Question
Can you use a shoe for rigid metal conduit to bend a PVC-coated conduit of same size?
Answer
There are shoes made specifically for PVC-coated conduit which will accommodate for the exterior coating and bend the elbow properly. Using a shoe made for RMC will cause the coating to be pinched. Using a shoe for the next trade size up will collapse the elbow. Shoes made specifically for PVC-coated conduit can be purchased from the hydraulic bender manufacturer.
Incorrect Method
Incorrectly-Bent PVC-Coated Elbow
The shoe used to bend this elbow was a 2″ shoe made for rigid metal conduit (RMC) which does not accommodate coated products and causes the coating to be pinched. Using a shoe for the next RMC trade size (2-1/2″) will collapse the elbow.
Correct Method
Correctly-Bent PVC-Coated Elbow
PVC-coated conduit should be bent with shoes made specifically for PVC-coated conduit.