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Question;

Any tips on bending 1/2" EMT. We can't use Romex. I can usually get the pipe bent but sometimes it takes a couple of tries.

I hear the Chicago area requires conduit to be install in
dwelling instead of nonmetallic sheathed cable. I also hear that
many areas in the chicago area allow Metal Clad Cable to be
installed in dwelling instead of conduit.

I would check with you local Electrical Inspector and your
insurance company to confirm whether they will accept Metal Clad
or if you must use EMT. Also check for any other rules applied
special to that locality. If you can use Metal Clad in your area
by all means go for it. The NEC allows Metal Clad to be installed
just about anywhere EMT is allowed to be installed. This Metal
Clad cable is almost like installing nonmetallic sheathed cable
[Romex]. This Metal Clad would definitly be your best option in
wiring a dwelling if conduit is required and Metal Clad is also
allowed.

If you must install EMT the read the following;

Bending EMT is an art that takes constant practice to be good at
it. Kind of like drawing pictures ya gotta keep at it to be
relatively accurate in your bends. If you will buy an EMT bender
you should find instructions on how far you must measure back
from the end of the conduit to make a bend to produce a finished
product where you planned to make that bend in that conduit.
These instructions found on the side of the bender will tell you
either to add or subtract so many inches from the point you want
the bend to appear in that conduit. This is adding and
subtracting inches is required due to the design charicteristics
of your particular bender.

Option 2

If you are a novice and you are trying to make a few rows of EMT
to make a 90 degree or 45 degree bend being equal and still
looking good like you really knew what you were doing in making
these bends even when you can't make two bend match each other,
and you don't mind throwing away short pieces of EMT conduit as
scrap, then try the following;

Lay out as many pieces of conduit parallel to each other as you
have rows that you want to install a turn evenly. Push the
conduits against a wall so that they are even, then go to the end
of the EMT that is away from the wall and hook your bender on the
conduit with a couple of inches sticking out of the conduit and
bend that conduit 90 degrees. Then hook your bender to the EMT
laying beside that bent conduit and go back about 4" and make
that same 90 degree bend in that conduit and repeat until you
have bent all the conduits needed in your row of conduits.

Then lay the first conduit up in line with the existing conduit
you want to make a turn on the wall. Take a hack saw and cut the
EMT off so that bend is located where you want it on the wall.
Then do the same with each following conduit cutting off what is
needed to make the bends even at the turns on the wall. You
should be proud about the time you mount that last EMT on that
wall making all conduits with an even turn. Let em think you know
what you are doing when they see those even turns.

Special note; Never cut a conduit with a pipe cutter. This pipe
cutter makes a bur on the end of the conduit that will cut the
insulation of the wire as you pull that wire through your
conduit. The rule is to use a 32 tooth hack saw blade then ream
the conduit smooth with no remaining burs to damage your conduit.

Hope this helps

Wg

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