Bending EMT

So I am planning to build some hoops out of EMT to make hoop houses for my 2x8 beds.
I want to be able to move them between 2 spots:
    1. Right on top of the bed as a cold frame and protection for seedlings and transplants (#$%U# squirrels)
    2. Move to top of my arbor for protection for taller plants. maybe use tuele to keep some bugs out (%!%$# hornworms)
    3. Halloween decoration when I convert my beds to a train.
Of course my 2 locations are about 6" different widths so I am not sure I will be able to use 1 hoop for both spots, but I will try.

Anyway, I know my width on the top will be 28" and I only want it about 10" high.
I plan to build a jig using a 2x6 that I will use to bend the EMT around.
The challenge I have is knowing what radius to make the jig since I am not making a semi-circle.
Fortunately, the www came to my rescue and I found a website:
Radius of an arc or segment
You can drag to handles on the circle to adjust the width and height of the arc and the radius will appear.
You can also scroll down and there is a place that you can just type in your numbers.

So based on my numbers, I can use a radius of about 14.25" to make my bend.

Now I just need to figure out where and how to bend my EMT so the last 4" are straight.
I plan to use either 3/4" EMT or some PVC to use as a sleeve for the 1/2" EMT to slide into.

This is what I want my finished product to resemble...we'll see how it goes.

I did the same thing for my beds. The hoops look very much like yours.

What I did to ensure evenness while bending is that I marked the center of the EMT with a marker prior to bending it, and then just made sure the mark was aligned with the top of the arc.

HTH!

Oh, and P.S. If my hoops are any indication of rigidity, then you might consider making two different widths because there's no way I would be able to "stretch" one by 6" if I tried.

Thanks Molly,
I will probably go with the wider one, then rig up something for the bottom to use the same width.

For reference:

Yes, I see what you mean. Sounds like you've got a good plan.

Those beds are beautiful! Did you make them yourself?

Thank you Molly,
Yes I did build them. I started out with just the 4x4 in the center, then they evolved over the years

This is the thread I created back in 2014. Page 1 shows some of my 4x4 design and page 4 or 5 are show my 2x8's
Adventures in Table Top

RT, Have you considered making gabled PVC frames like I have? There's room underneath to harvest and they are tall enough for peppers and eggplants. I use them for bridal tulle and plastic sheeting. https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t22075-sanderson-s-urban-sfg-in-fresno-california

sanderson wrote:RT, Have you considered making gabled PVC frames like I have?  There's room underneath to harvest and they are tall enough for peppers and eggplants.  I use them for bridal tulle and plastic sheeting.  https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t22075-sanderson-s-urban-sfg-in-fresno-california

I had not considered them. I guess I got bending EMT stuck in my head...possibly because that meant I got to buy a new tool   

Also, if you recall, I use my beds as part of our Halloween party decorations: Pirate Ship

This year, I want to make them into a train. That means they would need to be rounded on top to resemble a passenger car.

BTW, I found this 3/4" EMT bender on Walmart.com for only $23.99

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Klein-Tools-Conduit-Bender-1-pc/16607405

these are the tools I used Popular Low Tunnel Hoop Bending Tools from hoopbenders. These work very well for me., thanks to GloriaG for introducing them to me.




quick put together hoopbender table. the table on top.

Those look great HAS.
How tall is the big one?

I got my EMT bender - Woohoo - New TOOL!!!
It may work for making hoops but I will have to get better at using it.
So for now, I will use it to make trellises.





I also made a quick jig to bend the hoops.
I need to make a better, more even jig but for now it will do.







And here are some finished hoops

EMT????

jenniferny wrote:EMT????

Commonly called Conduit, official name is Electric Metallic Tube (EMT).

I have used hula hoops picked up during clean up week in our town to make arch for pole beans. Break hoop at seam and place ends into tall tomaote supports or re bar.

OhioGardener wrote:

jenniferny wrote:EMT????

Commonly called Conduit, official name is Electric Metallic Tube (EMT).

Thank You!!

Thanks OG.
3/4" EMT is only $5.90 for a 10' stick and 1/2" EMT is $3.35 for a 10' stick.

Jenniferny and Kelly54 welcome to the forum. Check out our Introduce Yourself page and say hello to everyone.

ralitaco wrote:Those look great HAS.
How tall is the big one?

I been out of pocket with training at the hospital. When you say the big one , I assume you're talking about the Greenhouse. It's a 12 x 12 with 8 ft height. But the entry is lower after I added the automatic foundation solar vents so I don't have to run out there to open the greenhouse doors because it got to hot.

By the way I just remove the snap clamps and greenhouse plastic last week because were hitting 72-85 degrees. Friday, I put the shade cloth up for the cool weather plants.

RT, Very nice arches. And, we know that a man can never have too many tools.

sanderson wrote:we know that a man can never have too many tools.

sanderson wrote:RT, Have you considered making gabled PVC frames like I have?  There's room underneath to harvest and they are tall enough for peppers and eggplants.  I use them for bridal tulle and plastic sheeting.  https://squarefoot.forumotion.com/t22075-sanderson-s-urban-sfg-in-fresno-california

The main difference between the gray electrical conduit, also PVC, and the white plumbing PVC is the number or couplings available. White has more. One can connect metal conduit to grey using a 5/8 " diameter dowel ( hardwood lasts longer) as they have the same inside diameter. The metal conduit fits nicely around rebar both "1/2 inch" size. One can drive rebar into the ground and slide metal conduit for a vertical run then connect PVC with the dowel to bend an arched roof. I also attach 1/2" metal conduit to the side of a box with standard "straps". I insert the dowel and then slide the grey conduit to the other end of the dowel. The grey plastic and metal conduit are "dowel jointed" together.
Grey PVC, I believe, lasts longer than white because it is "UV resistant"(says so right on the conduit).

kt, thanks for the info on the gray PVC. I have not thought about using it. Is it as flexible as the white?

Dowel Jointed is a great idea.

The UV resistance is interesting.

So I have been playing with my EMT hoop frame.
I decided to use some EMT clips to hold the ends in place against the uprights. I can easily slip them in and out. although they may pop out too easy so I am thinking about raising them up about an 1". That would make them less likely to pop out but would be harder to put in because I didn't bend them well.


For the middle legs, I used the same clips screwed in at an angle and used the flex of the arch to push out against them. Not sure that is the final design but it was the best I could come up with at the time.



And here is the finished frame...



Next, I think I will cut a better template and may resize it. I think I need to make the legs longer and bend them straighter.

Cool

Ralitaco,  
I have seen grey PVC ( electrical conduit) in only one wall thickness but white(plumbing PVC) in two thicknesses. I think the grey is stiffer than either though I have not compared them directly. I used the thinner walled, more flexible, white when I needed a tighter curve. "Doweling" was the only way I could join the grey and white. Unfortunately, the wood tends to rot. I did see metal rods?, spikes? at the box store but do not recall what they were. They are more expensive and more work to cut but I have not tried them.
  You can easily drill a hole through the metal strap into the metal conduit arch to keep it from slipping out.
Metal conduit is more durable than any PVC so I have tried to maximize its use. I have fashioned a few "couplings" four metal conduit joints I could send as photos if you are interested and I can figure out how to do it. 
 Your frames are beautiful!
Happy gardening! Ken