How many times have you reused a balloon?

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  • wildheart
    Senior Member
    • Apr 2015
    • 859

    How many times have you reused a balloon?

    I have some new balloons (Q11, belbal 14 and a Q24) and was wondering how many times they can be reinflated before there's a risk of popping. After fully inflating and deflating a Q11 it looks very thin but seems fine at the moment but I don't want any to pop as I'm still very phobic at the moment.
    How big will it go? Only one way to find out...
    My website: loonerstories.weebly.com
  • Meililoon
    aka lyckr
    • Sep 2014
    • 700

    #2
    Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

    I have a couple of GLs I've probably reused 20 times or so. Generally speaking, the smaller the balloon, the fewer times I reuse them.

    Comment

    • b0f0s0f
      Senior Member
      • Nov 2016
      • 296

      #3
      Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

      It depends on what you're doing with them, if you abuse them they might not last very long, but if you're not overinflating them too much you can reuse 12" quite a few times, I always do. I have some pearlized 9" ones that are totally stretched out because I've blown them so big and so many times and they haven't popped yet after a dozen or so inflations so I think in general they don't wear out that fast. I did try to stretch some other 9"ers with heat and stretching and inflation and those burst just barely past rated size after just a few inflations though, so again it depends on what you're doing with them.

      Comment

      • LoonLover1999

        #4
        Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

        I'm a semi-popper and it can often get agrivating if a balloon pops when I don't want it to so I have a method to test how long a balloon lasts. I give it a 30 second session to see if it's sturdy which I will know will last a lot of uses. My record is 20 uses. If a balloon doesn't feel sturdy and I know it won't take much to pop I will set it in the Pile of balloons I save for a pop session but those are rare.

        Comment

        • Seasider
          Senior Member
          • Jan 2016
          • 207

          #5
          Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

          I have a load of qualatex 11" polka dots and some of them have had 6 or 7 inflations and seem pretty ok still. My belbal 14" get huge after a couple of inflations compared to a new one and also seem ok?

          I am ultra cautious of weak spots when inflating and if I see a few I tend to tie off and not re inflate. I would say that I've had more accidental pops with qualatex than belbal lately. The only belbal that pooped without warning was being inflated on an electric pump. I should have know better because it was resistant from a very small size so clearly had a fault. It popped At about half its rated size. I am a non popper so am very cautious on inflation, good luck with yours!

          I have added a pic of a couple of belbals. The blue one on the left has had one inflation to about 60% rated size compared to the purple one which is brand new, just for a comparison of how big they get on the first go!
          Attached Files

          Comment

          • wildheart
            Senior Member
            • Apr 2015
            • 859

            #6
            Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

            Mine seem to be a lot bigger and thinner after just a few inflations.
            Belbal 14 on left, qualatex 11 on right. One new one inflated once or twice
            Attached Files
            How big will it go? Only one way to find out...
            My website: loonerstories.weebly.com

            Comment

            • OverTheTop
              Senior Member
              • Dec 2013
              • 711

              #7
              Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

              Ahh, the perfect thread for me!

              My favorites are the GL series balloons from Cattex, which are gigantic even when uninflated.



              From left to right:
              • Used clear GL1200
              • Used heat stretched yellow GL700
              • Used purple GL500
              • Unused white GL1200
              • Unused blue GL700
              • Unused purple GL500


              Plus a standard 12-inch ruler for scale. The used GL1200 is almost four feet long

              Comment

              • Seasider
                Senior Member
                • Jan 2016
                • 207

                #8
                Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

                Wow there's a massive difference between them all! Thanks for sharing

                Comment

                • OverTheTop
                  Senior Member
                  • Dec 2013
                  • 711

                  #9
                  Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

                  Originally posted by Seasider
                  Wow there's a massive difference between them all! Thanks for sharing
                  No problem!

                  Comment

                  • bigballcollector
                    Senior Member
                    • Mar 2017
                    • 132

                    #10
                    Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

                    I reuse balloons until they start to show big weak spots or the color itself starts to fade giving a more translucent one.
                    Last edited by bigballcollector; 30-03-2017, 07:44. Reason: unable to place picture
                    Let it be, let it free...but keep it nicely

                    Comment

                    • Jkloon
                      Senior Member
                      • Aug 2013
                      • 357

                      #11
                      Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

                      I use balloons until they pop. I've still got balloons from over 3 years ago

                      Comment

                      • loonerdude44
                        Inflatable Enthusiast
                        • Oct 2017
                        • 185

                        #12
                        Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

                        Usually the bigger the balloon the more times you can reuse it. With small balloons, after being deflated they've stretched enough to be highly unstable and will most likely pop on the next inflation, but with the punch ball balloons I've had they've survived multiple re-inflations (over the course of many days) and they haven't weakened at all. I tend to stay away from older balloons anyway, they've lost their shine and squeak due to oxidizing.

                        Comment

                        • stormbubble
                          Senior Member
                          • Nov 2017
                          • 128

                          #13
                          Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

                          What if they get messy, do you just wash them off? Yes, the thinner they are I think the less time they last, get real wrinkled up.

                          Comment

                          • Blustrkuk86
                            Senior Member
                            • Jun 2015
                            • 146

                            #14
                            Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

                            i use them as much as possible, specially big balloons since their expensive.

                            Comment

                            • balloons
                              Balloon fun
                              • Apr 2017
                              • 136

                              #15
                              Re: How many times have you reused a balloon?

                              I reuse them till they pop and I have to keep blowing them up bigger to get the same firmness. So the either end in blow to pops or pop while I'm riding them. I love not knowing when a balloon is going to pop!

                              Comment

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