Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
Moderators: HopefulSSer, admin
Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
I am going to add some 3/4 Bessie pipe clamps to my shop. I saw a video on you tube where the guy said he used electrical conduit for the pipe instead of the normal black pipe. Supposed to be easier glue cleanup, will not mark the wood, weight etc. Has anyone here tried using the electrical conduit for their pipe clamps? If so what do you think of that solution? I haven't worked with either so I don't have an opinion and will let wiser heads prevail.
Thanks in advance.
Michael
Thanks in advance.
Michael
- JPG
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 34643
- Joined: Wed Dec 10, 2008 7:42 pm
- Location: Lexington, Ky (TAMECAT territory)
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
Rigid Metal Conduit is essentially electro-galvanized iron pipe.dynabase wrote:I am going to add some 3/4 Bessie pipe clamps to my shop. I saw a video on you tube where the guy said he used electrical conduit for the pipe instead of the normal black pipe. Supposed to be easier glue cleanup, will not mark the wood, weight etc. Has anyone here tried using the electrical conduit for their pipe clamps? If so what do you think of that solution? I haven't worked with either so I don't have an opinion and will let wiser heads prevail.
Thanks in advance.
Michael
As such it should work.
Do not confuse that with 'thin wall' conduit.
╔═══╗
╟JPG ╢
╚═══╝
Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
╟JPG ╢
╚═══╝
Goldie(Bought New SN 377425)/4" jointer/6" beltsander/12" planer/stripsander/bandsaw/powerstation /Scroll saw/Jig saw /Craftsman 10" ras/Craftsman 6" thicknessplaner/ Dayton10"tablesaw(restoredfromneighborstrashpile)/ Mark VII restoration in 'progress'/ 10E[/size](SN E3779) restoration in progress, a 510 on the back burner and a growing pile of items to be eventually returned to useful life. - aka Red Grange
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
I’m gonna try some aluminum conduit. Same diameter/thread, less weight. I’m getting 50 feet of it for free, so why not try it?
The clock of life is wound but once.
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
Let me know how the aluminum works out.artman60 wrote:I’m gonna try some aluminum conduit. Same diameter/thread, less weight. I’m getting 50 feet of it for free, so why not try it?
Here is the video that gave me the idea.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1wNP7N_HW8
Thanks
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
It should be interesting to see how aluminum works. It is about 1/2 weight of iron, but also about 1/2 strength of iron. It should work for light clamping, but might be prone to bending under heavier loads.
- dusty
- Platinum Member
- Posts: 21371
- Joined: Wed Nov 22, 2006 6:52 am
- Location: Tucson (Wildcat Country), Arizona
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
I would like to think that thin wall conduit works for this application but I have serious doubt. I'll be watching for the results.garys wrote:It should be interesting to see how aluminum works. It is about 1/2 weight of iron, but also about 1/2 strength of iron. It should work for light clamping, but might be prone to bending under heavier loads.
"Making Sawdust Safely"
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
Dusty
Sent from my Dell XPS using Firefox.
-
- Gold Member
- Posts: 65
- Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2017 8:41 am
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
Couple of comments. (1) Galvanized iron pipe can slip slightly with pipe clamps that have 3 or 4 clamping strips unless you lightly sand and clean the surface. Once you do that the slippage is usually not a problem. (2) With enough clamping force even iron pipe will bow somewhat. I would expect aluminum or thin wall steel conduit to bow with about 1/2 the clamping force. If you exceed the tensile strength of the material the pipe will be permanently slightly bent. (yes I have some bent pipe). If you need the clamp jaws to stay parallel, then perhaps invest in Bessey or similar clamps for those type of projects. (3) The steel clamping strips will lightly score iron pipe under moderately heavy loads. I would expect aluminum would mark much easier. May or not be a problem.
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
I'm not the strongest guy on earth but, I've only managed to bend 1/2" pipe with clamping pressure. And that was on fully extended 6' clamps.
Ain't no way I'm gonna bend my 3/4" pipes.
Ain't no way I'm gonna bend my 3/4" pipes.
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
I may be wrong but what would you need to clamp so tightly that it would bend a 3/4" pipe? Any examples would be appreciated.
Re: Pipe Clamps using electrical conduit?
I'd need to put a cheater bar on the handles to get that kind of clamping pressure. And, the handle would probably bend or break before the 3/4" pipe would bend. For the life of me, I can't imagine ever needing that much pressure.