Date: Wed, 13 Sep 1995 23:11:15 -1000 From: cfbd@southern.co.nz (Colin Douthwaite) Message-Id: <438rjj$6rg@southern.co.nz> Organization: Southern InterNet Services Subject: Re: Bubble FAQ? ( LONG 45k ) Barry Klein (barry.klein@solar.org) wrote: : I've heard rumour of a bubble faq somewhere, here or in a crafts : or clowning group. Anyone know where? I make bubble machines and : would welcome details of bubble tricks, or alternative methods of : making them. (slowly working on one for kites) : : barry.klein@solar.org ==================================================================== An Introduction to Bubbles & Bubble Making ==================================================================== Subject: BUBBLES! Message-ID: <1rladpINNq9v@dns1.NMSU.Edu> From: abernste@spock (BERNSTEIN) Date: 28 Apr 1993 07:06:33 GMT Organization: New Mexico State University Keywords: bubbles > > This is posted with the hope that those that enjoy kites are the > > very same as those who enjoy the art of bubble-blowing! Both, in my > > opinion are equally good for the soul! > > > > Anyway, I'm interested in starting a rec.bubble group and don't > > know how to go about it (in fact this is my first posting) or if the > > interest is there! > > > > Any responses? > > > > Yeah - I agree, I like bubbles too! But, I don't think there's an > awful lot to write about bubbles, is there? Ah, but there is! Bubbles have a lot of physics associated with them! Did you know they join in only 2 ways? They can be used to find the most efficient pathways between sets of points (would this be important in neural nets?). There are all types of tricks and variations. There are books and recipes and stores completely devoted to bubbles. Check out "The Incredible Bubble Book." It outlines the history of the study of bubbles... why, even the universe has been modelled on the concept of "foam!" I don't know A LOT, and I was kinda wondering what others knew. I chose rec.kites as my initial posting group because I thought a lot of folks who read this must like pretty flying things... Aaron Bernstein P.S.: Any suggestions on other groups that would be interested, or should I just shut up and figure out how to make my own? Subject: Re: BUBBLES! Message-ID: <1993Apr29.085506.26118@zoo.bt.co.uk> From: cdt@zoo.bt.co.uk (Clive Dennett-Thorpe) Date: Thu, 29 Apr 93 08:55:06 GMT Organization: BT Laboratories OK - I know that there were books published on Bubbles and their physics a long time ago because I remember seeing them in the school science library. I think the particular book I read dated back to 1936 - I guess surface-tension fanatics can have a field-day in this area!! I thought it was very interesting but I think I was discouraged from actually trying the stuff because of the toy bubble solutions that I'd tried from the local shops which were pretty useless. I think that you probably had to mix either some strange soaps/chemicals together to make proper solutions and again apathy defeated enthusiasm! I bought my nephew one of those incredibly large bubble-producing wands and was amazed to see 2-3 foot bubbles floating through the air.... I've seen variety artists who joined bubbles and filled them with smoke to better illustrate what they were doing...... Other famous bubbles:- 1) South Sea bubble 2) "I'm forever blowing bubbles" 3) "Bubbles" - the Pears soap advert 4) Bubbles - the late society hostess 5) Bubbles which cause divers "bends" Seriously though I'll try to find to find a copy of that book-sounds interesting. As you say anything that flies and is pretty must be worth checking out!! Clive Dennett-Thorpe "......Wow,Mum.............Look at those bubbles!!!!!!!!!!!!.........." Mon, 14 Jun 1993 19:43:50 rec.kites Lines 62 Re: kites vs. bubbles! No responses abernste@spock BERNSTEIN at New Mexico State University Well, now this is interesting! A response from my posting of over a month ago! In reply I must say that although I never did create a group, the volume of dialogue that ensued re bubble-ology stunned me. Excluding a posting of my own there were 12 responses, most of which appeared within a week of my posting. On the whole, they were interesting and inciteful and generally expressed interest. I have these on file, if anybody is interested: Here's a summary of the articles: era_pul@ki.ericsson.se (Peter Ulfheden ) Bubbles raised by kite idea made plans for it! Excellent, but I don't know if it has been tried. e_splett@kaorsc.enet.dec.com Interested in soap mixture cdt@zoo.bt.co.uk (Clive Dennett-Thorpe) "famous bubbles" list Was discouraged by bought bubble solution. Interested in published books on bubbles. daleri@saturn.wwc.edu (Richard Daley) Has long lasting bubble solution formula, was going to post if he found the file, but I don't think