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IDEAL ductile iron hand bender: radius, deduct and gain

The IDEAL ductile iron hand bender is a hand bender for EMT, rigid (RMC), and IMC, 1/2" to 1-1/4". These are the numbers BendMate uses for each of its shoes.

Part numbers: Heads 74-001, 74-002, 74-003, 74-006; with handle 74-026, 74-027, 74-028, 74-034

Specs by shoe

Centerline radius, 90° deduct and back-of-90 gain for the IDEAL ductile iron hand bender, in inches.
SizeCenterline radiusDeductGainNotes
1/2" EMT4"5"2 7/16"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-001 head (74-026 with handle). IDEAL publishes no radius or gain; radius is the NEC minimum, so gain and shrink are estimates. Measure your bender.
3/4" EMT4 1/2"6"2 7/8"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-002 head (74-027 with handle). IDEAL publishes no radius or gain; radius is the NEC minimum, so gain and shrink are estimates. Measure your bender.
1/2" RMC4 1/2"6"2 3/4"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-002 head (3/4 EMT groove). Radius is the NEC minimum for the head's 3/4 size, not measured.
1/2" IMC4 1/2"6"2 3/4"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-002 head (3/4 EMT groove). Radius is the NEC minimum for the head's 3/4 size, not measured.
1" EMT5 3/4"8"3 5/8"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-003 head (74-028 with handle). IDEAL publishes no radius or gain; radius is the NEC minimum, so gain and shrink are estimates. Measure your bender.
3/4" RMC5 3/4"8"3 1/2"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-003 head (1 EMT groove). Radius is the NEC minimum for the head's 1 in size, not measured.
3/4" IMC5 3/4"8"3 1/2"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-003 head (1 EMT groove). Radius is the NEC minimum for the head's 1 in size, not measured.
1-1/4" EMT7 1/4"11"4 5/8"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-006 head (74-034 with handle). IDEAL publishes no radius or gain; radius is the NEC minimum, so gain and shrink are estimates. Measure your bender.
1" RMC7 1/4"11"4 7/16"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-006 head (1-1/4 EMT groove). Radius is the NEC minimum for the head's 1-1/4 size, not measured.
1" IMC7 1/4"11"4 3/8"Centerline radius: NEC minimum radius; check against your bender Gain worked out from the radius. 74-006 head (1-1/4 EMT groove). Radius is the NEC minimum for the head's 1-1/4 size, not measured.

Marks on the shoe

  1. 1
    ArrowLine your marks up here. This is the arrow the app’s marks are for.Printed as “Arrow”
  2. 2
    45° center notchThe center of a 45° bend: line up a mark placed on a bend’s center, like a three-point saddle’s middle bend.Printed as “Rim Notch”
  3. 3
    StarThe back of a 90: for a 90 measured to its back, like the second of two back-to-back 90s.Printed as “Star-Point”
  4. 4
    Angle linesThe conduit lines up with each one as the bend reaches that angle, bending in the air.Printed as “Degree Scale”

The angle is read on the lines and marks on the head.

Where the numbers come from

Bend with the IDEAL ductile iron hand bender in BendMate

Choose it in the app and every mark comes from these numbers. Edit any of them to match your own bender.

Common questions

What is the deduct for 1/2" EMT on the IDEAL ductile iron hand bender?

5". Subtract it from the stub length to find where to mark a 90. The shoe’s centerline radius is 4" and its back-of-90 gain is 2 7/16".

What is the deduct for 3/4" EMT on the IDEAL ductile iron hand bender?

6". Subtract it from the stub length to find where to mark a 90. The shoe’s centerline radius is 4 1/2" and its back-of-90 gain is 2 7/8".

What is the deduct for 1" EMT on the IDEAL ductile iron hand bender?

8". Subtract it from the stub length to find where to mark a 90. The shoe’s centerline radius is 5 3/4" and its back-of-90 gain is 3 5/8".

What is the deduct for 1-1/4" EMT on the IDEAL ductile iron hand bender?

11". Subtract it from the stub length to find where to mark a 90. The shoe’s centerline radius is 7 1/4" and its back-of-90 gain is 4 5/8".

Brand and model names only identify the bender. BendMate isn’t affiliated with or endorsed by IDEAL. Check the numbers against the markings on your own bender.