How to I make GIANT BUBBLES... Bubbles... bubbles...?

October 16, 2011 12:00 PM

Any one have personal experience with Giant Bubbles that you're willing to share?

I've decided it would be a lot of fun to make Giant Bubbles (like these) to entertain a friend's three year old.

I've found a few links for formulas / solutions, but this seems like a perfect ask meta question. So, anyone have recommendations on how to mix up a batch of Giant Bubbles solution?

(Any other bubble related thoughts are welcome as well.)

posted by StimulatingPixels to Science & Nature (14 answers total)

Best answer: Yes, I used to make them all the time at an educator job I had. My tips are as follows. We found that expensive dish detergent works best, and had the best results with Joy or Dawn. We mixed it thickly in a 1:1 solution with water, I believe. Then we added a few drops of glycerin, which you buy at a drugstore. That made a lot of difference in durability.

We used the commercial giant bubble wand kit (wand + book) from Klutz, which is pretty much the giant bubble Bible. I can recommend this setup - it worked well. But I know there are DIY ways to make your own, too. Still, the book has plenty of good tips and ideas.

IIRC, there was a certain mastery of technique required. First, you put the wands together, then dip the string in your bubble solution. When we pulled the string out, we had a practice of dipping our hands in solution as well, then running them down the string to wring off excess solution. One of the things that destroys big bubbles is areas that are too heavy due to too much solution, so you want the string to be coated but not drippingly sodden. Then you separate the wands, forming a large flat bubble film between the wands. Then, very very gently, you walk backward slowly, away from the bubble. Ideally, there's no wind, but if there is you want it at your back. When the bubble reaches a decent size, you gently bring your wands back together to close. This takes a lot of practice, but once you get it you can do it reliably over and over.

Things that will run bubbles: threads, sand, or gunk in your solution. Too much wind. Anything dry touching your bubble. Solution that is too thin. Tangles or twirls in your bubble-wand string. Moving backward too aggressively.

That's about it. Just get the stuff and experiment!

We used this as part of a bubble workshop which was really fun. In addition to giant bubbles, we made bubbles with kinds of household things: plastic berry baskets (makes a mass of hundreds of small bubbles), wire, straws linked together with paper clips, plastic tubes, lengths of hose, tin cans with both bottom and top cut out...anything with a hole that would hold a film and let you blow through. It's fun to experiment.
posted by Miko at 12:09 PM on October 16, 2011 [16 favorites]

Why, yes, I DO have experience with giant bubbles. Because I did LOTS of hallucinogens in my 20s!

Here's what you need to know:

Regular dishwashing liquid will work fine as bubble solution, but you will need to add a significant amount of glycerin. This will make longer-lasting bubbles.

As for a bubblewand, do this -- get a dowel or a broomstick, two small curtain rings, and a terrycloth beach towel. Cut a long strip from the beach towel and tie each end to a curtain ring. Affix one ring to the near end of the stick, by your hand. Put a stop at the far end so the ring won't slide off, but can freely slide back and forth. You should end up with a loop of ragged fabric hanging from the stick, like the saddest flag ever. (You want the fabric to be kinda ragged, but trim off any really long strands.)

Now. Fill your bucket with bubble liquid and soak that loop! Once the fabric is saturated, like the stick and, holding it parallel to the ground, slooowly sweep it about. If you've made it right, the far loop will move to the end of the stick and the glycerin-enhanced bubble liquid will fill as its film is stretched between the ends of the fabric.

Voila! Giant bubbles!.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 12:17 PM on October 16, 2011 [3 favorites]

wanna get super-cool with it? try zubbles!
posted by sexyrobot at 12:18 PM on October 16, 2011

move slowly! and it may be obvious, but gentle humid days are better than breezy dry days.
posted by AlisonM at 12:30 PM on October 16, 2011

I've used Zubbles, and while the kids adore them, I don't think they're strong enough for the giant bubble-making. But what the heck, give it a try!
posted by easily confused at 12:36 PM on October 16, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks everyone.

@Miko - just ordered the wand/book. Thanks for the recommendation and the notes on your experience.

After I get it sorted with the clear bubbles, I'll give Zubbles a shot.

@AlisonM - I live in Florida. So, humid days are easy. In fact, it's hard to get away from them....
posted by StimulatingPixels at 12:40 PM on October 16, 2011

Best answer: Kids really, really love it if you do this and make the giant bubble AROUND them.

You need a small child's pool (inflatable or hard plastic sides), big enough to hold a hula hoop on the bottom. You are in FL like me, so I know this will be easy.

So, pool, hula hoop in the bottom. Put about 3 inches of water in the bottom of the pool with your hose. You can add more later if you need to, but you REALLY don't want too much water.

Then you make your soap! (32 oz Dawn, 8 oz of glycerin). Mix it up.

Add soap to water.

Have the birthday child (and later, the guests) stand or sit in the pool and lift the hula hoop slowly up over them--yay, giant bubble shield! It might take a couple tries, but it. is. awesome!

Party tip: Someone with a camera to take a pic of bubble boy/girl. They need to be fast with the point and shooting.

Have fun!
posted by misha at 1:35 PM on October 16, 2011 [2 favorites]

Sorry, for some reason I assumed this was for a birthday party, but whatever, the point is--GIANT BUBBLE SHIELD!
posted by misha at 1:36 PM on October 16, 2011 [2 favorites]

There used to be a guy who made giant bubbles at lacuna beach when I was a kid. These were crazy 5 copters and of course we were fascinated. He recommended the dawn and water solution. He also used a long piece of cotton string as a wand. I remember it being very soft and medium weight. His technique was impeccable though, I never got mine quite as big.
posted by boobjob at 3:52 PM on October 16, 2011

Damn word replace lacuna = laguna and copters = footers
posted by boobjob at 3:54 PM on October 16, 2011

Kids really, really love it if you do this and make the giant bubble AROUND them.

Good call -- this is totally true! But just be careful to warn them about not getting the bubble soap in their eyes. It stings. Sometimes it's inadvertent but it helps if they know in advance it might make their eyes hurt but it won't do any permanent harm.
posted by Miko at 4:11 PM on October 16, 2011

Best answer: Yes, just get a pair of cheap kid sunglasses.
posted by misha at 4:38 PM on October 16, 2011

Response by poster: This wasn't for a party, in particular, but the pool+hula sounds great.

Also, there's a 100% chance that I'm getting inside the GIANT BUBBLE SHIELD too. I mean, I'll let them go first, of course. But I'm getting my turn.

Thanks for proving that this was the perfect place to ask this question.
posted by StimulatingPixels at 5:13 PM on October 16, 2011 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: How's this for timing. The day after I ask the question, Make Magazine posts a video promo of issue 28. Included in that issue is an Automatic Giant Bubble Blower.

Too cool.
posted by StimulatingPixels at 12:52 PM on October 17, 2011 [1 favorite]