he ever did post. Could be wrong. Referenced a Book by Dover press by C.V. Boys irving@sys.toronto.edu (Irving Reid) Has modified bubble blower: Pustefix "Wirbelfix" that has been attached onto a kite: hard to keep bubbles from tipping and need to keep directed into the wind. reich@cod.nosc.mil (Ronald S. Reich) Knows of bubble-making technique, introduced by David Brittain, very interesting, using a revolution to lift a hoop from solution on the ground. rcwieg@ccmail.monsanto.com (Roger Wiegand) Gave formula for a "pretty good" bubble mix using Dawn and glycerol. Colin_Douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz (Colin Douthwaite) Remembers a "tin warbler" for blowing bubbles and making noise. Added to Colin Douthwaite's list of "Famous Bubbles" for a grand total of 6. andrew@tug.com (Andrew Beattie) Independently came up with what turned out to be a rehash or Reich's rehash... This fact was friendily pointed out by Marty Sasaki, and lucifer@emx.cc.utexas.edu (Light-Bearer) sasaki@netop3.harvard.edu (Marty Sasaki) Mentioned electric bubble machines as wind monitors on kite fields. Purpose of possible group: "For the further enhancement of common knowledge on the subject of bubbles. Any kind of bubbles. Big bubbles. Small bubbles. In between bubbles. Bubbles for any occasion. Wanted: Recipes, anecdotes, antidotes, tricks, ideas, gags, historical documentaries, book reviews, scientific treatise, good karma, spiritual bubble guru. No Lawrence Welk jokes, please." ==================================================================== Books on Bubbles ==================================================================== A new printing of "The Bubble Book" has appeared in the Global Sky Kite Shop here. It comes with an elaborate Giant Bubble Maker - book and bubbler for NZ$ 29.95. "The Unbelievable Bubble Book" by John Cassidy with David Stein, inventor of the Bubble Thing which has produced the Guiness Book of Records largest bubble - 250 feet long. Klutz Press, Palo Alto, California. Colin Douthwaite New Zealand 8 January 1994 Email address: cfbd@southern.co.nz From: ps18@cornell.edu (Peter Schwartz) Subject: Re: Bubbles/Related things Followup-To: sci.physics,sci.chem Date: Wed, 17 Aug 1994 11:30:06 -0500 In article , dangit@netcom.com (Lam Dang) wrote: > The problem is that I'm not sure where to begin You might get a copy of Boys, C. V., _Soap Bubbles: Their Colors and the Forces which Mold Them_. Dover Publications, New York, 1959. ISBN 0-486-20542-8. Peter From: rosas@irisdav.chem.vt.edu (Victor) Subject: Re: Bubbles/Related things Date: Wed, 17 Aug 1994 13:34:14 In article dangit@netcom.com (Lam Dang) writes: >I plan on doing a project/paper/modeling of the characteristics >of bubbles, such as their shapes, surface movements, how they >pop (the black spots right before), and possible other related >kinda of things. >The problem is that I'm not sure where to begin -- is there a >scientific 'name' for bubble? Does this have to do more with >physics, chemistry, or equally in both fields? Has much work >been done in this field? [Has too much work been done in this >field? :]. Where do I begin my research? >Thanks, > Jimmy Dang (jdang@goober.mbhs.edu) I would first look at research about surface tension phenomena. After all, bubbles are due primarily to the surface tension of the liquid that generates them. Hope this helps. Victor. From: ps18@cornell.edu (Peter Schwartz) Subject: Re: Bubbles/Related things Followup-To: sci.physics,sci.chem Date: Wed, 17 Aug 1994 11:30:06 -0500 In article , dangit@netcom.com (Lam Dang) wrote: > The problem is that I'm not sure where to begin You might get a copy of Boys, C. V., _Soap Bubbles: Their Colors and the Forces which Mold Them_. Dover Publications, New York, 1959. ISBN 0-486-20542-8. Peter From: David.L.Webb@dartmouth.edu (David L. Webb) Subject: Re: Bubbles/Related things Date: 18 Aug 1994 03:27:02 GMT In article dangit@netcom.com (Lam Dang) writes: > I plan on doing a project/paper/modeling of the characteristics > of bubbles, such as their shapes, surface movements, how they > pop (the black spots right before), and possible other related > kinda of things. > > The problem is that I'm not sure where to begin -- is there a > scientific 'name' for bubble? Does this have to do more with > physics, chemistry, or equally in both fields? There are some fascinating mathematical questions arising from a study of soap bubbles. To get started, see Frank Morgan's paper in a recent issue of the American Mathematical Monthly, as well as his paper in the Mathematical Intelligencer, vol. 14, no. 3 (1992). The references in those papers will give you further direction. Good luck. Best wishes, David Webb From: wkc@nyquist..bellcore.com (Winston K. Chan 21614) Subject: Re: Bubbles/Related things Date: Thu, 18 Aug 1994 14:03:58 GMT A good book on soap bubbles that is written for the layman is Soap Bubbles by C. V. Boys. It was originally published around 1910, but has been republished by Dover. The ISBN number is 0-486-20542-8. I bought my copy ten years ago, so I don't know if it is still in print. It should be available in most libraries. Winston Chan From: harper@kauri.vuw.ac.nz (John Harper) Subject: Re: Bubbles/Related things Date: 19 Aug 1994 00:34:53 GMT See Physics Today Oct 1991 for the mechanics and surface chem of bubbles in beer and other liquids. For more detail see R Clift, JR Grace and ME Weber, "Bubbles, Drops and Particles", McGraw- Hill(1978). If anyone is still using my article in Adv.App.Mech.12,59-129,(1972) I shall send the errata sheet on receiving their mailing address. LaTeX didn't exist then! John Harper Mathematics Dept. Victoria University Wellington New Zealand From: pwmeek@garnet.msen.com (Peter W. Meek) Subject: Re: Bubbles Date: 6 Sep 1994 14:18:52 GMT Organization: Msen, Inc. -- Ann Arbor, MI (account info: +1 313 998-4562) Message-ID: <34htoc$gjs$1@heifetz.msen.com> : >>The problem is that I'm not sure where to begin -- is there a : >>scientific 'name' for bubble? Does this have to do more with : >>Thanks, : >> Jimmy Dang (jdang@goober.mbhs.edu) There is a classic work on this subject first published in 1902: _Soap_Bubbles_and_the_Forces_Which_Mould_Them_ by Sir Charles Vernon Boys. It has been republished as a Doubleday-Anchor book in 1959 and I believe I have seen it recently (past few years) in bookstores. You may think that this is something of an antique, but bubbles don't change much. The only major new material that you might want to search out would be whether there any computer modeling systems based on algorithms which were not available (or not practical due to the the amount of calculation required). The material in the book is easily understandable since it was taken from a series of lectures for young people. This is not to say that the material is either simple or simplistic -- hard-core physics is being presented here, but in a way that requires no advanced mathematics or physics to understand what is being presented. I recommend it to anyone interested in the subject. -- --Pete ==================================================================== Bubble Machines ==================================================================== Subject: Re: BUBBLES! From: irving@sys.toronto.edu (Irving Reid) Date: 28 Apr 93 20:20:34 GMT era_pul@ki.ericsson.se (Peter Ulfheden ) writes: >I've been thinking about entertaining my kids (and myself ;-) by >making a wind powered bubble maker that could be raised with a kite. >Anybody seen something like that? >Peter I have a Pustefix "Wirbelfix", which is a plastic airplane-shaped bubble machine which uses the propeller on the front to turn bubble wands through a trough full of bubble mix. I had to make a little frame for it in order to hang it from my line and keep it pointing into the wind. It's very eye-catching; you get a long "tail" of bubbles streaming >From your kite line. Guaranteed to please all but the toughest crowds. The hardest part in designing something similar would be to keep it pointing into the wind, and to keep it from tipping and pouring bubble mixture onto innocent bystanders. - irving - -------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: Bubbles! From: era_pul@ki.ericsson.se (Peter Ulfheden ) Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1993 16:06:11 GMT Organization: Ericsson Radio Systems AB, Sweden My *IDEA* of a bubble maker on a kite looks like this. Note that I haven't tried it yet. I assume that the viscosity(sp?) of the water will keep the speed down on the rotors. Shaft v Top O--+--O <-- PingPong ball rotor view | +------------+ | | | | o-+-o <--|--- Four bubble frames on sticks | | |<-- Tank +------------+ | O--+--O <-- PingPong ball rotor Side ) ) view \ / +-----X------+ Bubble frames not shown |~~~~/~\~~~~~| \ ( ( / --------- The tank must be suspended in such way that it's aimed in the direction of the wind. A way to do this is to it the way cameras are suspended. _________ Kite /\__\__\__\ \/__/__/__/ . . . . knob--> o/ The kite line should be turned ./<-- stick a couple of turns (I don't know ./ the English name of the knot) ./P <-- hinge around each knob ./ | o o/ | o o o o . | o o o o o o . / \ o o o o o o o o . +---+ o o o o o | | <-- Tank o o +---+ Ahhh... I couldn't resist making all those bubbles ;-) Tight Line(s) Peter From: Colin_Douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz (Colin Douthwaite) Subject: Re: Bubbles! Date: 1 May 93 07:15:36 +1200 Peter Ulfheden (era_pul@ki.ericsson.se) wrote: > My *IDEA* of a bubble maker on a kite