How to bend and install electrical conduit 

A few tips from a guy bending in Chicagoland since 1977. Loose the loaded toolpouch when running pipe. You don't need all that weight slowing you down. All you need are uninsulated 420 channelocks, a screwdriver with a Klein reamer attached, tape measure, pencil and 4 pocket nail apron. You want to be able to work light and fast and have everything you need right in that nail apron. Using a marker is bad for exposed work as it bleeds through paint and you're always having to take the cap off and on the marker which slows you down. Upgrade to a small battery impact for mounting boxes and tightening fittings. Wear sturdy shoes or your right foot will kill you at the end of the day from the bender. Get a short radius bender as you may need it for close quarter work. I used a hand hacksaw thirty-plus years. It killed my shoulder. If you're going to do a lot of this get yourself a small metal cutting circular saw such as a Bosch or Makita. It really speeds up the job and saves your body. After a while the math gets easy so strive to do the numbers in your head. Avoid coming into the side of any switch boxes. The fittings extend into the box and will obstruct any large size dimmers or timers that you may want to install later, especially if you're going to have a 2 Gang installation. I try to just use top and bottom knockouts everywhere. Switch boxes should be 2 1/8 in deep instead of the standard inch and a half deep 1900 bracket box. They cost a little more but you have more room in the box for dimmer's, timers and more wires that are required with multi-location switches. Believe it or not you can put in 400 or 500 ft 1/2 inch thin wall a day once you're proficient at it. Try to make it look good even though it's going to get covered with drywall. Inspectors love to see good pipe work as it's a key indicator that you know what you're doing.

Thank you for showing your mistakes and fixing them.

im an electrician and ive been watching youtube videos just to re learn what i forgot & you are amazing a guy that actually knows what he's doing and talking about

Hello, I am a civil electrical and water construction repairman in Vietnam, I really admire your work. I have learned many things about electrical system construction techniques that you have instructed on this RU-vid channel. Wishing you good health and success

Great video! Electrician here as well. Just a little 2 cents for anyone interested; since he was using 1/2 inch pipe, the take up (or deduction, the part you subtract when bending a 90 on the arrow) was 5". However, keep in mind, that these change from size to size. So if you're using 3/4" , the deduction is 6". If you're using 1", the deduction is 8". As he said in the video, it will be listed on the bender. Also, if you don't want to do the deduction, you can do something called "bending on center". Usually this is denoted on the bender by a star, and this allows you to just mark your exact measurement, and line the mark up with the star, as opposed to the arrow. Just a little less math involved is all. I work mainly commercial, but most of this information was very useful for anyone just starting off/doing a home project. This is stuff i only learned after being at many sites. I've never seen those bracket 1900s though, those are pretty nice!

The name 1900 Electrical Box comes from the part number given by the Bossert Company almost a hundred years ago.

Those shallow boxes really cramp my style. I always use deep 4s boxes, 2-1/8" deep. They cost a bit more but the extra room is golden for installing dimmers and GFCI's

so nice to see a pro admit he missed it...then showed how to fix it. that is my life, fixing my little mistakes. I have a job that I need to use EMT....looks easy enough..(LOL)

Great job. I retired from the trade after 50 years. Worked on everything from 115k on down to 24vdc. Had a great time too. Take care and best of everything.

Nice and concise. I, as an apprentice struggle with efficiency and its nice to see someone finally describe a good workflow.

I want to get into this. Im tired of doing nothing in my life. I wanna feel accomplished and do work that makes me feel good that I or we did this. On monday im going to a school for electrical work. Im gonna make a difference in my life. I want change..

I’m retired now but for years (and still do) I have a 12volt Milwaukee powered hacksaw, it’s small and light. Hand hacksaws are disappearing. I’ve seen some of the new guys coming up using small battery bandsaws! And I always use 1900SPD (deep boxes) for switches and a given for GFI’s, for the small price difference they give you extra room and less of a headache. Also, when your done, step back and look at everything, better to change it now than when the walls are rocked.

This is one of the best tutorials. So many show everyone going right and make it simple looking. He shows what can go wrong and how to fix that. Because I know I'm going to run into so many problems.

Great stuff! Just started my apprenticeship, and it helps to see all of this to study off of! Thanks man

whoever built that shed, they did an excellent job looks like. they built that like a house, more than a shed which is awesome.

Great video. I like that you showed the hiccups also and what to learn from for someone that has never done it. I wouldn't worry about talking slower. It's a video so we can always pause, rewind, but slow deliveries take forever to get through. Wouldn't change a thing.

great video! I was on a construction site for the first time as a welder, but I really enjoy doing electrical now also. really good explanation of what you're doing

Thanks for the refresher. Its been 30 years since I bent pipe. I needed that. Need to make more on conduit bending

Dude that’s pretty awesome. I recently just got into bending conduit and am having a fun time with the creativity it gives me

Than you much. You provided the exact information I needed to run conduit between the studs. The time you took to make this video and share it will open doors to other successes in your life’s journey. Thanks again.

