The flexible piping we used last time (PLX) just did not work. Even with supports in between the hoops, the hoops couldn't seem to hold their shape and stay up.So we were forced to consider other materials, and we while PVC would be cheap and strong enough to work and easy to work with, we don't have a lot of it on site to repurpose. The more abundant material and the pieces used to construct the existing hoophouses on the property is metal conduit. So we purchased a conduit/pipe bender.
The afternoon consisted of lessons of conduit bending: you have to account for the extra distance of the bend, so marking where to place the bender includes what the instructions called "deduction," which really seem like additions. And while the instructions advised placing the bender 5" from where you want you bend, we found 3" was closer to what worked.
Lesson 2: when you're bending your second end or side, you have to ensure "up is up!" When you do the second bend, it needs to be pointing in the same direction as the first bend so they match. Duh, but we learned the hard way on the first pipe and had to bend back to make corrections (which can weaken the metal).
We also borrowed an oscillating saw from Scott's parents because it's apparently the really badass way to cut through stuff compared to rotating blades. We used this to cut two more conduits to match the length of the first one in length.
These probably won't be the lengths we go with in the future, because it only covers one bench+plus aisle (rather than the original 2 benches + 1 aisle we want). But we started with a conduit piece we foraged that already had what's called a dog bend, which is what allows the conduit to stick into the bench straight but then bend towards the middle of the space (like a tent or steeple shape). We were working with 103" of length, two bends at 30 degrees for the bottom, and two 45 degree bends at the top for the apex at 51.5".
So with work time running out for the day, we left it with three near-identical-as-we-wcould-get conduits, ready to be mounted somehow (we think they'll fit into the feet we made last week from PVC) or else we'll have to brace them to the table).
🕊, 💌, 🍃 & ⚛
~KF
Lesson 2: when you're bending your second end or side, you have to ensure "up is up!" When you do the second bend, it needs to be pointing in the same direction as the first bend so they match. Duh, but we learned the hard way on the first pipe and had to bend back to make corrections (which can weaken the metal).
These probably won't be the lengths we go with in the future, because it only covers one bench+plus aisle (rather than the original 2 benches + 1 aisle we want). But we started with a conduit piece we foraged that already had what's called a dog bend, which is what allows the conduit to stick into the bench straight but then bend towards the middle of the space (like a tent or steeple shape). We were working with 103" of length, two bends at 30 degrees for the bottom, and two 45 degree bends at the top for the apex at 51.5".
So with work time running out for the day, we left it with three near-identical-as-we-wcould-get conduits, ready to be mounted somehow (we think they'll fit into the feet we made last week from PVC) or else we'll have to brace them to the table).
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| The best part of this pilot effort is that the supports are perfectly "Kim height" :) |
~KF