looks like this. Note that > I haven't tried it yet. I assume that the viscosity(sp?) of the > water will keep the speed down on the rotors. Peter Ulfheden's design for a Flying Bubble Generator is admirable. It has yet to be manufactured and tested. A much simpler mechanism may be available. Many years ago you could buy very lightweight tin birdwarblers. They looked like tiny watering cans. You put water in the can and blew down the spout and out came a delightful bird trill or warble. This device, part filled with bubble liquid ( or detergent ), could be taped to the base of the spine of a simple single-line stable kite. The spout would be positioned to point into the wind. An assistant would be needed to carefully and gently launch the kite to avoid spillage. I feel sure that the resulting audio-visual bubbles would be a delight for other fliers and spectators. When the liquid ran out the steady whistle from this device would continue to entertain for hours. Different warblers would also produce a variety of sounds. perhaps even music ? The Birdwarbler could become a standard kite accessory. After all the Chinese put clackers, whirrers, flappers and bangers in their dragon kites. So why not bubble blowing bird warblers ? Colin Douthwaite New Zealand 1/5/93 From: zpmobley@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US Subject: Re: Bubbles Date: 2 Sep 1994 13:53:07 GMT In article , Colin_Douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz (Colin Douthwaite) writes: >In article dangit@netcom.com (Lam >Dang) writes: > >>I plan on doing a project/paper/modeling of the characteristics >>of bubbles, such as their shapes, surface movements, how they >>pop (the black spots right before), and possible other related >>kinda of things. > >>The problem is that I'm not sure where to begin -- is there a >>scientific 'name' for bubble? Does this have to do more with >>Thanks, >> Jimmy Dang (jdang@goober.mbhs.edu) Well, chemistry is just area specific physics actually. The deal here is surface tension. The colors (make em in the dark and hit em with a flashlight...you'll see some amazing colors happening and they move) is due to thin film physics, and that black spot before they bust is where they are so thin that they reflect no color. That is the point where the bubble actually busts due to lack of surface tension...all of the liquid that creates surface tension flows to the bottom of the bubble, which you can watch happening, and the top of the bubble gets so thin that the tension from the bottom rips the top apart. I make large bubbles, and have actually put people inside them....bubbles are right up there with kites for me. Bubbles are also great in a strobe light, and you can use a butane cannister to inflate them and then hit em with a lighter and they poof really neat. (don't try this without parental supervision kids) Per research, are you looking for serious scientific research or just your everyday joe kinda research. Bubble technology is it's own scientific field, and there are scientists who do nothing but study bubbles/suds. I made a bubble machine once that flew from the bottom of my delta....rotating wheel (wind rotates it) passes bubble wand through a container of soap and as it comes out the bubble fly! Neat as hell when winds are right. tension and tight lines to ya. From: seanl@harlequin.co.uk (Sean Lange) Subject: Re: Bubbles 94 20:53:26 +1200 Organization: Harlequin Ltd, Barrington Hall, Cambridge UK Date: Wed, 7 Sep 1994 08:42:33 GMT > I made a bubble machine once that flew from the bottom of my > delta....rotating wheel (wind rotates it) passes bubble wand > through a container of soap and as it comes out the bubble fly! > Neat as hell when winds are right. I too have tried a bubble machine under a delta. It was a small toy, shaped like a plane with small trough for bubble juice and and prop that when spun caused wands to dip in and out of the juice. In good wind conditions if was great - a very impressive stream of bubbles. The one problem I had was getting the gizmo into the air without spilling half the bubble juice over me, the kite and the field. Anyone else experience this and/or have solutions. - sean From: zpmobley@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US Subject: Re: Bubbles Date: 7 Sep 1994 13:34:39 GMT Organization: Trident Technical College Message-ID: <34kfhf$gf3@ns.sunbelt.net> In article , seanl@harlequin.co.uk (Sean Lange) writes: > >> I made a bubble machine once that flew from the bottom of my >> delta....rotating wheel (wind rotates it) passes bubble wand >> through a container of soap and as it comes out the bubble fly! >> Neat as hell when winds are right. > >I too have tried a bubble machine under a delta. It was a small toy, >shaped like a plane