Jerry:
I sure hope you are not implying that I don’t get my hands dirty, or that I am looking for some kind of shortcut, because your message kind of implies that. I have been in the trades since 1973. I have been licensed since 1990. I have bent EMT, rigid steel, rigid aluminum and PVC. I have installed vapor proof, explosion proof and motor control circuits. I have roped new houses and have done lots of old-work. I have installed microwave dishes, spliced waveguide, rebuilt transmitters and installed video and audio distribution equipment-- complete with ladder rack and fiber optics raceway. We have installed hundreds of PV systems, most of them off-grid, and established somewhat of a reputation for quality work……. I hope you get the picture. Getting one’s hands dirty is only part of the answer. Engaging your brain, using the best tools you can find and reaching out to other professionals is the other part of the equation. In our trade, a contractor does not bend conduit all day every day. We sometimes go weeks without touching a stick of pipe. Therefore, we have to keep thinking and keep training. This is why I reached out to the Wrenches for advice. I hope we can keep the Wrenches forum as a safe place to ask for advice without fear of being judged. Most Sincerely, William Miller [image: Gradient Cap_mini] Lic 773985 millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 805-438-5600 *From:* RE-wrenches [mailto:re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org] *On Behalf Of *Jerry Shafer *Sent:* Sunday, November 04, 2018 6:37 PM *To:* RE-wrenches *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Conduit Bending There is no substitute for practice, Utube videos only go so far, get some pipe and a bender and start working. It's interesting how everyone is looking for the key to learning how to do most everything that is hard, the key is practice, get your hands dirty and you will be impressed by what you can do. Jerry On Fri, Nov 2, 2018, 4:00 PM Dana <d...@solarwork.com> wrote: I too have been perplexed on the art of conduit bending. One of my favorite master electricians in CO suggested that I go online & get a DVD & book with tips & calcs that he makes available to his apprentices. Relatively cheap compared to experimenting/guessing - time & a pile of odd-looking material attempts. It was completely worth the $100+/- I spent. I checked on Amazon & it looked like it was there still there. *Conduit Bending Program with DVD AND Bending Charts Book Supplement – 2016 * I am still learning but it’s lots easier. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dana Orzel Great Solar Works, Inc. *C - 208.721.7003 d...@solarwork.com <d...@solarwork.com>* Idaho Contractor - # 028765 Idaho PV # 028374 NABCEP # 051112-136 www.solarwork.biz *"Responsible Technologies for Responsible People since 1988" * *P* Please consider the environment before printing this email. *From:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches-boun...@lists.re-wrenches.org> *On Behalf Of *toddc...@finestplanet.com *Sent:* Friday, November 02, 2018 2:56 PM *To:* RE-wrenches <re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org> *Subject:* Re: [RE-wrenches] Conduit Bending On Friday, November 2, 2018 12:40pm, "Michael Morningstar" < mjmornings...@gmail.com> said: William, When one is doing a lot of bending of rigid conduit, where the finished length of pipe needs to be determined, after all bends are made, and threading happens first due to bends interfering with the threading machine, one develops a DOPE sheet. The term being borrowed from long distance marksmanship, Data On Previous Engagements. One bends scrap pipe to various angles, and by making marks where the bender makes contact with both stub marks, and the 45 degree and saddle marks, a cheat sheet can be developed to help with arriving at desired stub lengths and calculating “shrink”, the amount that a length of pipe shortens after bends are made. Similarly a DOPE sheet can be made, or trigonometry can be used when making concentric bends and segmented bending. That was the world I inhabited for a decade and a half. Now days, if I get into that situation, bend and cut : ) Michael On Nov 2, 2018, at 12:23 PM, Ray <r...@solarray.com> wrote: I usually do the bend and cut method, because it really is faster and EMT is cheap. Look how much time you are already cooking doing research and exploring various apps, etc? I too have wanted to be the cool pro, and bend to exact measurements, but alas, the sun is setting much sooner now, and I need to get the job done. Also, I recently picked up a nifty reamer attachment that chucks up in a cordless drill and finishes the cut end nicely. Between that and my porta band saw, the bend and cut method is faster and the finished job is just as good. Actually I just switched to Metal Clad 6-3 for my PV runs, and it seems better as well. I look forward to hearing what other more accomplished conduit smiths have to offer, though. Ray Walters Remote Solar 303 505-8760 On 11/2/18 12:18 PM, William Miller wrote: Colleagues: I am always trying to improve my conduit bending skills. I came upon this scenario and need some input: I am bending stubs at less than 90 degrees. How do I calculate stub heights at less than 90 degrees? I am using the old bend-it-longer-and-cut-it-to-length method but that does not suit my personal style. I want to make a mark, bend from it and have it fit. I have searched on line and purchased several IOS apps for conduit bending. None of my research has turned up an answer. Thanks in advance for any advice. William <image003.jpg> Lic 773985 millersolar.com <http://www.millersolar.com/> 805-438-5600 _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org Sent from Finest Planet WebMail. _______________________________________________ List sponsored by Redwood Alliance List Address: RE-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org Change listserver email address & settings: http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org List-Archive: http://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/maillist.html List rules & etiquette: www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm Check out or update participant bios: www.members.re-wrenches.org
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