You are not just a masterful technician, you are a masterful teacher. Thank you!

Thank you man, i knew conduit bending but you explained the whole process from bracket box to installing conduit. Youre a good guy.

great video, Bob! Lots of tips and no fluff.

Full respect, I don’t do it much with the company I work for now, but I love running conduit, so satisfying to look at when you’re done.

Failed inspection for hole size where I live. Best practice is to Stay under 1/3 the thickness

You are an excellent, very precise teacher. Thanks!

Thanks, Bob. It was good quick introduction, how to install metal conduits.

To give you the answer. The term 1900 box comes from the original listing given by the Bossert Company for the 4” x 4” x1 1/2” gas and electrical box and the name never changed. The listing goes back over 100 years ago.

Good tutorial. I know a lot of people use the conduit for the ground. But I always pull a green wire in as well. But then, I have a lot of industrial background. I retired 7 years ago after many years of working with 480 and below.

I love the comments of people saying oh you cant do this oh why you do that. If you guys understand anything its that literally every state every country even counties in the same state allow and don’t allow certain ways of doing stuff. So get off his back. He made a good video for those not familiar with the trade. Btw im a licensed electrician so i can speak on the subject. I worked in 4 different states and i can tell you it was all different.

I liked and I subscribed. You did an awesome job explaining and showing how to do it and how to fix it. I also think you had a great attitude. I also have to say, I was SUPER GREAT to hear you include something your father taught you. Our dads were probably the same. My father taught me a lot as well. I never call a repair man. I fix and do all my own work. That way I know it's done right. I'm planning on bending pipe for my Christmas decor outside. I want to make a unit that goes over my driveway and down it as well, so I can drive under it. If you have any pointers, that would be great. Thanks again, and God Bless.

I’m more in line with Dave Nag…..I’ve been an electrician for 40+ years….. in the old days speed was expected…. Now that I’m old I keep it light.. I’m slower than I used to be…. I bid more time for that … I have the best tools …. I now strive to do clean conduit work. The fellas will tear you apart if you don’t, ha ha! Electrical work is fun and I’ve been doing it so long it’s really been good to me. Good money, always in demand , hand arthritis slows me down but I have huge and powerful forearms which is a bonus , that’s from bending pipe, pulling wire and cutting copper. Keep it light guys, take care of yourself…. Your body will break down eventually and that’s a shame.

Top notch video, Bob! Awesome editing, awesome information and awesome delivery! Keep em comin! 👍🏻

Right to the point. Exactly what I wanted to see.

Learn something every day. I never thought about the galvanic corrosion that would occur with screws

Stopped using Channelocks to deburr EMT 40 years ago when Klien came out with a deburrer ( for 1/2 to 2" EMT ) that locked into a screwdriver then maybe 30 years ago Klien finally came out with their own deburrer mounted to a screwdriver.

Its always interesting to see a non electrician teach electrical or electric as he calls it.

I'm an attorney and do minimal home repair/maintenance/construction. This video is so easy to understand and your method of showing/explaining the process each step of the way is top notch. Honestly, after 20 minutes of watching, I feel like I have some semblance of how to run some short conduit without giving up before the project was even attempted (obviously I'd likely get an electrician to handle much bigger projects). Great job and keep up the good work!

That was an excellent job in illustration of working with emt!!!!! I have been electrician for the past 51 years and electrical contractor for past 48 years. You impressed the hell out of me!!!! Why didnt you just simply run mc cable??? I prefer 420s, (they are tad smaller), the klein conduit reamer/screwdriver, tape measure, pencil, hacksaw (battery sawzall, or hacksaw), 1/2" bender and little kicker to do that job in emt if the inspector refuses to allow me to use mc cable which is alot faster than emt is!!!! Again a great job!!!!!!

Thank you so much, two heads are better than one.

Great video, Thanks. It's too bad all contractors and laborers don't have the professional attitude and dedication that this guy has.

In Australia we have not any sort of this😂we just run the wires through the studs and bob is your uncle

Really good video! Not that many out there on conduit. I live near Chicago and everything here needs to be in metal piping and boxes....no romex. I have been doing it for years but your video still helped me learn some new tricks. Thanks!

as a plumber just a little FYI, the bit this guy is using to drill his holes is REALLY good for wood, but if you hit just ONE nail with it that bit is GONE. lol. USe hole saws guys

When I'm taking my measurements I usually deduct 1/8" or 1/4" for where the pipe goes in the connector. Most connectors don't let the pipe go in exactly to the edge of the box.

