I would not build with Hubs unless I was building a large permanent structure. The difference being: needing to put 1 bolt in per intersection and needing to put 12 bolts in.

If this is a temporary structure for an event such as Burning Man you will be much happier with a single bolt in each of the vertices.


On a different forum a few weeks ago I explained how I was going to build my new dome this summer.

I’ll repost it here:

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I’m going to be building a dome out of PVC this summer. I’d rather use conduit but I was given a metric butt ton of 1” PVC. So I plan to use that for my elliptical dome.


The ends of the 1” PVC will have short sections of 3/4” conduit screwed and glued in to the ends. Around 5 inches will be sleeved into the PVC and maybe 3 inches will be sticking out the ends.

Any electrical contractor will consider pieces of conduit shorter than 2 feet scrap. Call around and see if you can get a company to save the scrap for you (you may need to offer a case of beer).

Cut the conduit to length. I’m going to try 8-10” sections and see how that works, you may need more, it might take less,??.

Before they are inserted into the PVC, presses the ends flat, and drill your holes. They are easier to deal with when they are short.

Cut your PVC to length, you’ll have to take off a few inches off depending on how much conduit you want to stick out the end. Make sure you have around 4-6” sleeved inside the PVC.

Set up a jig that has the correct measurements laid out. This might be a 2x4 with two bolts sticking out on one side.

The 3/4” conduit does not fit snug in the 1” PVC which is why I plan to both screw and glue the ends. I have a case of “Liquid Nails” adhesive, (I need to use it before it goes bad). Any glue that stays flexible and can bridge a small gap will work. I plan to glue the conduit, get the lengths adjusted on the jig and then put two small self-tapping machine screws in all before the glue sets. Make sure each end gets two screws on opposite sides from each other.

After the glue has dried I’ll bend the ends.

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I hope this helps. I took a 5 foot piece of the 1” PVC, placed it on two chairs and stepped down on it. It did not break. In fact I’m sure I could break a piece of 3/4” conduit faster than I could the 1” PVC.

Good Luck

LM