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Making hoops - looking for joiners

topic posted Tue, May 20, 2008 - 11:08 AM by  offlinecat
Hi there, maybe someone has experience with this. We have tubing (irrigation PSI 160, 3/4")

Somehow we are having trouble with the connectors. the 3/4" ones we bought don't fit at all. The hardware stores by my house don't seem to have the right kind either. Can someone point us in the right direction? There must be a simple solution for this out there.

:) :) :) Can't wait for my own CoLoRFuL hoops!! WeeeEEeEEEeEeeee ;)
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cat
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SF Bay Area
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  • Re: Making hoops - looking for joiners

    Tue, May 20, 2008 - 11:19 AM
    Boy, I have a tough time with this one too ---- I have secret agents out there looking, but still few to be found....I think the official name for these are nipples and not joiners or risers...important to know when asking staff at hardware stores.
    I will follow this thread to see if anyone has a good local source (all bay area or northern cal???)
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    • cat
      cat
      online 130

      Re: Making hoops - looking for joiners

      Tue, May 20, 2008 - 11:28 AM
      Thank you Mari!

      I actually went to two local hardware stores. I asked for the 3/4 diameter 160 PSI "connector" piece, but didn't have a sample with me. NOW I have a piece of it, so I'm going back this weekend. I actually did see a section of nipples and I thought that they looked right. But of course the person helping me walked right by them. Wow, I thought this would be so easy!? Shouldn't they sell the piece that works in the same place that the tubing is sold...one might think. Oh well, this just leaves more room for one to be Cre8tiVe!!! :) Will be more satisfying once complete, right!
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  • silv...
    silverstar
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    Re: Making hoops - looking for joiners

    Tue, May 20, 2008 - 1:44 PM
    Depending on where you buy them, they are called either connectors or couplers/coupling. Make sure you don't buy the ones with a nub in the middle (which is what I found at most hardware stores). I gave up trying to find them locally because whenever I managed to scrounge some up, they only had a few in the right size and they almost always had that little nub.

    You can buy them online at US Plastic or Hardware World for pretty cheap. The shipping is what usually gets me, so order a crapload to make it worth your while. I usually buy 50-100 at once so that I don't have to order again for a long time.
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  • cat
    cat
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    Re: Making hoops - looking for joiners

    Sat, May 24, 2008 - 5:32 PM
    Ladies, I found it! Its called a "nipple" to connect 3/4 inch tubing, buy the 1/2 inch nipple. 2 1/2 inch length works great, already made some with this. We're going to experiment with 3 and 31/2 inch length to see how that works. This works so perfectly you can join the hoop virtually seemless.

    Ha!!!

    I hope that future hoop makers will find this tip invaluable. Love Cat.
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    • silv...
      silverstar
      offline 132

      Re: Making hoops - looking for joiners

      Sat, May 24, 2008 - 7:31 PM
      Be careful with the 1/2" vs 3/'4" measurements. Some places measure the ID and others use the OD. I buy 3/4" OD to fit inside my 3/4" tubing. The first time you buy the inserts, bring a scrap of tubing with you to compare. If it slides in easily, it's too small and will come apart even if you use PVC glue. If there is no conceivable way to get it in, it's too big and no amount of heat will help. If you can insert it but you can't get it in all the way to the middle, it's the right size.

      The longer lengths are better suited to larger diameter hoops. If you use a 3 1/2" connector but are making a smaller hoop, it will cause a flat spot in the shape of your hoop.
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