How to Strengthen Your EMT Conduit Build with a Simple Hack
Materials Needed:
Maker Pipe Connector
Self-tapping screws
Piece of wood
Quick clamp
Drill with 11/64th drill bit
Sharpie
Metal file (optional)
Electric impact drill or regular cordless drill
Steps:
Prepare Your Materials: Gather all the materials listed above. You will be drilling into the metal connectors, so make sure you have a piece of wood to drill into so you don't damage your table.
Mark the connector: Remove the friction band from the connector if it has one. You will be drilling on the inside, or the concave surface, of the connector. Use a Sharpie to mark where you want your hole to be. It's best to mark it right in the center.
Clamp the connector: Use a ratcheting quick clamp to hold the connector down onto the piece of wood. This will keep the connector steady while you drill and protect your table from any damage.
Drill the hole: Start the drill at the mark you made. Apply pressure rather than focusing on the speed of the drill bit. Once you see wood chips, you'll know you've drilled all the way through.
Clean the connector: If there's a bit of burr on the outside of the connector after drilling, you can use a metal file to clean it up. You can also slide the friction band back onto the connector if you removed it earlier.
Assemble the connector onto the conduit: Place the connector onto the conduit and bolt it down. Then, drive your self-tapping screw into the hole you drilled using your electric impact drill or regular cordless drill.
This simple hack will add strength to your build, especially if you're worried about the conduit pulling out of a joint or if your build might twist. It's a quick and easy way to increase the security of your EMT conduit builds.
Remember to always take safety precautions when working with drills and other tools. Enjoy your strengthened build!
