Thanks to Bhakti

Reply by Bhakti on October 1, 2009 at 10:47am
FINLAND

Some time ago I spent many days trying to find proper tubing and connectors in Finland and here are my findings. Other Finnish hoopers may want to add some more details.

The best tubing I used was called "poly" tube. Also it may be called PEM-tubing (PEM-putki in Finnish). Ask for it in K-Rauta, and other stores like that. Interesting thing was though that I couldn't find it in any of the biggest hardware stores in the city areas (Helsinki, Jarvenpaa, Vantaa, etc.) - only in the little bit more countryside hardware stores! I got tubing from two different places, and both places they kept that specific tubing in storage areas outside the actual store, so you have to ask for it - they may not have it on the shelf. You can buy it as much (or little) as you need, they will cut it for you - I got about 3m for one hoop. It's about 1-2e/meter. They have various thickness in this tubing, so you have to see which one you want. I recommend the smallest I saw, about 2,5cm wide.

Connectors (liitin in Finnish) you can find from Etola stores that specifically have a big selection of plastic tubes and accessories for industrial use (all of the Etola stores DO NOT have this selection) - I got a lot of connectors from one Etola store in Vantaa. Bring a piece of your tubing with you so you can make sure you get the right size connector. Also, some K-Rauta stores have plastic connectors for about 2-3e. You want them to be plastic, don't get the copper connectors, they weigh the hoop too much... The size of the connector I used was 22mm.

Tape (sahkoteippi) you can find in any hardware store, K-Rauta, Etola too, any of them. It costs from less than a euro to a couple of euros, depending on the size and amount.
These guys may have some shiny stuff for 5e (I didn't try this) http://www.spelektroniikka.fi/product_details.php?p=67.

Hope this helps! Happy hooping!