Balloon pump

Are there any of you twisters out there who can recommend a good hand pump for balloons. I have a cheap one but it currently has tape holding it together.

I don't really need a high end pump but something that will hold up and is easy to use.

My first pump broke easily. I then got one from tmyers.com that is dual action and it was a good purchase. It has not broken, its dual action so that you can pump balloons faster and I like the design, its easy to grip and place the balloons. Here is the link.
http://www4.mailordercentral.com/tmyersmagic/prodinfo.asp?number=2038

The red Qualatex pump. It's only one way, but I find it much easier to use than the purple two-way. Also, you can fit the Qualatex 160 pump inside!

I picked up one at a department store in the party supply section with the balloons and napkins... it was dual action, was red/blue/yellow and lasted as long as I had it. I think I gave it away... or it may be in the tickle trunk.

Not to contradict anyone, but it was the red qualatex pump that broke on me. Also you might want to get two pumps so that you always have a back up when you are at a gig.

Did it really? Haha - cause the purple one that I tried using was a toughie for me - to each her own, eh?

My red pumps have never broken on me - I've been freelancing almost a year, and was with an event company for the previous 2 that used the reds as well. i personally always take two of each the red and the black 160 with me. Will be investing in a floor pump soon!

I love my red pump... I have a purple one and I don't like it at all... the action feels "squishy" or something. I don't feel the need for a floor pump, I prefer to be mobile when I'm doing balloons.

I believe that the best floor pump is the Filbert Pump Filbertpump.Com
Made just for you in your choice of colors and even height. Hand made in New York by a wonderful man. It is light.....When I got my first one, I thought that he forgot to pack it, because the box was so light.

You can pick the whole pump up and carry it with your pinky it is so light. and...it is so easy to carry, and it holds your balloons while you prepare to set up to twist.

Oh, I love my filbert...just incase you didn't notice.

Jenny

Haha Jenny - I saw people raving about the Filbert on clown-forum.com - I want one!

I'd say that I like being mobile, as well, but really, at events I never get to travel anywhere (even if I was meant to) because of lineups. I would still use the red and black for parties, but for large events when I'd be doing balloons for multiple hours, then I think a floor pump would save my arms and sanity!

I have the purple one and I think it is a Qualatex. It sticks when you try to pump it too. I looked at the ones everyone mentioned among others and noticed that they are either really cheap or really expensive. That Filbert one sounds great but I probably don't REALLY need it.

Do you use your foot to pump it?

when you say "red and black" is yours two toned?? we may be referring to different pumps here... the one I'm referring to is the second one down on this page: http://www.larocks.com/balloon/pumps.htm
looks like a ketchup bottle.

Perry - no, sorry! Guess I wasn't clear. I'm totally talking about the red ketchup pump. But I also use the black 160 pump, and lug two of each of those with me.

I have the filbert and love it also. One easy push down and the balloon is filled up. Those small ones are too much work, especially when the balloon gigs are more than one hour.

I have seriously spent MONTHS debating on which floor pump to get...It's been a choice between the filbert, and this one: (for some reason I can't find the pump in a category - go to www.partyempire.com and search for pump - it's called Pump O - second row, middle)

I talked to the guy there (who is a clown/twister), and he was mentioning that another twister had a filbert (or something similar) and the pump/pipe itself got broken when he pushed it down funny or a kid tried to pump a balloon and it was pushed to the side or something. At any rate, it snapped. The filbert is a whole lot thinner than the pump o - are you ever scared it'll snap?

That was my main concern - to ship the filbert to Canada would run me $133, convertint to something like $168 the last time I checked. The pump o (which is only a 10 minute drive from me, actually!) is $185 plus tax - so it's not a HUGE price difference. It's also super light, like the filbert.

Thoughts?

I have the top 3 on the LaRocks page. The baby black 160, the red ketchup bottle one, and the purple and black 260. Funny, I like the purple best.

I got mine fast and at a great price at - at http://www.btydirect.com/supplies.html

I would just try them all to see which you love the best! You are only talking 3 to 5 bucks each depending on where you buy them from.

Kristal - I love the look of that filbert pump! http://www.filbertpump.com/index.htm (their site says it is $90 us and $43 shipping). I love the colors and look of the filbert - and you can choose them to match or be crazy mismatched. The PumpO looks like a big cardboard cylinder with a cover - think paper towel tube jumbo sized to me. Look at the colors of the filbert - now I want one!

I love the look of the filbert too - I'm just worried about it snapping! Do you not think that would be a problem? Someone said, "just don't let the kids near it," but sometimes that's easier said than done! And haha at the cardboard cylinder - it does look less "fun" than the filbert, but that's not a problem - nothing some holographic tape and/or stickers and/or paint can't fix!

HELP!
My new purple two way pumps in one direction and SUCKS THE AIR BACK OUT in the other!! What am I doing wrong?????????????

I have had my filbert for a little over 3 years. There are also 8 people in my clown alley that has the filbert. I have never heard of anyone snapping the cylinder and I am really tough on my pump. I am always dropping it for some reason

I say this a lot, but there are some brand of products out there that some people swear by, and others swear at. That purple pump is definately one of them. I have one, and it's the only pump I (currently) use. I love it....most of the time. I has failed me in competition before - it seized up and I had to finish the competition my mouth inflating. I have heard a couple say it doesn't take air in properly or it is very leaky. but when performing without the mentioned hitches in its giddyup, the purple pump I find is great. However, I am saving for a filbert.... I want one of those puppies sooooo bad!!! lol

TheSparklingLady wrote:HELP!
My new purple two way pumps in one direction and SUCKS THE AIR BACK OUT in the other!! What am I doing wrong?????????????

It's probably not you. Replace it w/ a better pump & have a back up in case it's broke or stolen. I'm agreeing w/ those on here about the red ketchup bottle pump. It's durable(5 yrs ago I bought 2 of them & they're still doing great).

I do want the filbert. They did have a problem w/ their glue & fixed it. They also have replacement & fixing instructions on their site.