[hackcasual]

EMT conduit isn't a great support material if you're handling human weight loads. The picture on the front page showing off the strength is visibly bending. It's kind of an awkward load profile, lower weight like an awning you're probably using ABS, higher weight you're using 1 1/4" system like steeltek or keeklamp

[Animats]

Right. There are many structural pipe fitting systems. Here's one.[1] Grainger, McMaster-Carr, and larger hardware stores stock them. Usually, they use bigger pipe. Fittings are really cheap on Alibaba.

[1] https://www.easyfit.com/catalog

[fidotron]

What are the right keywords to use when searching for the fittings?

My ali efforts often get flooded with nonsense.

[DannyBee]

Agreed. EMT exists to keep wire from getting damaged by accident. It isn't even considered self supporting let alone structural.

You can easily bend 1/2 emt by hand.

[quesera]

But 3/4" is also readily available, and much stronger. And of course larger gauges are available as well, just more difficult to bend with a standard manual bender.

I wouldn't use it for scaffolding(!) or anything supporting dynamic loads in the human-scale, but I've sistered three 3/4" EMT pipes together for an extremely strong, rigid, and inexpensive support pole.

[jalk]

And that’s even with his feet on the ground out of frame ;)

[elsewhen]

they have a video where they stress tested a table made out of EMT

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oCEMd4v9B4

[hackcasual]

Wild stuff. You can see the bottom horizontal trusses bending when loaded. EMT is just too thin walled for serious structural applications

[dddw]

Good to know, my first thought seeing this way. I could build a raised bed. You save some lotta time

[DannyBee]

Emt will eventually rust if not painted as well, depending how much you care. It is really mostly used in open commercial/industrial settings (if you go to home depot or Costco you will see emt running everywhere). Aluminum is your obvious metal winner for this sort of thing outdoors (cost wise). PVC, even thick wall, becomes brittle pretty quickly in sunlight.

This is why you see wood or outdoor plastics for raised garden beds