A conduit reamer will be a commercial electrician’s best tool, especially when thousands of feet of conduit needs to be ran.
Some tools that compliment the pipe reamer are:
These are some of the primary tools you will use when installing and EMT conduit and THHN wire.
Modern conduit reamers are quite advanced and productive.
They come in manual and automatic versions, either of them being very effective depending on the size of the job at hand.
Buying a conduit reaming tool is an investment that, if made correctly, will last you for several years.
However, how should you go about buying a conduit reamer and which ones are the best in the market at the moment? If you go on a look out yourself, you may be boggled by the choices you have, both of high and low quality. Of course, you want to avoid the latter.
To help you with this, I have curated this article within which I am going to discuss some of the top conduit reamers available for purchase and how to make sure one of them is perfect for your requirements.
Why Do You Need A Conduit Reamer
Perhaps you are an old school electrician and are wondering why you would need an additional tool in your arsenal.
Many years ago, the way that workmen were taught to ream conduit was to strip the ends off the channel locks, insert them into the pipe, then twist it. Then take the other end to go on the outside and clean it. Then check it for any burrs. After assembling the fitting, the workmen would have to get a screw driver and then tighten the fitting, before their conduit was ready to go.
Now with the modern conduit reamers, this job is much more efficient. After cutting the pipe, just take the conduit reamer into the pipe and ream it. After that, just take your fitting and screw it with the add-on that is already on the conduit reamer.
How I Picked The Best Conduit Reamers For My List
Picking out the best products from a pool of options can require experience, knowledge and a lot of time. Thankfully, you do not have to go through this process as I have done the hard work for you.
To make my list full of quality and unbiased products, I first shortlisted the conduit reamers which had a high customer feedback score on the top online marketplaces. After that I eliminated the products which had limited features, but were charging the same price as an advanced tool. Lastly, I cleared my list off any products that did not come with a warranty.
The properties I looked for in my conduit reamers were the sizes they supported, the quickness with which they did their job and their durability. These are the most important features in my opinion and weighed in largely during my product selection and elimination from my short list.
My Picks For Best Conduit Reamers
| Name | Sizes | Drill Attachable | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Klein Reaming Screwdriver | 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ | No | $$ |
| Dewalt Conduit Reamer | 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ | No | $ |
| Klein Reaming Drill Head | 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ | Yes | $$ |
| Greenlee Reaming Screwdriver | 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ | No | $$$ |
| Southwire Reaming Screwdriver | 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ | No | $$ |
| Ideal Conduit Reamer | 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″ | Yes | $$$ |
Klein Tools Reaming Screwdriver
Klein Tools is one of the most renowned brands when it comes to hardware for professionals.
While it does not specially cater to the needs of an electrician, however it still manufacturers some tools that can be pretty handy in an electrician’s tool bag.
All the tools created by Klein Tools are efficient and dependable, allowing you to expect nothing but the best for a superior performance on the job site.
The Klein Tools 85191 is one of the most popular conduit fitting and reaming screwdriver in the market at the moment. The tool comes in the unique black and green Klein color scheme, which makes it look quite stylish.
Aesthetics apart, the tool is also very functional. It has a hooded blade design that keeps hold of the tips and prevent any slipping from the screws. This can be important especially when you are trying to work on a conduit fitting that is in a narrow spacing or at an awkward angle.
The hood has been reinforced for durability and breakage resistance from impacts. The tool reams and smoothen both the inside and the outside of a conduit simultaneously, promoting productivity at work.
The handle has been cushioned for a comfortable grip, but comes with an ergonomic design for providing greater torque without much effort. The reaming blade is replaceable and can be held in place with a hex socket set screw.
All in all, the Klein Tools 85191 is one of the best options you have to work on an electrical metallic tubing.
Pros
- Long lasting
- Worth the extra cost
- All functions work as specified
- Shank Tip Width 5/16″ (8 mm) Shank Length 2-1/2″ (64 mm) Overall Length 7-1/2″ (191 mm)
- Simultaneous reaming inside and outside
- Klein Tools warranty
- Made in USA
Cons
- Cannot snap off anything too short
DEWALT Impact Ready Conduit Reamer
DeWalt is an American veteran tool maker. It is one of the most respected brands in the market today and makes some exclusive tools for electricians.
For many workmen, DeWalt is the manufacturer of choice.
The DeWalt DWA2600IR is an excellent conduit reamer.
It has been engineering to quickly de-burr the EMT conduit, without having you working on it for minutes. The tool can work with various sizes, ranging from 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″ conduit, which makes it very versatile for an average job site.
It has a one inch bit tip holder, which has been designed on the front and helps in tightening fittings even in the smallest of angles.
The conduit reamer is Impact Ready, as you would have noticed from the name of the product itself. This means that you can use it for high-torque impact drivers, right out of the box, without any configurations.
The blade can be retracted back inside the tool, which is a great add-on to the tool and gives positive points to the DeWalt engineering team. This will help protect your tool bag, or other tools inside the tool bag, from any wear or tear due to contact with the blade.
Pro:
- Works with various sizes
- Quick de-burring
- Impact Ready
- Blade retracts inside the sheath
Con:
- Tool may not be strong enough to handle M18 2 gen tools and Dewalt 24v on high settings.
