After trying out different collapsible hoop designs,(bungi cords, auto body panel pins), and not being completely happy with them, I decided to try something different. I came up with the following design, where the sections of the hoop screw together. This uses 1" diameter tubing. The 1/2" inch threaded connectors I used will just fit inside the 1" tubing, unfortunately they won't work with the 3/4" tubing. So you are limited to the bigger tubing if you want to try this out.
To start: Choose the diameter of the hoop that you wish to make and determine the circumference of the hoop. Divide that by 4 if you wish to make your hoop in 4 sections. These instructions are based on a 4 piece hoop but you could make more or less sections, just increase of decrease the pairs of connectors you use. Cut your sections of tubing and lay them aside.
Step 1
This picture shows the connectors that you will need. You will need three each of the threaded connectors and one ridged connector. The threaded connectors are 1/2" electrical conduit terminal adaptors, and the ridged one is a standard 1" irrigation tubing connector. These all cost about 35 cents each.
Step 2
Screw the male and female terminal adaptors together. Thread them all the way in, this is important. I chose the terminal adaptors rather than threaded irrigation tubing because the male irrigation tubing does not thread all the way into the female and this would leave a big gap between the sections of your hoop. Next smooth down the ridges on ONE side of the 1" connector and on the female terminal adaptor. I use a dremel TM tool, but you could use coarse sandpaper or a file. The dremel TM takes about 30 seconds to do the job. Make sure you wear a dust mask, you don't want to breath the plastic dust.
Step 3
Connecting the sections of your hoop.
I use the waterbath method of connecting tubing. For those who are unfamiliar with this: Get a pot of water boiling and immerse the cut end of the tubing in it until it softens. For the ridged end of the irrigation tubing connector this will take about 30 seconds. To fit the terminal adaptors in, the tubing needs to be really soft. I put the tubing in the water for 2 minutes. Take a section of your 1" tubing and insert the ridged end of the connector into it. Make sure your terminal adaptors are screwed together as far as they will go, and insert one side into the other end of your section of tubing. Take another section of tubing and put it on the other side of the combined adaptors. This next step is VERY IMPORTANT immediately lay the connected sections on a flat surface and adjust them to make sure the sections lay completely flat on the surface. If you don't keep the sections level, your finished hoop will end up looking like a series of waves. Your connected sections should resemble the photo. Repeat the process with the other tubing sections remembering to level the hoop each time.
Step 4
The objects in the photo are screw posts. They are also called threaded posts, architectural posts, and just plain posts. They range in price from 60 cents up to $6.00, depending on their size,what they are made of, and the depth the screw inserts into the post. The ones in the image were about 85 cents each. You will need one of these. Make sure you get one that is just slightly taller than the outside diameter of your tubing, in this case about 1 3/32 inches. Take a piece of scrap tubing to the store with you when you buy one and then you can be sure to get the correct size.
Step 5
Slide the free end of the tubing over the end of the irrigation connector with the smoothed out ridges. If you have done everything correctly your hoop should be circular and lay flat on the floor. Drill a hole, large enough for your screw post to fit through, from the top of the hoop to the bottom. If you drill from the interior to the exterior you will end up with the head of the post poking you while you hoop.
Step 6
Decorate your hoop. The hoop with the red, white, and gold candy striping is the collapsible from this project.
