How to Bend an Offset in Conduit

When it comes to bending conduit, offsets are a necessary item to know how to bend. But until you get the hang of it (and even afterwards) they can be a bit tricky at times. In todays episode of Electrician U, Dustin walks us thru the process of bending an offset.

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Before we get into offset bending basics, lets take a moment to talk about aluminum conduit. Todays sponsor- Penn Aluminum Conduit & EMT- makes some of the best aluminum conduit on the market. But why choose aluminum EMT over steel EMT? Well, its considerably lighter therefore it takes less labor to install and reduces wear and tear on your field staff hauling conduit around. Next, its much easier to bend than steel, again, making it less strenuous on your staff to install and using less labor. Its also cheaper than steel currently, so it helps on the bottom line. Penn Aluminum has even engineered a coating for the inside of the conduit that helps with wire pulling and eliminates the snagging most often associated with aluminum conduit. Give it a shot, I think you will like it!
Onto the bending! An offset is a bend that allows us to change the course of our conduit run. It is a series of 2 opposing bends with a length of straight unbent conduit in between. Maybe we need to clear an object that is in our way or enter a junction box/pull box/panel where the knockout is not lined up exactly in line with our conduit. So, the first thing we need to do is to figure out the distance we need to offset our conduit. Once that is established, we need to figure out how FAST we need to offset our conduit (I am not necessarily talking about the speed in which we work. That is usually fast!!). If we don’t have a lot of space to make the offset, we may need to use a sharper bend, but if distance isn’t really an issue, then a shallower bend may be used. Typically a 30 degree bend is what we use.
For a 30 degree offset, take the measurement you determined in the first step and double it. That is the distance between your bends. So, make a mark on the conduit where you want to start your offset. Then, if you measured a 2 inch obstruction, make a second mark 4 inches away from your first mark. Place the conduit in the bending shoe, with the hook of the bender facing away from you and the arrow on the first mark you made. With the conduit on the ground, apply foot pressure on the shoe AND use arm pressure on the handle to pull back. Most bender handles signify a 30 degree bend when that handle is at 90 degrees to the surface you are bending on.
Once the first bend is complete, roll the conduit (don’t remove it from the bending shoe) 180 degrees. At this point, you will most likely have to invert the bender as your first bend will now be pointing towards the ground. Place the arrow on the second mark and sight down the conduit to make sure your first bend isn’t pointing off to one side or the other (your two bends will need to be in a straight line or you will end up dog legging the bends!). Place your foot in front of the bender so it doesn’t slide on you, place your hands CLOSE to the bender shoe so you don’t bend more of the conduit than necessary, tip the bender slightly forward, and then pull down on the conduit until the bottom of the conduit is in line with the 30 degree line on the bender shoe.

[mikehamelin]

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

[butters]

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.

[peterohmart]

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

[anjamesonusn]

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

[Mandalawi]

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 ✌🏻

[_k]

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'.

[SubdolphinX]

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

[zacharysherry]

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).

[michaelarzola]

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

[dwaineruthannarmentrout]

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.

[martf]

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

[PacRimElectric]

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

[tylerbulloch]

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

[sparky]

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.

[ottoroth]

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!

[dankelley]

Excellent demonstration on getting the proper offset for EMT.

[provethioaltum]

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

[elitesoccerblogs]

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 !

[brandonroome]

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

[gregorydentice]

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