Klein Tools Conduit Reamer Drill Head
If you are reading this article from the start, you would know that we have already covered one Klein Tools product. Here we have another one.
Personally, I think Klein Tools conduit reamers are perhaps some of the best in the market, albeit with a higher price tag than the average.
The Klein Tools 85091 is a conduit fitting reamer drill head. It is a great choice for de-burring electrical metallic tubing.
In fact, it can ream the EMT, both internally and externally, at the same time. This makes it a very productive tool and will let you save a chunk of your time, which would be wasted in working with conduit and mounting boxes.
Moreover, you would also be safe from any wear and tear to your arm, since the tool does all the work for you. Functionality wise, it can work with reams of various sizes (1/2”, 3/4” and 1”) and can install fittings within seconds.
The tool can easily be set on a power drill chuck or quick release adapters, without requiring any specific expertise. Compared to its previous generation, the 85091 has an improved bit retention and comes with a replaceable reaming blade.
With this tool, you can easily cut conduit and install anchors without putting stress on your arms or changing tools. It might seem like a luxury to some electricians, but given my experience with it, I will frankly state that if you are on a project with several conduit jobs, then you are going to need this tool.
Like all Klein Tools, this one is also backed with a solid warranty for any manufacturing defects or functionality problems.
Pros
- Various reams
- Quick fitting installation
- Fits in drills
- Good bit retention
- Replaceable blade
- Klein warranty
Cons
- Magnetic tip doesn’t hold screws well
Greenlee Conduit Reaming Screwdriver
Greenlee is one of my favorite manufacturer of electrician tools. It is an American company that has been manufacturing for over two centuries, which is a testament to its quality and reliability.
The Greenlee 9753-11C is a conduit reaming screwdriver. Aesthetics wise it looks very similar to the Klein Tools reaming screwdriver we saw at the top of this list, with a green and black color scheme.
The tool is pretty good in its reaming properties and can handle both the inner and outer diameters at the same time. This makes it easier to do installations and prevents any risk of wire insulation damages. The flat blade is hooded for protection and is a great driver for EMT fittings.
The handle has appropriate marking along the side for identification. Apart from the functions, the company has also taken ergonomics of the tool in note.
It comes with a cushion grip for a comfortable grip, that itself promotes torque. Do not that the tool is not insulated and hence should not be used near live current by electricians.
Like all Greenlee conduit screwdrivers, this one also comes with a life time warranty, which reflects the manufacturer’s confidence in the making and performance of its product.
Pros
- Handle marked
- Hardened blade
- Hooded, flat tip driver
- Soft, cushioned grip
- With a lifetime limited warranty
Cons
- Not insulated
Southwire Tools Reaming Screwdriver
Southwire is one of the world’s leading developers, manufacturers, and suppliers of building wire and utility cable, as well as the tools used in their installation.
I have reviewed several of its products in other articles before. Its conduit reaming screwdriver has been one of the popular ones in the market at the time of writing.
This SDCFR screwdriver is a heavy duty tool. It has a plastic and metallic body, with a color scheme of black and gold.
The tool does not look the most visually pleasing nor has the best finishing. However, looks aside, if you are concerned about its performance at a job site, you will be more than satisfied.
The conduit reaming screwdriver can scribe metal, start screw holes and do several piercing jobs, which makes it a versatile tool to have in your tool bag.
The sizes of supported by the tool are 1/2″, 3/4″, and 1″. Apart from the features, the tool is also convenient to hold and has a soft handle for better grip and movement.
The conduit fitting reaming screwdriver comes with a standard Southwire Tools warranty for any manufacturing defects.
Pros
- Heavy duty
- Multiple sizes supported
- All drilling and punching jobs
- Cushion grip
- Warranty
Cons
- Poor finishing
Ideal Twist-A-Nut Conduit Deburring Tool
Perhaps not as popular as the other brands I have mentioned in this article, Ideal is a pretty old manufacturer of hardware and tools.
It started in 1916 and has grown to become a successful company, with several loyal customers.
The Ideal 35-083 Twist-A-Nut is a good choice for conduit de-burring. The tool has been manufactured in USA and comes in an attractive yellow / black color scheme.
It can be used easily to ream conduits internally and externally at the same time. The sizes supported by the reamer are: 1/2″, 3/4″ and 1″. It is especially great when working with thin walled conduits.
The tip is hooded for preventing any slipping while screwing the fitting on the conduit and is also helpful in preventing any scratches by tip when the tool is in the bag. The head is interchangeable with the Ideal screwdriver shaft (sold separately), which makes this reamer very versatile on the job site.
Even more, the head can be put on a drill machine, without requiring any external accessories. The handle comes with a universal wire nut wrench design that makes the installing of twist-on connectors very easy.
All in all, this is a great tool for saving tons of time in conduit jobs at work, without sacrificing on the quality of the work.
Pros
- Various sizes
- Hooded tip
- Removable head
- Head attachable on drills
- Universal Wire Nut wrench
- Assembled in USA
Cons
- Some quality control issues
Conclusion
Now I have reached the end of my reviews. I am sure that this article would have been helpful to you. All the products listed here are from reputable manufacturers and have great customer feedbacks. I recommend you to pick any one of them, whichever best suits your requirements.