[@skiball83]

Measure edge to edge. Minuse deduction. Perfect.

[@martf1061]

@@skiball83 when you say " the u " , do you mean the " notch " right next to the star? And i was asking where to set the bender when doing offsets?. I.E. , lets say i have to go over a 5" high obstacle, and the obstacle is at 24" away. I would mark my conduit at 22" and 12" and align my marks on the star, rather than the arrow.

[@shawny6997]

I heard some youtubers talking about adding shrinkage to the measurement, is that a important factor to consider?

[@highvoltage1979]

Only in cold weather

[@tye3ow]

it's only a factor to consider if you're pre-cutting your EMT. shrinkage just affects the length of the pipe. I suppose if you're fitting your pipe into a specific space it might be important, but I've done a ton of bends and honestly I don't even measure I just bend intuitively.

[@slimydee5173]

Thank you, how do I bend a kick?

[@Sn00chieb00chies]

I have all the multiplies saved on my phone 👍🏼 you learn to memorize them the more you do em

[@raheemdanielson5691]

Can you post them

[@JackLe1127]

On the second bend, can't you just do it on top of the flight of stairs or something?

[@dudeman3929]

Pipe bending is fun and challenging. For guys who really want to learn but don’t get much opportunity to bend, 1/2” emt isn’t expensive. Go buy 50 ft, borrow your boss’ bender and just spend a Saturday making 90s and offsets, it’ll help you out a lot

[@JackLiang-n8s]

newb here, just wondering why the shrink was not considered in this case but it still works well

[@hudier333]

Hey Dustin. I live in Quebec Canada and we also say dogleg for the same thing but in french.

[@martf1061]

C'est quoi en francais le mot " dogleg"?

[@kenspencer6640]

What bender makes a 45 with the handle straight up?

[@mackenziepeek9317]

Can confirm dog leg is pretty typical about anywhere in the south. Worked in just about every state in the south and heard it everywhere. Can't speak for the rest of the country

[@rodb4523]

Do most electricians now use machines on big jobs?

[@schatzemanly6749]

Thanks for the detailed explanation

[@mcroley591]

Thank you, great video!

[@nicolasrivera391]

Can you please do a video on rolling offsets? I'm a little confused when it comes to those smh...

[@donmaronimacaroni4555]

A coworker showed me how to do that using Pythagoran Therum. A²+B²=C². "A" and "B" are your measurements from the starting point, to where you want to end up. Once you have those two measurements, punch the numbers into a calculator and you should get C², as in your first bend.

[@donmaronimacaroni4555]

Actually never thought I'd use something from school until now, thankfully I was decent at it then.

[@donmaronimacaroni4555]

I was slightly wrong.. C² should be your second bend; the total length of the offset.

[@hippo-potamus]

Are there benders for 1/2 inch that have a tighter/smaller overall radius?

[@mthibeau]

It's called a hicky bender, the shoe is much smaller. Maybe Electrician U could do a video on these types of benders.

[@Environmenthrall]

The tightest radius you can achieve for ½" EMT is ~4", which can be done without a hickey. Just check the specs of a bender to see if it's capable.

[@hippo-potamus]

@@mthibeau I looked it up and I think that benders sharp edge would kink the pipe.

[@burgessbrooks4435]

Luv the videos!!! Saying that teach em to use a pencil not sharpie

[@Lukiusa]

very helpful . Thank you 🎉

[@BigmoRivera]

Great Job 😉👍🏽⚡️Thanks

[@honorebelron]

I did a 4 point saddle perfect my first time, then it was a 10 in drop and I totally messed that up

[@robertapreston4200]

Wow... you are using a ton of energy bending aluminum..... are the walls rocket than steel??

[@stanleyvo5198]

Nice explanation …❤😊

[@Jcewazhere]

Smart panels, yay or nay?

[@EonTide1111]

No shrinkage calculation?

[@ricecooker4928]

Height of object times whatever degree you’re bending into.

[@llewen123]

The center of the 30 degree bend is at the notch in the center of the shoe. Don't put the bend on the arrow that's for 90's and use a pencil not a marker

[@CleberLRamos]

Good job

[@chicocuevas8337]

Can u do more pipe bending videos plz

[@monsterjeff]

I love you bro im from Morocco

[@jeffreyabercrombie]

Cool man very helpful

[@angeljarquin5133]

Thank you!

[@quinones355]

3 point saddle and a 4 point video

[@3s3KROW]

Thank you

[@patrickmckowen2999]

Excellent 👍

[@doctorartphd6463]

Thank you.

[@GorillaStunter]

Do a shepherd hook bend next 🎉

[@shanebibby6006]

Good tip to bend with crazy measurments with 30 degree. Measure twice it will never faill between the bends if u suck at math.

[@MrDontcareify]

You work long enough as an electrician and you get to do thousands of these things.

[@Allen-lm9tl]

Unless you fuck it up enough your journeyman just won’t allow you to do it no more 😂😂😂

[@James-sc6hq]

No kidding

[@Tre16]

​@@Allen-lm9tl anymore*

[@Allen-lm9tl]

@@Tre16 😂 always that one person. Hey go fuck yourself bud

[@christianz8020]

One year electrical apprentice. Just did my first panel, but STILL haven't bent any rigid conduit 😞 Heat gun pvc though 😁

[@anotherdegenerate3976]

lol i just had my first day in a Pre fab shop as an apprentice