Electric Pumps or Hand Pumps?

[Alison]

The Electric Pump or the Hand Pump -
there are benefits and drawbacks to each.

Which type do you use? 

I imagine we all started out with the cheaper hand-pumps.
So what were the differences if you changed to the electric pump? 
Did you stay with the electric pump, or did you go back to the hand pump?

I use a hand-pump.  It's lighter to carry and I never run out of battery.
But I also can't blow up such a big display.  and I can't blow them up fast enough to easily get into the multiple-balloon creations.  I'm thinking of getting an electric pump.

[Sherry]

I use a hand pump.  I saw a lady twisting at the Chick Fil A closest to me and she had an electric pump.  I didn't think I'd like it because it was rather loud and it scared some of the children when she used it.  Is that why most people get them for the speed and to create multiple balloon creations?  At the time, I didn't think it seemed that much faster, but maybe there are better and quieter brands out there.

She somehow had it attached to a monkey, so it looked like he was blowing it up with his mouth.

[Kristal]

I don't like how loud the electric ones are. I only use my small hand pump at birthdays/events where I'm painting and twisting - if I'm only twisting, I have a floor pump that I bring, that blows up a 260 in one pump! I covered it in purple paper, and decorated the top with gems, haha. I love it!

[Alison]

Me too.  Thank you.  I have a stopwatch function on my phone.
Thinking I might actually time someone using the electric pump someday,
but I realized that that's ridiculous.  I mean, you still have to put the balloon
on the nozzle and tie it off.  That's what really takes up the time.

I guess that what I'm looking at is
people who spend a lot of time preparing a huge display of balloons
before an event.  What about that?  Do you guys do that?

[Sherry]

I haven't tried that and what I'm wondering is how they keep these huge displays looking nice for so long?  When I twist up balloons early and hang on my display, they seem to quickly start wilting and not looking so fresh.  I thought it was just hot weather, but I noticed that they still ended up not looking so fresh at a cold event I did last week.

[Alison]

That's a real good question Sherry.
Actually, I'm remembering a day when I was working at a 'dead' place -
Well, actually not completely dead - but it certainly didn't have enough turnout for more than one Artist.

Well, there was one person there who blows up  (electric pump) over 50 260's early in the day.  Attaches hearts and alien-balloons to the tops of half of them, and then just gives each one it's final flower twist when the kids come running up.  This particular day, she decided to pack up early - just not enough happening.  So she nicely gave me a huge armload of her unsold balloons instead of throwing them out.  

I  generously twisted together 5 and 6 stems with uncountable toppings for each of my creations - really went to town since they cost me nothing.  So elaborate that people who wouldn't usually stop were willing to get me a dollar for each overthetop creation.  I just realized that after being out there All Day, the whole long day, this other person's balloons were it top shape.  Not only perky, but, as usual, longer than mine too.

Is there a trick to getting them long enough?  I already know to stretch, stretch, stretch, but it seems redundant.  And I don't see that woman doing calistenics on each balloon.....

Is it the pump?

[Kristal]

How long does it take you to tie a balloon? If you burp it properly and give it a good stretch around your fingers, you should be done tying it in no time. The last time I had a chance to keep track of balloons, I was averaging about 22 balloons/hour - and they were ALL multi-balloon sculptures. One-balloon dogs don't see the light of day here!

As for display balloons - I only twist display pieces if there's no line and I'm bored out of my tree/need to look like I'm doing something. I don't have to have display balloons - I have a display board with designs on it already.

And they will start to go matte, anyway. I think I heard something about it being because the balloons are 100% natural rubber latex, that as soon as they're inflated they start to ...what's the word?... bio degrade? Something like that, I think. If they start to look bunk but you're busy, I wouldn't worry about it. If you have time though, you can always replace them?

That's why I never Never NEVER pre-inflate balloons! Besides them oxidizing, you never know how much air you'll need in a certain colour, ahead of time. And I'd rather not waste them if the event is dead and they don't get used. (I hope those people you sold your crazy creations to don't come back and want the same elaborate piece for only a dollar! Counter-productive then, no?)

I hear Betallatex are slightly longer than Qualatex - maybe she was using those? Sometimes it's just the colour or batch. Sometimes my red or orange 260's seem a bit short, but you learn to deal and adapt.

[Sherry]

Do you notice a difference when you're twisting balloons in varying temperatures outside?  It was cold outside at the last event I did and I felt like there was a difference, but couldn't quite put my finger on it.

[Kristal]

I find that the jewel tones are absolute garbage when it's hot outside/you're in direct sunlight. I've stopped ordering the ruby, mandarin and citrine balloons, and will phase out the sapphire, emerald, and quartz once I use the ones I have up. They're pretty, but not my favourites. The only jewel tones I plan on keeping are the onyx black, diamond clear, and possibly the jewel magenta.

I might notice the change with heat more because it's normally cooler here than where you are...as opposed to you noticing a change with the cooler temperatures...haha. When it's cool and I'm outside, it's a bit trickier to twist because my fingers are clumsier, but I don't think I've noticed a change in balloons. I also start checking for indoor alternatives for parties starting mid-September or so - before it starts to get too cold!

[Sherry]

I'll be happy when I can figure out exactly what is causing my balloons to pop.  I think it has something to do with the weather.  Some days I can twist away, but others I'm embarassing myself with the popping balloons.  It only seems to happen when I'm trying to twist at outdoor events.

[Alison]

I was told that older balloons will pop a lot?

So I was disappointed because I had stocked up on them a few months ago.
But last night I practiced here in my comfortable office, even reusing and reusing the balloons,
and I had No problem with any of them popping.

[giggs]

I am mainly a restaurant clown that does face painting and balloon sculptures for lines of kids (we live in a resort area) I use an electric pump that I made...it is loud but it last my whole night which can be 5+ hours and continuous lines with loads of kids. I am stationary because of the face painting.  I have been doing this so long i started with the hand pump which I still always keep with me, in case I have tech errors LOL, then the standing tube pump, then the fanny pack type that I always burned up because Of how many balloons i make in a night and now the one that I made (with a little help from some friends ))

Keeping balloons out of the heat, not leaving them in the car will help with the popping. We don't have much cold weather in Fl.  If you are having to many problems with them popping they are guaranteed. In other words the manufacture has to replace them. I have done that 2 or 3 times over the past 14 years. Some times there are just bad balloons.

What a great way to learn from each other. 

[Sherry]

Yes and nice to hear from another experienced balloonist on the board (and I'm not talking about myself, newbie here).  Which do you think is more popular for you, the balloons or the face painting?  Welcome to the board, by the way!   

[Alison]

Why did you change from the standing tube pump to the fanny-pack electric, Giggs?
(BTW - You have a really good name)