Thank you Chicago, for turning a 1 hour job into a 4 hour job. 👍

Just some useful info from an apprentice from Chicago. If you're gonna be doing a lot of pipe work you should get a 12v bandsaw to cut your pipes much faster, a 12v impact driver to drive your screws in your couplings/connectors faster, and put a Reaming Bit Holder on your impact, extremely useful bit it will save you time on reaming. If found that sometimes bending on the star is faster in certain situations like for a long piece of pipe (also you don't need to subtract if you're using the star) Nice video though!

Салом из Узбекистана Удачи вам мне очень понравилось ваше подход к работе 👍👍👍

Slotted screws...ugh...so glad I live in Canada. Americans should try Robertson square drive screws. They're much better because they hold onto the screwdriver and don't slip off!

Seems like a lot of work compared to how we do it here in Norway. We use hammer-on boxes and pre-fed flexible conduit; much easier.

That's pretty boss you called yourself out on that small mishap with the conduit... RESPECT!! Showing how to measure the bend properly is going to be very helpful...ty. I've just been eyeballing it, and believe me, alot of wasted time having to recut

Great video, man. Thanks very much. You're a natural teacher. All best.

Looks very neat. I was going to use metal conduit on my project, but since I needed to run nearly 60 feet of 8/4 plus ground, I cheated and used MC cable. :-)

I would have used a deeper box ( 2 1/8" deep ) just to give a little more room. Somebody told me years ago the 11/2" deep boxes that you used are called 1900 boxes because they are 19 cubic inches. I always pull a ground wire in every metal conduit. Saw way too many conduits that pulled apart that would cause most of ground if no ground wire was pulled. Great ideal not using sheet rock screws to secure box.Klein makes a great screwdriver with a teamed on it. Have several that are over 40 years old and never had to replace the steel blade. Installed miles of conduit in industrial sites but only a few times thru just 1 or 2 holes in stud or joist. In industrial sites the only time we used 1/2" EMT conduit was for alarms. 3/4" conduit is a lot stronger and provides some room for future circuits. Great ideal putting the notches in home made step stool to hold conduit.Would try to keep edge of hole 11/8" from front of stud like is required for Romex cable. Must seal all wires coming from a cold location to a warmer location to prevent condensation building uo.

Thank you all of you...I learn something. Gratefully yours

Interesting to see how a simple shed electrical is complicated af in some states. Im glad in our state (virginia) (Fairfax county) code allows for SIMpull romex, requires 1/4 of the time as this work and cheaper too. I will argue that it's almost as safe. Still a very good tutorial.

In EMT land here near Chicago as well. Try the angled side of a cats paw to knock out, then use the straight end to remove it on the inside of the box. I accidentally found this trick and will never go back. Hope this helps another electrician.

I was taught to always pipe in 1 direction meaning, mount a box, run a pipe to wherever the next box is, then mount the next box. It avoids having to fight connectors all the time. It's odd to me seeing it done in the direction you're explaining

Retired sparky here . Think it's called a 1900 box is because it has 19 cubic inches. Called 4 & 11/16" boxes 2100 boxes. Only used 2 & 2/8" boxes to give you more room for wires or deep devices. Great example is a duplex receptacle with two charging ports. Almost need a shoe horn & a rubber mallet to get it into box.

he helped me through high school ! Thanks mark! Me and the fam love ya!

Very nicely done! You stay on topic and show how to do it without giving many examples of how it could be done in so many other places. You gave the "How To" for this application. Thank you! If I had to cut a large hole as you did, I would use a nail plate instead of mounting the conduit to the back of the hole as it could be damaged by a nail from outside. What are your thoughts?

I'm building a step stool just like that. Absolutely awesome! Like the saw hook, maybe add a couple other things like holes for screwdrivers and such

You're a Profesional Bob thank you for sharing your Knowledge

That is a real electrical work using metal conduit only real trademans know how bend conduit 👍

When I went through the union apprenticeship they always taught us to use pencils ✏️ to mark our pipe. This is a good habit to keep just in case your pipe is exposed. We use reamers (proper tool) and levels.

It's a 4 square box in michigan, not 1900

I’m new in your channel, I liked your way you show step by step in the easy way, thank you very much I will do like you

Wow thank you very much! Just starting out lvl 1 construction electrician so exciting

Some cities and counties in the U.S. require rigid EMT (Electrical Metal Conduit) in situations where the wall cavities are exposed. Wiring needs to be protected from abrasions, or as some people do, hanging objects on the wire. In basements especially, I have seen everything from clothes hangers, to tools hanging from the Romex/Non-Metallic Cable (NMC) in the joist bays. This is very dangerous! So rigid conduit is used to protect against the wire being damaged and causing a short. Some jurisdictions allow flex conduit, but only in cases where the flex will be hidden behind a finished wall. Flex is more durable than Romex, but much easier to run than rigid conduit and then having to pull wire.

