Conduit Bending Explained

27-05-2025

There may be times when an electrical conduit tube needs to be shaped to fit into an installation. This process is called “Conduit Bending”, and done correctly, it allows conduit tubes to fit various angles and bends as required by the installation.

The process involves calculating and determining the correct dimensions and angles to prevent “kinks” from forming while the conduit tube is being reshaped. Importantly, this is not done manually but should include the use of a Metal Conduit Bender to ensure the bend is smooth and even.

The Conduit Bending Process

The first step is understanding what type of bend your conduit will need, which will change depending on your requirements. The 3 main bends you will use are:

90° conduit bends are the most common type of bend, and they are typically used redirect conduit tubes from one place to another. For example, if you needed the tube to transfer electricity from the floor to a wall. A double 90° conduit bend are two bends on the same length of conduit and allowing you to fit the tube around corners. If you need a conduit tube to pass over an obstacle, like a water pipe or even another electrical conduit, a bubble set is a smaller bend in the middle of the same length that can help you achieve this.

Additionally, there are a few factors to understand regarding your conduit tube before starting the bending process. This can help minimise the risk of product damage during the process.

• The Centerline Radius is the distance from the centre of the conduit tube to the centre of the bend
• Gain is the additional length of conduit required for the bend, as it ensures the overall length of the conduit remains consistent once the process is complete
• Take-Up is the distance the conduit needs to be shortened to account for the gain. Measure this from the face of the bender to your bend

Planning is Key

Before even beginning the conduit bending process, proper planning and measurement is vital to ensuring you get the right angle or curve.

1. Determine the length of conduit needed for the project
2. Measure and mark the starting point of the bend on the conduit
3. Use the metal conduit bender as required

Different types of conduit tubes will have different bending characteristics. For example, a harder material could have a higher chance of a kink for the unprepared as the added resistance could buckle instead of bend.

TTE Metal Conduit Bender The TTE Metal Conduit Tube Bender can shape electrical conduit tubes to fit a variety of angles and bends as required in installations. Featuring formers (wheels) for 20mm & 25mm rigid steel conduit, as well as an extender arm for extra leverage, the metal conduit tube bender is ideal for use on site. The A-frame design offers additional stability while using the conduit bender, and clear working instructions will aid users during the process to ensure accurate, consistent bending as required.