An Overview of the Different Tubing Types for Hoops

[trick]

An Overview of the Different Tubing Types Used in Hoop Making

By: David “Jaz” Jasiewicz of Trick Concepts

There's a lot of controversy surrounding the different types of tubing used to make fire, glow and practice hoops. This is due to a variety of reasons:

• Changes in plumbing terminology (over the last 200 years)
• Changes in material specifications
• Changes in building codes
• Advances in technology

So, how do we sort through these changes to figure out which type of tubing will work best for you? Let’s take a look…

I. Areas of Confusion:

• PSI – PSI stands for “pounds per square inch” and is a rating given to tubing that specifies how much pressure that specific tubing is capable of taking before becoming damaged. However, not all tubing has a PSI rating because these ratings are only given to tubing meant to transport liquids, non-flammable gases, and compressed air. PSI is a good indicator of weight and wall thickness of the tubing. A 100 PSI pipe will generally make a fairly light hoop, while 160 PSI pipe will typically make a heavier hoop. However, the PSI rating will not tell you how soft or rigid the tubing is. Too soft and the tubing can lose its shape. Too rigid and it can be brittle or too hard and unforgiving on your body.

• Tubing vs. Piping – Another area of confusion is learning how to measure your hooping material. Here’s where it’s important to understand the difference between tubing and pipe. Both of these plumbing terminologies were established many years ago when all that was available was copper tubing and either steel or cast iron pipe. Through technological advances, plastic was developed and eventually replaced several of the metals in many plumbing applications. However, the old terminology remained. The rule of thumb here is that tubing is measured by its outside diameter (OD) and piping is measured by its inside diameter (ID). This becomes important when you need a specific outside diameter, or in order to find the right sized barbed fitting to connect your hoop together (you must know the inside diameter). In order to further complicate things, PSI can also affect the outside diameter measurements for pipe. Pipe is measured in nominal (non exact or approximate) sizes. For example, a ¾” pipe will have an inside diameter of ¾”, but the outside diameter will vary according to the PSI rating. This means that a 100 PSI pipe might measure 1” on the outside, while a 160 PSI pipe may measure more. For this reason, make sure you buy pipe barbed fittings if you’re using pipe, and tube barbed fittings if you’re using tubing. The barbed fittings are not interchangeable.

• Manufacturing Differences - Both tubing and piping come in specifications designed for plumbing applications. However, manufacturers can use different materials to meet these specifications. For example, if specifications call for ¾” pipe that will handle 160 PSI, this can be achieved by several different plastic choices thereby affecting its rigidity and density. Quality of materials can also vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. So, 100 PSI tubing of low quality can be completely different from 100 PSI tubing of a higher quality.

• Types of Plastic – There are thousands of types of plastics out there, but we’re going to review the types most commonly discussed for use in hoop making:

1) Polyethylene (PE) – This material is the most common plastic used for hoop tubing/pipe. It’s available in several different densities, the most common for hoop making being: low density (LDPE), medium density (MDPE), high density (HDPE), and cross-linked (PEX). Low-density is too soft to hold a round shape, so we typically recommend one of the other three choices.

2) Polypropylene (PP) – Though not as common as PE, Polypropylene has similar properties to PE and has been successfully used in some hoop applications as it is more transparent and slightly lighter than PE. Some people believe PP has a softer more organic feel than PE. However, it may not hold its shape as well with larger hoops.

3) Polyvinylchloride (PVC) – A plastic used to make a rigid pipe, which is prone to being brittle and snapping when forced into a circular shape.

II. Frequently Used Hoop Materials:

• Irrigation Pipe - The most common type of pipe used for hoop making is irrigation pipe. It’s typically black in color, is made from a medium to high density polyethylene (PE), and can be found in ratings between 100 PSI and 160 PSI. However, because irrigation pipe does not require the same safety standards as gas pipe, there is a huge variation in quality and grade of materials used in the making of this seemingly identical pipe. There is also a large regional variation. Therefore, pipe used in Arizona where the temperature is hotter may be more rigid to keep from becoming too soft, where as pipe used in Minnesota may be less rigid to cope with the colder temperatures. This pipe is readily available at home improvement and specialty landscaping stores, and is fairly inexpensive, but because of these regional differences, you’ll have to research the suitability of pipe available in your area. The bottom line: though inexpensive, due to regional variations and commonly used low grade materials, irrigation pipe is inconsistent and therefore may not always be the best choice for hoop making.

• Gas Pipe – This yellow pipe is made from a high grade medium density Polyethylene (PE) due to the stricter nature of the safety requirements for transporting gas. Because gas is piped at low pressure, it does not have a PSI rating comparable to irrigation pipe (however for our purposes, gas pipe has a weight similar to 160 PSI irrigation pipe). Although gas pipe is heavier than 100 PSI irrigation pipe, it is superior at holding its shape. Gas pipe is also more heat resistant than irrigation pipe, which makes it a better choice for making a fire hoop. When making a fire hoop, you typically want to use a type of pipe heavy enough to support the weight of the hoops spines. If your tubing is too light, your inserts can pop out. Gas pipe is typically more expensive than irrigation pipe, but it’s definitely worth the extra money. You can find it at plumbing supply or landscaping stores, though you may have to explain what you’re using it for before they will sell it to you because only certified plumbers can install it, and it’s against code to use barbed fittings with this pipe (to prevent gas leaks). The bottom line: If you can live with the weight and the cost, this is a high quality hoop material which holds its shape and is very durable. There are also little to no regional or manufacturing variations.

• PVC - Though many have tried, this pipe is far too rigid to make hoops from. It is also very brittle and prone to snapping if over coiled, especially in colder temperatures. Therefore, PVC does not make a good hooping material.

• PEX - A version of PE that has just recently become popular for making tubing. It’s between medium and high density, and is of higher quality than irrigation pipe. As this product becomes accepted into building codes, it will become more available. The rigidity should be similar to irrigation pipe, but it should hold its shape better. It’s more expensive than irrigation pipe, but definitely worth watching. It could be the new hoop material of choice in the years to come.

• Vacuum Tubing - Another type of tubing commonly used for hoop making is vacuum tubing. This tubing is a little more expensive, but it does offer some advantages. First, it’s a HDPE (high density polyethylene) which is a semi-opaque white color. This makes it ideal for glow/LED hoops. It is also available in a wide variety of sizes and thicknesses which allows you to customize your hoop to your liking. This tubing is also available in a lighter weight, which makes it a good choice for those of you looking for a lightweight hoop. However, its lighter weight does create a problem for fire hoops. You need to make sure that the hoop spines are light weight enough for the tubing to support, and note that it’s not as heat resistant as gas pipe.

III. Conclusion:

In conclusion, if cost is your main concern, then irrigation pipe is probably the way to go. If you want a high-end, super durable hoop and don't mind a slightly heavier weight, gas pipe is the way to go. If you're making a glow hoop, or looking for a lightweight option other than irrigation pipe, you’ll want to use vacuum tubing. Also, keep an eye on the horizon for PEX.
A few final tips: hoops made from heavier pipe will typically be easier to use because they have more momentum which makes them a better choice for beginners. It is also true that a larger hoop is typically easier to use for the same reasons (38” – 44”). Hoops made from lighter tubing will allow you to spin more quickly and are great for intermediate/advanced hoopers, as are smaller sized hoops (32” – 36”).