Lyla Lindsey
Making your own hula hoop can be a fun and creative project. It's easy to make your own custom hula hoop with just a few simple materials. First, you need to decide on the size of your hula hoop. Then, you can purchase the tubing, connectors, and decorations. The tubing typically comes in 100-foot rolls, so it's more economical to make several hoops at once. You can use a range of materials for the tubing, including PE (polyethylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), and polypropylene. Once you have your materials, cut the tubing to size, insert a connector, and join the ends to create a full circle. You can add rice to make a funny noise as you twirl the hoop. Then, wrap the connection with tape to secure it, and decorate your hula hoop with colourful tape, contact paper, fairy lights, or flowers.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Materials | Tube, connector, rice, colourful tape, grip tape, gaffer tape, glue, electrical tape, LEDs, polypropylene, polyethylene, high-density polyethylene |
| Tools | Drill, rivets, riveter, paper funnel |
| Cost | Approximately $6-7 AUD per hoop |
| Size | Between waist and chest |
| Diameter | 38" for beginners, 38"-55" for larger people, 7/8" for big hoops, 3/4" for smaller hoops |
| Decoration | Stripes, patterns, colours, fairy lights, flowers |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing the right tubing
When choosing the right tubing for your hula hoop, there are a few factors to consider. Firstly, the type of tubing you use will depend on your level of experience with hula hooping. Beginners may prefer to use a different type of tubing compared to more experienced hoopers.
The three most common types of tubing used for hula hoops are PE (polyethylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), and polypropylene. PE tubing is the easiest to find and the most commonly used for beginner hula hoops. It is also available in pre-cut lengths at hardware stores in Australia. HDPE, on the other hand, is a more rigid and lightweight plastic than standard PE, making it a preferred choice for more experienced hoopers. This type of tubing is not available in stores and must be ordered online. Polypropylene, often referred to as polypro, is the lightest and most advanced material for hula hoops. While experienced hoopers favour it for its speed and springiness, it may be challenging for beginners to use.
Another factor to consider is the size of the tubing. The diameter of the tubing will determine the size of your hula hoop. Bigger hoops are generally easier to use, especially for beginners. A recommended diameter for a beginner hoop is around 38 inches, with smaller diameters suited for more petite individuals and larger diameters for those with a bigger body frame.
Lastly, consider the availability and cost of the tubing. PE tubing is widely available and can be purchased from local hardware stores in Australia. HDPE and polypropylene, on the other hand, may need to be sourced online. If you only want to make one or two hula hoops, buying a whole roll of tubing may not be cost-effective. In this case, you might want to consider purchasing pre-made collapsible blank hula hoop kits, which are already cut to size and ready for taping.
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Cutting the tubing
To find the right size, grab your garden tube and hold it against your body while it is standing on its side. A good size for your hoop is somewhere between your waist and chest. Once you’ve measured it, ask an adult to cut the tube to the correct length for you.
The tubing only comes in 100-foot rolls or larger, so it is more economical to buy a whole roll if you want to make several hoops. If you only want to make one or two hoops, your best option is to buy pre-made collapsible blank hula hoops, which are already put together and ready to be taped.
There are three common types of tubing used for hula hoops: PE (polyethylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), and polypropylene. PE is the easiest to find and the most commonly used tubing for beginner hula hoops. HDPE is a more rigid and lightweight plastic than PE, so more experienced hoopers tend to prefer it. It is not available in stores, so it must be ordered online. Polypropylene is the lightest and most advanced material for hula hoops and is favoured by experienced hoopers for its speed and springiness. However, it will be challenging to use for beginners.
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Joining the tubing
First, decide on the size of your hula hoop. A good size for an adult hoop is somewhere between your waist and chest. Once you've determined the desired size, cut the tube to the correct length.
Now, take a connector and insert it halfway into one end of the tube. Then, join the other end of the tube to the connector to form a complete circle. Ensure that the ends are firmly pushed onto the connector for a secure hold. If you want your hula hoop to make a rattling sound as you twirl it, pour a small amount of rice into the tube before closing it with a paper funnel.
To reinforce the joint and ensure your hula hoop stays together, use colourful tape and tightly wrap it around the connector, going over the area several times. This step requires some elbow grease to ensure the tape is pulled taut and smooth. You can use electrical tape, which comes in various colours, or gaffer tape for grip.
For a more advanced approach, you can drill two holes on the outside of the hoop, one on each side of the seam line. Insert rivets and use a riveter to crank them into place securely. Keep some pressure on the rivet as you work to avoid warping the area around it.
Finally, you can decorate your hula hoop with tape, contact paper, fairy lights, or flowers to make it unique and visually appealing.
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Decorating the hoop
Now for the fun part – decorating your hula hoop! There are endless possibilities when it comes to customising the look of your hula hoop. You can create patterns, add stripes, or mix and match colours. You can be as creative as you like by using fairy lights or flowers to make a unique, floral hula hoop.
To decorate your hula hoop, you can use colourful tape, contact paper, or gaffer tape. If you want to add some sparkle, you can use sparkly tape or grip tape, which comes in tons of bright colours and is flexible and easy to work with. If you're looking for the cheapest option, electrical tape is the easiest to find, with standard colours in Australia being black, white, and primary colours.
When applying the tape, it's important to pull on it really hard while smoothing it down with your thumb to avoid wrinkles and keep it taut to prevent it from sticking to itself. Angle the tape to leave a small space each time you wrap the hoop, so you can go back and add grip tape later. Don't be afraid to pull on the tape to make it conform to the shape of the hoop.
If you want your hula hoop to make funny noises while you twirl it, you can add a small amount of rice using a paper funnel before closing the hoop. The rice will rattle as you spin, adding an extra element of fun to your hula hoop!
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Sourcing tape
When making a hula hoop, you will need tape to secure the connector and decorate your hoop. There are several options for sourcing tape for your hula hoop project.
Electrical Tape
Electrical tape is the easiest and cheapest tape to source. It is available in hardware stores, as well as stationery and art supply shops. The 3M brand is recommended for its thickness, strength, and colour selection.
Hula Hoop Tape
There are several online retailers that sell hula hoop tape in Australia. Threeworlds Australia offers a 25mm hula hoop tape in 6-packs, with vibrant and shiny colours, as well as holographic options. They also offer quick shipping and reasonable prices. Another option is Hula Hoop Tape Australia, which offers a range of hoop tapes.
Other Tapes
If you are looking for something more unique, you can use fairy lights or flowers to decorate your hoop. You can also try stationers, art supply stores, and hardware stores when travelling to find interesting tapes, as some countries offer different colour selections.
Wholesale Tape
If you are making multiple hula hoops, you may want to consider purchasing tape wholesale. Disco Hoops is an Australian supplier that offers wholesale hula hoop tape.
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Frequently asked questions
You will need a tube, a connector, colourful tape, and rice (optional). For the tube, you can use PE (polyethylene), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), or polypropylene tubing.
Hold a garden tube against your body while it's standing on its side. A good size for your hoop is somewhere between your waist and chest.
Take a connector and insert it halfway into one end of the tube. Then, join the other end of the tube to the connector to create a full circle. Make sure the ends are pushed firmly onto the connector. If you'd like your hula hoop to make a sound, pour a small amount of rice into the tube before closing it.
Use colourful tape or contact paper to decorate your hula hoop. You can create patterns, add stripes, or mix and match colours. You can also use fairy lights or flowers for a unique touch.
Electrical tape is the easiest and cheapest option to acquire. Gaffer tape is also recommended for grip. If you're in Australia, standard colours for electrical tape include black, white, and primary colours.
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