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Need help with securing metal conduit in a piece of wood...

5.7K views 11 replies 12 participants last post by  drsurfrat  
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hello,

How would you go about 'securely' fastening EMT conduit in to a piece of hardwood?

I am in the planning stages of building a guitar amplifier cradle for repair work. Below are a couple examples of a simple design thats easy to tear down which is important for my small space. I'm a novice wood worker and i'm having a difficult time understanding how the conduit connections on the left side are fastened securely. The captions are from the builder's instructions and, imo, are pretty vague. Any tips on how to accomplish this without the ends wobbling? Would a threaded insert and a bolt work?

"The left side is pinned to the rails with recessed screws through the bottom."

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" (2) #10×2″ screws (to hold the conduit in place on the left side) "

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#2 ·
Looks to me that you "nailed it" with the two #10 screws, especially if they go through the holes in the conduit.
Sorry about the nail pun, couldn't resist.
 
#4 ·
The screws only hold the pipe from sliding out of the hole.

In your second picture the pipe is quite a bit smaller than the holes drilled for it, so although the screws will keep the pipe fastened to the wood, they will also tend to be a pivot point, allowing the pipe to "wobble" in the hole.

To keep the pipe from wobbling, the holes need to be an almost exact fit.
 
#5 ·
Another option that would work for repeatable breakdowns.
Drill the holes for the conduit pipes. Drill/countersink holes up through the bottom on both sides of each conduit hole. Cut the bottom of the wood through the center of the holes. Install threaded inserts into each of the 4 drilled holes (in the top part of the wood). Install bolts up through the bottom into the threaded inserts. Install the conduits and tighten the bolts. The conduit holes will be slightly smaller due to the saw kerf and will hold the conduit.
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
Due to the pipe to the right side of this rack looking device it appears you want to shorten or widen the ends for each job. A slightly oversized hole, with the screw drilled through like you have been doing, or a thumbscrew to lock it down would allow that movement. If fixed, then I would use some epoxy/glue, and tighter fitting hole.
 
#12 ·
You might just make the sliding part thicker; that would minimize racking and wobble. If you drill the holes to just fit the conduit that will also help. Then a simple thumbscrew (brass, don't mar the tubing) in the side will keep it from moving as you work.

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