Hula Hoop from a 2"x4" Update...

Neat!

Looks like your helper is having a great time with the glue.

Lew

Awesome, I think this will be one of my next projects with the help of my 6yo princess helper.

-- Adrian ..... The 11th Commandment...."Thou Shalt Not Buy A Wobble Dado"

very cool…

-- Matt, Napa, CA...fun is beautiful...just trying to have some fun...

that is just awesome… it just goes to show you that behind every briiliant 3yr old is a parent with a camera.

-- www.robneves.com

That is an awesome way to spend an afternoon

-- There is no such thing as a mistake. Its called a design modification Rick Kruse, Grand Rapids, MI

Nice stuff. Mark’s girl is gonna be jealous, & Mark might be under even more pressure than he was yesterday.

-- Respect your shop tools and they will respect you - Ric

Beats watching TV any day.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Hurray for Super Dad!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Super hero :)

where’s the pix of your cape?

This is awesome. The two of you did a great job.

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

So cool… looks like she’s having fun, and I can just imagine how nice it must have been to work with her!

My three year old is starting to express an interest in this too… It’s tough, because he’s far too inclined to want to touch, and it’s near impossible to keep him sitting still, but this looks like a fun project that doesn’t involve much in the way of “Is that sharp, Daddy?”

Nice! Thanks for the post!

-- Ryno

Hi Q;

Tis a good thing you do. You had better send a couple photos to Mark.

His instructions were a little sketchy!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

I LOVE IT!!!!

I hadn’t thought of using a tire. What a great concept. I had my mind around using a barrel, or a green limb.

actually, to be honest, I had been trying to justify not doing the hoola hoop at all. I’m just too busy I kept telling myself. “Just another broken promise from a father with the wrong priorities,” I kept hearing my heart say.

What an inspiration you are for doing this project with your daughter! You are my hero.

Rachel came home from school yesterday, walked from the mailbox where the bus drops her off, and I watched her out the shop window walk all the way up the driveway to the shop. I ducked down and looked busy when she came in the shop, thinking maybe, that she had forgotten about the Hoola Hoop.

She walked right over to me, gave me the usual big hugs and kisses, and said her day went, “Fine.”

Then, she says, “Well, so, Dad, have you gotten my hoola hoop done yet, the plans are right there.” Pointing to where I had pinned up her “plans” for future reference.

I had to hang my head and say, “no, not yet…......but I will get it done.”

Thanks Quixote for the inspiration and ideas,
Mark

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Hey Quixote, I added a List in an addedum to my blog, showing the “Hoola Hoop Builders.” You are first on the list, and I hope you won’t be the last.

By the way, should we spell it “Hula” or “Hoola”? I don’t know either.

thanks,
M

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

This is one of those special projects where the success is not measured by the final product but by the heart felt journey. Don’t forget for the 2 of you to sign and date it, she will never forget the memories that simple circle of wood contains.

-- I can so I wood but why are my learning curves always circles

thats a great project! going to try this with my 5 yr when we get back to NZ. technical question: by “overlap” do you mean that you continue putting the strips in a spiral or each strip is a circle?

-- The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep...

Moshel,
Spiral is probably the best description.

I cut pieces at 96” in length. For this size at 24”, each strip circumference is about 75” . I spiraled or overlapped the 21” overlap and left a slight gap for the next piece to start. I thought the overlap would make a stronger hoop joint than multiple butt joints.

There was an additional motive for safety (and personal sanity) with the three year old helping while all the cutting tools were put away…

Ms Debbie, the cape is also in the washer, seems it has glue all over it too…

Mark, Adrian, Ryno and anyone thinking kids project…

I’ll blog the full process and things I’d do the same or change if I do another one such as…

I started winding the strips around the tire (deflated ) from the inside out, set tension on the ratchet strap then re-inflated the tire. This applied outward pressure equally, instead of the strap pulling or twisting the spiral out of shape… This is similar to the process for making maple drum shells at the factory.

This was great in theory, but in practice, we looked like a game of twister trying to wind the strips, hold them in place, line up the next one, and set the ratchet strap and pull it to tight. (This was the most fun of the project, but not quite practical…)

Next time out, I’d use a sheet of plywood, draw a circle to the outside diameter I wanted, start screws at about 2 inch intervals ( 35 to 40 screws) and build the hoop from the outside in. I’d taper the outside end of the first layer and fit it inside the ring of screws. The natural tension of the wood seemed to spring outward enough to make laminating contact. With a 2 inch gap between screws, I think there will be a good shape, and this allows enough room for clamps or tie up with twine etc… I think it will allow the “projecteer” to set the strip in place with less frustration and relatively immediate feedback. Use a plastic sheet to protect the board etc. Screws and board can be repurposed, and you won’t have to explain why mommy’s spare tire is on the front porch.

Still waiting on the glue to dry completely, so we’re going to pick a color tonight and plan on painting tomorrow…

Q

-- I don't make sawdust...I produce vast quantities of "Micro Mulch."

I like the name: “Woodie-Hoop.”

Leave it up to the kids to give it a winner name.

Better trademark that one fast.

I like your wrapping concept. Makes it easier than dealing with a lot of smaller pieces trying to old them together while you start the next one. After it’s all dry, you can sand smooth the start and stop points into a long wedge, hardly noticeable I would think.

I hope some others will start this with their kids. What a tradition to start here at LJ.

M

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Quixote: A great idae and implementation for Rachiels request.

I like the screw idea because the natural pressure would be to bend out straight. Scotch tape down some wax paper and you are ready to go.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

I would think that tapering the start of the first segment beforehand will make it better and prettier, as the wood would fit into the taper.

-- The woods are lovely, dark and deep, but I have promises to keep...

Yes, taper first.

Kind of lumpy when you don’t.

Fresh from the tire, Woodie made it to the sunshine to dry.

The littel one did the outside taper (with a little help from papa. The sandpaper fairy did an amazing job cleaning this up after bedtime…)

Inside taper with a spoke shave.

I’m still amazed that it’s this round.

Painting put off till this weekend when we can go to the store and select a pint of special color to go with the cool butterfly stickers…

Q

Edit…I’ve lost the right side of my pictures. Not sure why .

-- I don't make sawdust...I produce vast quantities of "Micro Mulch."

this all looks great. Can’t wait to hear how your daughter likes using it!!

I would guess that your picture sizes are too big for the field, that’s why they are cutting off. You can select a smaller picture size, or you’ll have to post them up in your blog text. The blog text area has a little bit wider picture area. To get a smaller picture size using Flickr, you select the photo, and then select “all sizes” which takes you to another screen where it gives about 5 different size options for the photo. You would just need to select the smaller size that fits in the comment text area.

Lots to learn in this blogging work, huh?

your hoop is looking great.
M

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Crap, looked at your photos again, now I have “Hand Plane Envy”

what a collection,
M

-- Mark DeCou - American Contemporary Craft Artisan - www.decoustudio.com

Woody Hoop update.

Woody goes Golfing…

Last picture in the project…

A year later and I still can’t believe how often this scrap from a 2×4 gets played with.

Q

-- I don't make sawdust...I produce vast quantities of "Micro Mulch."

Fun stuff Q you a lot younger than I thought :-))

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon