[Dwiizie]

You can slit the tape and use one piece of tape on each side of the connector to make nice finished edges. If you just slit slanty wrapped tape, it will probably peel up at the joints.

[Dwiizie]

Yeah, I don't know how HoopsieDaisy does it either. Because yes, I've seen many a collapsible with sparkle tape. I just don't want to have someone do an awesome tape job only to have the folding mess it up. I saw one method that used o rings and a bolt system inside a cut in half connector. I've never been able to find the instructions again. They said it swiveled easier than the straight forward way of making them…

[Dwiizie]

I've never had any connectors other than lasco available to me, so I never know about the "options" people encounter there. I think the main "thing" behind saying to use lasco is that they're thought to be more sturdy as far as holding the tubing together, but still able to swivel. Many people sand down the little ridge in the very center for easier swiveling. I never sand my 'lumps" and mine swivel and stay connected just fine. If you just have one length of tubing, you don't have a lot of room for trial and error. You could buy a new roll and sell extras…

[Dwiizie]

I've never actually used sparkle tape on them. HoopsieDaisy said this once:

"The gaffer tape handles the repeated twisting the best. All the sparkly tapes I’ve used wrinkled after collapsing the hoop just once. It’s not a huge deal, but it was a bit frustrating because I made sure that the sparkly tape was nice and smooth and then with one twist, it was all wrinkled. It’s not totally wrinkled all over like avocado skin, but just something to be aware of."

I typically trust what she has to say on things, she's been around the hooper world a while, and has yet to lead me astray 🙂

[Dwiizie]

Well, they say use gaff or vinyl on the infinity styles, because prism/mirror/reflecty tapes don't have as much give, so they don't do the twist and untwist as gracefully.

The hoop may need a little "reshaping" if its been folded up for a while, but I've never seen real warping (and if there is a slight wobble, nothing a few hours laying flat in the sun won't fix)

The more prominent issue I see is people kinking the tubing while folding them down, but as long as you're paying attention and not stressing the tubing too much, it should be fine. And no, the "connectors" never come out, the tubing just swivels at the connector. Theres a little animation on that body hoops link of the girl coiling and uncoiling it.

The bungie ones are cool, but I don't like doing pop buttons and multi pieces myself.

As for power tools, you never know who of your friends on Facebook has what you need. A public shout out for a saw, drill, or sander, and you could probably borrow one if you really wanna go that route.

[Dwiizie]

And I don't know if its your forte, but nail polish and designs would be a nice spin off subject. I suck at this stuff lol.

[Dwiizie]

Fantasy makeup and how to apply gemstones and things to your makeup without having them fall/sweat off. Examples:

http://www.girlishh.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/fantasy-makeup.gif

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ffkmxGBfMqY/Tq_y2bkJEPI/AAAAAAAAHZE/t9NrGBXdC-I/s1600/party_makeup_ideas__rainbow_eyes.jpg

http://image.shutterstock.com/display_pic_with_logo/367690/367690,1296867787,1/stock-photo-beauty-shot-of-a-young-woman-with-fantasy-makeup-70483048.jpg

http://make-upartist.com/images/makeup_face.jpg

[Dwiizie]

They're really easy to make, I'm sure you won't fail. I personally think the infinity style is easier if you're using 3/4 inch tubing. Its basically just 2 connectors instead of one. We wrap the "swivel part" really carefully so it has nice finished edges too. (I was a hooper before I was a poler. I <3 the hoop! So I can get a bit enthusiastic at times hehe)

[Dwiizie]

That link combined 🙂

It was supposed to say Body Hoops:

http://www.bodyhoops.com/Infinity_Travel_Hula_Hoops_s/23.htm&amp;

And Troo Hoops lol

http://www.troohoops.com/products/decorator.php

 

[Dwiizie]

Here are the "standard" hoop making instructions, theres a good section on collapsibles at the bottom:

http://www.jasonunbound.com/hoops.html

Here is a forum on the topic (since you can make them in sections Hoopnotica style, or the infinity style) http://www.hooping.org/groups/hoop-making/forum/topic/infinity-style-hoop-instructions/

You can also buy them from places other than Hoopnotica. I know BodyHoops makes them. http://www.bodyhoops.com/Infinity_Travel_Hula_Hoops_s/23.htm TrooHoops:  http://www.troohoops.com/products/decorator.php

Here is one from etsy thats $20 plus shipping: http://www.etsy.com/listing/88626769/glimmering-sunshine-collapsible-hoop?ref=sr_gallery_3&sref=&ga_includes%5B0%5D=tags&ga_search_query=infinity+style+hoop&ga_search_type=all&ga_facet=

Good luck!

[Dwiizie]

Was it like a modified gyroscope ride, or something actually made? I know so many people with one of a kind flow/dance toys. I've never seen anything quite like what you described. The gyroscope thing looks like this: http://www.gyrogym.com/images/188_gyro_shoot_009.jpg &nbsp; They made these new gyroscope hoops (if you're a hooper): http://thehoophub.co.uk/new-hoop-design-the-gyrodoop/&nbsp; I was a hooper before I found pole, so I LOVE the circusy stuff. I actually started pole in prep for silks since I didn't have room for silks in my apt, and I love poling so much!

