In a message dated 10/3/03 12:03:30 PM, dosteven@syr.edu writes:

<< George I appreciate the input, though i'm not referring to rigid as a name
brand, but the THICK pipe that isn't made to bend.. (it's near 1/4" thick,
heavier then light structural steel) >>

Dan, I am referring to the same thing.  It is called RIGID CONDUIT and it is
sized the same as Schedule 40 pipe but it is not pressure rated.  Untold feet
of RIGID CONDUIT are bent everyday by electricians the whole world over.
RIGID CONDUIT is provided by the manufacturer in a condition which allows the cold
bending of it with ease.

The ells you see hanging at Home Depot are used as a matter of convenience
for small jobs or because the tradesman does not have a rigid conduit bender.
But, the convenience comes at a dear price.  Today, rigid conduit benders are
the mandrel type with the push coming from hydraulics.  In the old days, even
rigid conduit was bent by hand using a tool called a hickey.  That was when men
where men and they knew how to work.  Although harder to do and requiring
skill, a manually bent rigid conduit run was, in some ways, better.  For one
thing, the radii of the bends could be varied so that an array of conduits
fastened to a wall would be concentrically graduated from the tightest to the largest
radii.  When done properly, it makes a job which is pleasing to the eye and
balanced.  Not at all like the one-size-fits-all hodgepodge you see today.

If I go on anymore, I'll start ranting and raving about how things SHOULD be
better today, but are not.

George