Dealing with a PVC conduit is tricky business, especially if its intended usage is that of a pipeline for wiring. Although this material is generally fine as is as a component of any installation of electrical connection, the problem comes when the PVC conduit itself requires bending, a process which is more complicated than twisting steel pipes toward a certain direction—essentially plastic, a PVC material does not respond similarly to force as it would a metallic component as it would break.
But if a PVC material does not bend the same way as a steel material, then how comes some PVC pipes have twists and curves on them?
Make no mistake, a PVC conduit does bend. However, force alone will not be sufficient for it. You would also have to factor in the right heat (or temperature) before you could apply pressure to make the bend.
Intuitively, those very same tools you would use to bend metallic pipes will, in no way, function properly when used with a PVC pipe. It takes an altogether special tool to do the job for it, sometimes even with the absence of heat—specifically, a PVC conduit bender.
Of course, there is a makeshift way you could bend a PVC conduit which would imply you applying a heat to the material itself using an available option, like the blow dryer. But the output may not always be at par when you use an instrument custom-tailored to bend any PVC-type pipe.
Best PVC Conduit Benders for Electricians
1. Morris Products PVC Pipe Conduit Bender
Many PVC conduit benders in the market adhere to the traditional principle that PVC pipes require heat to bend which suggest a sort of heating mechanism as part of their design.
Straying away from the notion, but with some relatively positive result, the Morris Products PVC Pipe Conduit Bender is a tool that does not employ any heat—meaning, no heat guns or heat blankets is needed—to make a bend. Simply, you just inset a PVC pipe or conduit in it and then apply the right force to form an angle.
However, for this instrument to work well, you must also factor in the environmental temperature. Specifically, it must be at least 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Although cooler than room temperature, cold is the more concern which could render it unserviceable in places with very cold temperature or during winter.
Temperature aside, the Morris Products PVC Pipe Conduit Bender is capable of handling PVC pipes in any of the following dimensions: ½”, ¾”, 1”, 1 ¼” and 1 ½” and can bend to up to 90-degree angle.
However, there is a caveat with regards to the use of this tool—its traditional usage would require the use of the knee for the bending, which might restrict some people with medical conditions from using it. Still, this is a good choice particularly if you are so concerned about the common issue with PVC conduit benders overheating and melting PVC pipes simply because of too much heat.
2. PVC Bendit PVC Pipe Heater Bender
As revolutionary as the idea of bending PVC pipes without heat is in the business of PVC conduit bending, there is also an undeniable fact that a plastic-like material like a PVC responds well to bending when heated. It simply has a way of getting into the innards of the PVC pipe which facilitates the proper modification of the conduit itself from the inside and out.
Faithful to that notion, the PVC Bendit PVC Pipe Heater Bender is a traditional PVC conduit bender that truly does employ heat as part of its overall mechanics under the hood. But a feature like this will not exist without the right means for it—specific for this tool, there is the electric-powered technology that gives the right amount of heat to any PVC pipe while within the confines of the instrument itself.
However, it is worth noting that temperature plays a critical role in the success of bending any PVC pipe with this tool. Give the subject material too much temperature and it will melt or sag beyond repair. But give it just the right level of heat and you would get a very satisfactory output. In this case, 270 degrees Fahrenheit may be too much while 220 degrees Fahrenheit is just fine for most PVC pipes.
If you are looking for a PVC conduit bender that has all the checkmarks of a traditional but efficient tool of its kind, you can never go wrong with PVC Bendit’s.
3. Greenlee 849 PVC Heater/Bender
Known in the electrical sphere as an icon for its high-quality tools, Greenlee introduces the 849 PVC Heater/Bender as an addition to its overall roster of products aimed for electricians.
There are a few things that make this tool standout, specifically from the others which made the list—not only does it employ a design that is significantly diverse, it also comes with a hefty price tag which may be a little too much for some.
But with different overall physical layout comes with unique functionality and that is indeed what the Greenlee 849 PVC Heater/Bender is all about. Using this tool to bend a PVC pipe requires significant effort to do in addition to the crucial pre-heating. Specifically, it requires for the pre-heated material some rotating until it becomes pliable. The process may indeed appear dull and tiresome for some people, but is a necessary step to coming up with the perfect bend.
The Greenlee 849 PVC Heater/Bender may be an expensive option as far as bending a PVC pipe is concerned. But with lots of money comes the benefit of getting a very accurate result, so it is worth the trade-off.