How to Make Your Own Hula Hoops
Instructions for Hula Hoop Making
The perfect hula hoop is usually made from 160 psi, 3/4" diameter but can also be made from 100 psi, 1" diameter. For kids use the 100 psi, 3/4" tube. The 100 psi, 3/4" is the one, though, if you want a lightweight hoop. Other supplies you will need are ratchet PVC cutter, insert connectors (1" tubing, or 3/4", depending upon which hoop you'll make, colored electrical tape, and a blow dryer.
Cut a length of tubing for the size hoop you are making. Hoops are usually about 12" in circumference but can be slightly larger or smaller. Use the rachet PVC cutter, or a sharp hacksaw to make the cut in the tubing. The connectors, found where you purchase the tubing, should be 1" for the 1" diameter tubing or 3/4" for the 3/4" tubing. The connector will hold the two ends of the tubing together on the hoop.
Before inserting the connector place sand, beans, dry peas or other noisemakers in the hoop. This step is optional if you don't want the hoop to make noise. Some things, like sand, can add weight to the hoop that you may not want so use dry beans or rice instead.
To make it easier to attach the connector heat the tube ends with a blow dryer. The tubing becomes more pliable with heat and will give you less trouble when it comes to adding the connector. If you have no dryer you can also use hot water to soak the tubing ends. Wear gloves to hold the hot tubing while applying the connector.
After the ends are heated take a connector and put it on one tubing end then the other. Push the ends together over the connector until you can no longer see the connector. When the connector is correctly positioned and inserted, it is covered completely by the tubes. If you have trouble getting the tubes and connector all together try reheating the tube ends.
Purchase electrical tape in a color or design that will look nice on the hoop. Tapes now come in every color of the rainbow, practically, and there are some great selections for kids. Start where the tubes are connected and begin winding the tape around the hoop, at an angle, making sure to keep the same distance between tape, each time you wrap.
A hula hoop will make any little girl happy and women love them for exercising. Hula hoops have been popular since the day they were invented and will continue to be, more than likely. Consider making a few and giving them out for presents during the year or make lots and set up a flea market booth.
Published by Emma Salk - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Born in Columbus, Ohio, Emma Salk has traveled the U.S. and parts of the world. She has visited nearly every state in America and now resides in scenic North Carolina. Emma Salk has been published, online, o... View profile
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16 Comments
Post a CommentDo you mean tubing used for "irritation" or for "irrigation"? Do you mean 12" in circumference or 12 feet? Maybe you should fix these errors! Sloppy writing in other respects too!
I love the hoops my kids & I made. To watch the joy in their faces as they created their own toy was a priceless moment. Thank you to ALL of the "DYI" hoop sites.
Not only was this stolen from the JasonUnbound site, it is poorly paraphrased and has errors. The tubing is not made for irritation, and I'm pretty sure you wouldn't want a 12" hoop. 12 feet would be more like it. This gives a good summary, but go to the source if you want better information and someone to thank for it.
http://www.jasonunbound.com/hoops.html
I agree with blorpik
about the fact that this was stolen from the http://www.jasonunbound.com/hoops.html website. I just read it the other day. Shame, shame, shame.
Sorry, but it's a little lame to say that girls and women love it. My 7 year old son is REALLY into it. So please stop generating stereotypes. Thanks for info, though.
I'm new to this and just got started last night, so maybe I can help others who are thinking about hooping while the experience is fresh in my mind. I'm 5'10" and about 180 lbs. not very strong in the upper body (I work out rarely and use 10-15 lb dumbells), but for now I'm looking to reduce my beer/icecream belly so the buttons on my work pants don't keep popping off. I figured some good core exercise would be just the ticket.
I did a fair amount of research online as to building a hoop 'cause I'd rather not have a large box arrive at work and get questions. I decided to build two hoops, one weighted (3 lbs) and one unweighted. I had read that it's better to learn with an unweighted one (less bruising). The first hoop I made was the weighted one and it is about 41" in diameter. I used about 2 1/2 cups of sand to achieve the 3 lb overall weight. The unweighted one is 39" in diameter and I like the size of it better so far. The tubing is difficult to measure with a standard t
I think it should have read 12' not 12". We made this mistake once and ended up with a Stonehenge that was in danger of being trampled by dwarves.
Bee, you snide remarker, this could also be deduced from where she states that 100' of tubing will yield 8 hula hoops. It's a simple feet = ' inches = " error.
From what I've read the diameter should be equal to a distance from the floor to somewhere between the bellybutton and the shoulders. Circuimference = Pi x Diameter, so 12' of tubing would equate to about a 3' 10" diameter.
I think it should have read 12' not 12". We made this mistake once and ended up with a Stonehenge that was in danger of being trampled by dwarves.
From what I've read the diameter should be a distance from the floor to somewhere between the bellybutton and the shoulders. Circuimference = Pi x Diameter, so 12' of tubing would equate to about a 3' 10" diameter.
wow 12" hhmmm your a clever little proof reader aren't you lol... 12" would leave me to believe that you may have never even hula hooped before let alone made one cuz the first 12" one ya made u'd prob be thinkin there was a slight error... wow genius!
Oh wow, thanks a lot for the info. How did you figure out how to do this? You're so very smart!
Oh, wait, you stole it.