Tough town to require emt compared to a Mc cable … or a uf cable ….

Thanks Brother! I feel empowered to go get it done!

Good Info, after watching and reading comments, want to add, 7/8" hole in Center of Stud works well as it insures you are more than 1 1/4" from face of stud, then you won't have to use a nail plate. You're strapping accomplished that. Wouldn't remove Insulation from Channellocks. Just put a Pipe Reamer on your Large Screwdriver, or use your Kleins. If running a Lot of Conduit, use a Set Screw Screwdriver, won't slip off, faster. I live in The Keys, Corrosion and Rust is a problem, Smurf(ENT) Is common. For a Shed not planning on any Expansion or Additions, would use MC or Romex. Can't pull additional circuits, switch legs or whatever. We have to Pull a Ground Wire in EVERY Conduit, even Metal. You could also show temporarily removing box to allow conduit to enter connector without fighting it. If you can get to this shed before siding and door frame installed, you may be able to use straight pipes, eleminate the 2 90's, less pipe less wire? In Comments, I see People mention a Band Saw for cutting Conduit, seems like putting in a Thumbtack with a Sledge Hammer. Found for me a Milwaukee Hackzall to work well. M12 is good enough, M18 is heavier, but more Capacity. If Accurate height is Important(Kitchen Counter and Bath)where tile will show the're off, I will use a Pencil. A Razor knife will leave a more precise mark. I would also subtract 5" and put 1 mark on pipe. The second mark may be used accidently.

So crazy some places require pipe inside houses. That would take forever to rough in a house. In Canada we run Loomex

You got it done and everything looked fairly level, but I was having anxiety the whole time. Man you really need to get yourself a reamer. Dump all the tools that you don’t need too. I’ve seen apprentices work faster and more efficiently that that. I mean I guess what you showed didn’t look that bad, but man you gotta think things through before you start. I know I’m being a bit critical, but watching someone else run conduit (not “pipe” like you kept saying) is difficult to do. I hope everything looked good when you were finished.

Good video. I have to get ready. My garage is next.

Bruh 💯 About to do a project where I may need to run conduit. This came in clutch Thanks fro the great tutorial

Old RACO number 1900 box (4" sq metal box) I have been an electrician since the late 60's and i was taught that all 4'' box were 1900. As for the EMT many states and towns require it in wood construction.

Nice work on showing the basics. Kind of left that interior corner as the elephant in the room though. Would be nice to see the Chicago approved method to getting from one wall to another. We used short radius benders for interior 90's in Colorado Springs. The AHJ would allow it as long as you didn't exceed one shorty per run.

Running pipe inside walls---good job for a crazy restrictive electric code!!

I just built a 20x10 shed earlier this year and I want to put in some pipe rather then just run the romex. Never done it, but im gonna use this video for all the basics.

First year Electrical apprentice here. i was told that they are called 1900 and 411 boxes because that was their original part number. Dont know if thats exactly true but would love some knowledge if anyone has it!

putting conduit inside wood framing is nuts, it belongs in commercial and industrial applications.

Excellent video, thanks for sharing!

"How to" is not yellow! Real safety is being being able to help one another! Way safer for somone to watch your video than get scared of fear sales with safety! RU-vid saves alot of grief! :) Happy building

Conduit far and above the best way to wire a house!

How about a reaming tool

Hi I am new comer licenced Electrician i try to practice via your video thanks you very much

Man thank you I appreciate the video I’ve been watching videos on how to learn to bend conduit and your video really helped out

358.30(A) EMT shall be securely fastened within (3 ft) of each outlet box, junction box, device box, cabinet, conduit body, or other tubing termination. Since you didnt make any box offsets this is not to code correct?

Use a level or two if on unlevel surfaces, to make sure your 90 is a 90. Emt needs to be supported 36" from terminaton points/the box

Great video. Clear and to the point. Great tips. Thanks.

Thanks Bob! Great video and very informative

That was a sweet 85 degree bend with his wrestling work boots. Haha

Your electrical career must have been short lived.

Good stuff. I would like to see more videos.

Great tutorial exactly what I was looking for!

Don't know about you guys but this wouldn't fly where I'm from. The pipe going up has no straps.

As an electrician, I think he should have spent more time on the fundamentals of using an EMT bender. There's so many things you can do with it. Learning to use the bender correctly can save not only time but money. Using the star vs the arrow when creating offsets, saddles. and other bends in addition to 90's are an electricians bread and butter. Additionally, the NEC (national Electrical Code) requires that vertical runs need to be strapped down every 3' and while the vertical run you showed was under 3' (barely) I would have still ran the pipe against the stud and put a strap half way up the run which would have required a box offset at the higher box.

Wow it's so easy!! I'm going to buy everything you have wire install all the pipe!!!

Modern day Bob Vila. Man bro your badass excuse my french.