[Dwiizie]

I also have the one recommended by sensualscimitar. LOVE it. I saw one that was a travel size, and I decided longer was better (hehe, isn't that usually the case 😉 ) I roll every day before bed, and sometimes just for a nice massage mmmmm

[Dwiizie]

I haven't made it to any of the moves mentioned above. The basic pole sit is killing me, and I haven't even gotten to where I can take my hands off the pole. Argh 🙁

[Dwiizie]

Or just check out Webby's picture lol!

[Dwiizie]

For Chemgoddess: video on "difference between sport and x-pert pole" from xpole site shows on the Xpert that the adjuster rod cover drops down to the bottom of the pole, the 3 screws are above this cover, and you and you screw the cover back up into the pole after adjusting. Hope that helps paint a picture…. http://xpoleus.com/store/index.php?main_page=page&id=16

[Dwiizie]

Mine aren't under the cover, mine are just above where the cover screws up to finish the pole. When lined with the flat spots, they screw all the way in. When not, they stick out of the pole itself. On my pole, under the cover only has two screws, one just above the other, and those are the two screws that should stay in place at all times (as understood by me when xpole CS was assisting me) Picture hunting…

[Dwiizie]

Mine is the one where the cover is just above the base, it unscrews, drops down revealing threading, undo 3 screws, twist to extension, tighten 3 screws, replace cover. Its not the weird "adjuster rod" thing I see in one of the manuals.

[Dwiizie]

I was told the exact opposite (by Xpole) Chemgoddess. NOT to adjust the two screws under the plate cover without talking to X pole. Loosen three screws above plate cover to adjust up and down and rescrew when extension is achieved, put cover back up. I only had to adjust the screws under the cover when it became twisted causing problems (you were on that thread with me about a month ago) I was told it was the two screws in the base peice that kept it threaded to the A pole. Hrm…..

[Dwiizie]

I also wish I had seen this before I bought my pole. I'm using a 50mm, and I'm finding it to be so difficult. Leg/body grips too! I haven't ever tried a 45 or smaller, but I probably should have bought that. If anyone else is like CeledaBcn and wishes they had gotten a 50, trade me. Its a new version X Pole XPert Chrome finish 50mm, with an extra 8 inch extension (in addition to the 5 inch and 10 inch that come with it). If not, I suppose I'm saving up to go smaller and hoping to sell my current one. It has seen mild only mild use.

[Dwiizie]

From what I understand of the OP, she never received the two screws to lock the pole into static, so its always on spinny mode….

[Dwiizie]

When I first got my pole, the screws were sticking out, I examined what I was doing, and I wasn't screwing them down to the flat spots, they were sticking out because they were on the threading. So if they aren't the wrong length, maybe check that out. As for missing screws for static and spinny, get them to send you some screws, they should be able to do that…. Good luck!

[Dwiizie]

And I do have the same pole as you, the chrome 50 mm xpert. I don't have overly dry skin, but I don't sweat a lot either. I also have trouble when I overthink things.

[Dwiizie]

I have to second Sashamae's advice. I was so frustrated recently, same issues, slippage, not sticking, feeling like I couldn't even nail "the basics". Turns out, it was ALL a matter of warmth. I was warming my BODY up, but then trying to work with a room temperature (under 70 degrees) pole. Now, I warm up WITH the pole, and its made an incredible difference. Hold, climb, even FINALLY the sit. Even spins, it felt I had to cut them so short because I was going down so fast, now I can really gliiiiide around the pole. This one small tip pushed me from saying "What if I really CAN'T do this?!?!" (and I am NOT a can't person lol) to saying "Oh yeah, I can TOTALLY do this. Look at me! *tags the ceiling*" 

[Dwiizie]

Its funny you say that, I told him when I was talking about my back pain that I had an onrunning hip issue that I thought was compounding the problem. He said "Hips and spine, same system, one can't be right without the other. On hips like yours you've probably had bad posture for your spine for years." Ok then lol! He's so funny. Just cut and dry answers, doesn't waste time, but pays attention when its needed. I wish all my doctors had his personality 🙂

[Dwiizie]

Yeah, if your schedule and budget can afford it, you really should. I try to not regret what I can't change, but I so wish I had gone before I sealed in my crookedness with training. My training would've been so much more effective. My dancing would have been 10k times less frustrating. "I can do this, and this, and this, but THAT and its pain! I just need to work more/stretch more/practice more" when that was the opposite of what I needed to do. I use my husband often as a "hip check" and will do leg lifts or something and ask him to spot the differences (back when I was trying to correct through training alone) and it was always just off. I can now actually FEEL my hip on the right side. Before, and because I lived with it so long, it was what my brain accepted as normal, there was gap above my leg/hip flexor and my hip. Now its even. And I have an extra little fat bulge on my right, and little extra muscle on the left lol. I do hope you find relief. I'll report back in about 2 months and let you know how I am on back flexibility vs. pre-chiro.