Common Tubing Issues Hoopmakers Face

Video transcript

Hoopmaking can be a frustrating process if you don't understand the materials and tools needed for success. Let me tell you about the manufacturing process and empower you to solve your own hoopmaking problems. When you receive a coil for the first time, you might notice the ends are straight — this is due to the manufacturing process, and you'll want to cut the ends off before making hoops, usually 6 to 18 inches, until the tubing starts to become naturally round.

Irregularities can also occur in manufacturing. A common issue hoopmakers face is insert fit — for example, when the tubing is too tight on the inner diameter, which makes it difficult to create a strong connection with some insert materials, commonly polypro and polycarbonate. Manufacturing tubing is not an exact science. No matter what you've heard about exact inner diameters from hoop suppliers, that is in reality a myth: at any given time during manufacturing, tolerances can change, especially in big production jobs. Manufacturers commit to the tightest tolerances possible, usually plus or minus 0.0065 inches, but extrusion machines can vary outside of that at times.

Hoopologie manufactures a large amount of tubing, and over time we've seen a regular occurrence of tubing with varied inner-diameter tolerances. Our mission is to solve as many hoopmaker problems as we can. We've manufactured special production runs of polypropylene tubing with slightly thinner specs than our standard sizes, and this insert material is extremely helpful for tighter tubing — we sell special insert material that fits 5/8-inch, 11/16-inch, and 3/4-inch OD tubing. One additional tool we recommend is the Freud router bit, which we sell in two sizes; it can easily correct a tight tube in a matter of seconds. For hoopmakers making lots of hoops, this tool is invaluable and saves a lot of time and headache.