3/4" EMT bender take-up
By Andrew ·
Quick answer
For 3/4" EMT, most hand benders take up 6", which is 1" more than the 5" for 1/2" EMT. Mark the conduit at the stub length minus 6", measured from the end, and put the mark on the arrow. An 18" stub is marked at 12". Check the figure on your own bender.
3/4" EMT deduct by bender
Most hand benders deduct 6" for 3/4" EMT.
| Bender | Deduct (take-up) | Centerline radius |
|---|---|---|
| Gardner Bender Big Ben (Aluminum hand bender) | 6" | 5 3/16" |
| Greenlee aluminum hand bender | 6" | 5 1/8" |
| Greenlee iron hand bender | 6" | 5 1/8" |
| IDEAL aluminum hand bender | 6" | 4 1/2" |
| IDEAL ductile iron hand bender | 6" | 4 1/2" |
| Klein Tools aluminum hand bender | 6" | 5 1/2" |
| Klein Tools iron hand bender | 6" | 5 1/2" |
| Milwaukee aluminum hand bender | 6" | 4 1/2" |
| Milwaukee iron hand bender | 6" | 4 1/2" |
| Southwire aluminum hand bender | 6" | 4 1/2" |
| Gardner Bender Sidewinder (Mechanical, Chicago-style) | 7 1/2" | 5 1/16" |
| Gardner Bender B2000 Cyclone (Large combo shoe) | 8 1/2" | 5 3/8" |
| Greenlee 1818 (Mechanical) | 8 11/16" | 5 1/8" |
| Current Tools 77 Series (Multi-shoe) | 8 7/8" | 5 3/8" |
| Gardner Bender Electric Sidewinder (Multiple 180° shoes) | 8 7/8" | 5 3/8" |
| Greenlee 555 (Multi-shoe) | 8 7/8" | 5 3/8" |
| Current Tools 77 Series (Single shoe) | 9" | 5 1/2" |
| Greenlee 555 (Combo shoe) | 9" | 5 1/2" |
| Greenlee 555 (Single shoe) | 9" | 5 1/2" |
| iToolco B2 Rapid Fire (Large combo shoe) | 9 1/8" | 5 1/2" |
| Current Tools 747 Omni (Combo shoe) | 9 1/4" | 5 1/2" |
| Greenlee 854DX (Large combo shoe) | 9 11/16" | 5 1/2" |
How take-up works in 3/4" EMT
Take-up is the conduit a 90 uses up. The arrow on the head is not where the bend starts: the conduit runs a short way past it, curves round the shoe, and the back of the finished bend ends up one deduct from the arrow. The deduct is made up of three pieces.
deduct = start of bend + centerline radius + OD ÷ 2Three-quarter inch EMT is wider than 1/2" and the shoe that bends it has a larger radius, so both of the last two pieces grow. That is why 6" is more than 5".
Marks for common 3/4" stubs
| Stub length | Mark at |
|---|---|
| 8" | 2" |
| 10" | 4" |
| 12" | 6" |
| 14" | 8" |
| 18" | 12" |
| 24" | 18" |
| 36" | 30" |
- Stub length
- 18"
- Deduct
- 6"
- Mark at
- 12"
Don’t use the 1/2" number on a 3/4" bender
It is easy to carry a half-inch habit to a three-quarter bender. If you mark with 5" on a bender that really takes up 6", the stub comes out 1" too long. On a stub that has to hit a box knockout, that is the difference between landing and not.
- Look for the deduct on the head. Most heads give "stubs" and a number by the arrow, and each size has its own head.
- Bend a test 90 in a scrap of 3/4" EMT with a stub of 18", marked at 12".
- Measure from the end to the back of the bend. Any difference from 18" is the correction to your deduct.
What the extra take-up does to your stubs
With 6" to take off, a 3/4" stub-up has to be at least that long, and a stub close to it puts the mark very near the end of the conduit. Give yourself some room: a stub a few inches longer than the deduct lets the conduit seat in the hook before it starts to bend.
If you are bending a bundle that mixes 1/2" and 3/4" conduit, mark each size with its own deduct, not the first one you worked out. Writing the number on the conduit as you mark it takes a second and saves a pipe.
Get the marks for your bender
BendMate works this out from your bender’s radius and deduct, flags a bend that won’t work, and shows you every mark.
Common questions
What is the take-up for 3/4 EMT?
6" on most hand benders, which is 1" more than 1/2" EMT. Subtract it from the stub length for the mark.
Why is the take-up bigger for 3/4 EMT than 1/2?
The pipe is wider and the shoe has a larger radius, so the back of the finished 90 sits further from the arrow.
Where do I mark an 18 inch stub in 3/4 EMT?
At 12" from the end: 18" minus the 6" deduct. Line the mark up with the arrow.
Can I use a 1/2 inch bender for 3/4 EMT?
No. Each shoe is made for one size, and 3/4" EMT will not seat in a 1/2" groove. Use a 3/4" head.