Introduction: How to Tape a Hula Hoop

By The Spinsterz
About: The Spinsterz is your source for top of the line hula hoops and flow props. We've been in business for 14 years because we ship faster than anyone else, have amazing customer service and offer the best warrant…

Thanks for taking a look at this Instructable that will teach you how to tape a basic two tape hula hoop.

Hi, my names Brandon and I'm the owner and founder of The Spinsterz. I've been hula hooping for 20 years and building hoops professionally for 14 of those years.


I've made and sold tens of thousands of hoops and in that time I've learned what makes a great hula hoop as well as how to teach you how to easily tape one at home.

Step 1: Gather Your Supplies

Taping a hoop is a pretty easy process and doesn't require many tools, it does, however, take some practice to tape a good looking hula hoop.

When we hire on new hoop tapers at our business, it usually takes them about 6 practice taped hoops before their hoops look good enough to send to customers. So please be patient with yourself and know that taping a hoop is NOT an easy thing to do.

Supplies Needed

  1. Gaffer tape
  2. Decorative Tape
  3. Scissors
  4. A hula hoop
  5. Patience

Step 2: Finding the Angle

In this step, you'll learn how to start the tape on the hoop so that it is "gapped" at approximately 3/4" wide.

Gapped refers to the amount of space between the tape spiral.

This is something that you just have to experiment with in order to find the right angle. Lay the tape on the hoop and spiral it once or twice around, if the gap is about 3/4", you're doing it right. If the gap is too wide or too narrow, just reverse the tape (un-peal it) and try again.

Practice makes perfect.......or maybe just more practice.

Step 3: Decorative Tape

Once you've found that starting angle, then it's off to the races and time to just keep going around and around the hoop until you've met back up with where you started.

Remember.....this is challenging and takes practice. If your taping job is not smooth, it's OK. This is totally normal your first few times.

Step 4: Gaffer Tape

Once your decorative tape has been laid down, it's time to grab that gaffer tape and repeat the process.

In some ways, it is easier to work with gaffer tape as it is more flexible and you can manipulate it more to get it to go where you want it to go.

Start the gaffer tape just below where you began the decorative tape.

Round and round and round, just keep wrapping until the end.

Step 5: Finishing the Edges

After you've got your entire hoop taped, it's time to finish the edges of the tape where the hoop splits and comes together.

For this, you'll need some scissors, and an Exacto knife, box knife, flat razor blade or something similar that can make a very fine cut.

Safety!

When using a sharp instrument like an Exacto knife, please be careful and always cut AWAY from you, never towards you.

Step 6: Finish Your Hoop

After your hoop is taped you'll want to finish it so it is useable.

For this, you will want to refer to Step 8 on our How to Make a Push Button Collapsible Hula Hoop Instructable.