Conduit bending study guide for apprentices
By Andrew ·
Quick answer
Study conduit bending in this order: the parts of a bender and its terms, the 90 and its deduct, offsets with multipliers and shrink, then saddles, kicks and parallel bends. Practice each stage on paper first, then on a scrap of conduit, then check with a calculator. Use the plan below and your school’s own curriculum.
How to use this guide
Work through the stages in order. Each builds on the one before it, and each ends with something you can do with your hands, not just recite. Your program’s curriculum sets what you are tested on, so treat this as a framework for your study time.
The study plan
| Stage | Topic | You can | Number to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tools and terms | Name the shoe, hook, arrow and star on a hand bender | Deduct, 1/2" EMT: 5" |
| 2 | The 90 | Mark and bend a stub-up to length | Mark = stub − deduct |
| 3 | Offsets | Find marks and shrink for 10° to 60° | 30°: 2 multiplier, 1/4" shrink per inch |
| 4 | Trigonometry | Derive a multiplier from sin and tan | 45° multiplier: 1.414 |
| 5 | Saddles | Lay out a 3-point saddle over a pipe | 22.5° rule: 2.6 multiplier |
| 6 | Kicks and parallel bends | Bend a kick and a rack of offsets | Spacing between conduits |
| 7 | Full runs | Plan several bends on one stick and cut to length | Shrink on each offset |
The formulas, plainly
Multiplier = 1 ÷ sin(angle)Shrink per inch = tan(angle ÷ 2)Mark for a 90 = stub length − deductWords to learn
- Stub-up: the straight leg that sticks up after a 90.
- Deduct (take-up): how much shorter than the stub the mark goes.
- Shrink: how much shorter a run gets after an offset.
- Multiplier: the number you multiply an offset height by to find the distance between bends.
- Gain: conduit saved by bending on a radius instead of a sharp corner.
- Centerline radius: the radius of the bend measured to the middle of the conduit.
Where to practice each stage
- Stages 1 and 2: handle a bender and a scrap of EMT until the arrow and the deduct feel natural.
- Stages 3 and 4: work the offset problems on paper, then compare with the offset calculator.
- Stages 5 and 6: use the saddle and kick calculators to see how the marks move when the height or angle changes.
- Stage 7: lay out several bends on one stick and check the cut length with a tape.
A daily practice habit
- Do five minutes of practice problems before work or class.
- Bend one scrap each week, then measure it against your calculation.
- Log every mistake in a notebook with the cause.
- Once a week, redo last week’s mistakes before moving on.
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 should an apprentice learn first in conduit bending?
Start with the parts of the bender and the 90, because its deduct makes every later bend easier to understand. Then move on to offsets and the multiplier.
How long does it take to learn conduit bending?
It varies from person to person. Short daily practice on paper plus a scrap bend each week builds the skill steadily.
Do I need to memorize multipliers?
Know the common ones, such as 30° and 45°, and know how to work out any angle from 1 ÷ sin. Check your program’s requirements for what it expects.