with small trough for bubble juice and and prop >that when spun caused wands to dip in and out of the juice. In good >wind conditions if was great - a very impressive stream of bubbles. >The one problem I had was getting the gizmo into the air without >spilling half the bubble juice over me, the kite and the field. Anyone >else experience this and/or have solutions. > >- sean I had that problem as well...I don't have the perfect solution, but if you center the prop in a deep wide bucket and only fill it a quarter full it spills less than with the prop originating outside the bucket. (I say bucket when I should say lightweight soap solution container, don't try it with a 5 gallon galvanized pail unless you have a hell of a delta!). At the top place parallel strips of saran wrap alongside, but not in the way of, the prop, and this will reduce spillage considerabley. Using a stiff tape like duct tape to keep the wrap from blowing all over and screwing up the airstream will produce better bubbles. Also, use a little extra glycerine in the solution and shoot for dry cool (cold) weather....hot dries bubbles and humid dilutes them, both shorten bubble lifespan. Make sure the wands are wide and serated to hold maximum quantity of your solution and that the prop is hindered enough to keep it from spinning crazy and throwing solution all over....Also, if you strongly illuminate downwind from the underside of the bucket the extra weight (again, don't overdue the weight or you'll be grounded) helps keep it from swinging so wildly and the light makes great colors in the bubbles at night. Crude and elementary ascii drawing follows... >From the side... _____ _____ | | | | |___| |___| \ / \ / ________________________________________________________________________ | \ / | | \ / | | \ / | | \ / | | \ / | | \ / | | O | | / \ | | / \ | | / \ | | / \ | | / \ | | / \ | | / \ | | / \ | | _____ / \_____ | | | | | | | | |___| |___| | |______________________________________________________________________| >From the top.... ________________________________________________________________________ | | | SARAN WRAP | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | SARAN WRAP COVERED WITH TAPE | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | PROP | | ---------------------------O------------------------------ | | | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | SARAN WRAP COVERED WITH TAPE | |----------------------------------------------------------------------| | SARAN WRAP | |______________________________________________________________________| Happy trails Tom -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: zpmobley@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US Subject: Re: Bubbles Date: 12 Sep 1994 15:22:30 GMT Organization: Trident Technical College Message-ID: <351rnm$6i3@ns.sunbelt.net> In article , Colin_Douthwaite@equinox.gen.nz (Colin Douthwaite) writes: >zpmobley@TRIDENT.TEC.SC.US wrote: > > [bubble stuff deleted] >> I had that problem as well...I don't have the perfect solution, >So what size and weight of bucket are you describing and what >diameter for the bubble wands ( I assume they are circular shaped at >the ends to form the bubbles ) ? > I couldn't tell you the weight, but the bucket was app 12 x 12 x 6. The wands I cut off of bubble wands (app 1" diameter), and the prop was hand made. I cut off the end of a walnut dow rod for the center piece and whittled my own props from walnut stock. It flew with the wide side to the wind and required 4 bridles to hold it in place. It would probably be better behaved with the narrow side to the wind and by using ping pong halves below the wands rather than the prop. May have more success in lighter winds also. Mine was crushed in the next to last move I made, and I think that when I remake it I will try it with the smaller sillouette to the wind and the ping pong balls. From: seanl@harlequin.co.uk (Sean Lange) Subject: Re: Bubbles Date: Tue, 13 Sep 1994 10:21:04 GMT Sean Lange (seanl@harlequin.co.uk) wrote: > I too have tried a bubble machine under a delta. It was a small > toy, shaped like a plane with small trough for bubble juice and > and prop that when spun caused wands to dip in and out of the juice. What sort of dimensions and weight did this gadget have ? Presumably it was made mainly of plastic with metal for the prop shaft and wands ? What did the toy cost ? The gadget was made of plastic, with a plastic prop and wands (3) the only metal was the shaft from prop to wands. The tank for juice was semicircular about 3in radius and about 3/4in wide (not big enough in my experience). 3 mount points, both wings and tail. Overall wingspan 9in, length 10in (all dimensions approx). Cost 5 quid. - sean From: amirault@max.tiac.net (Richard Amirault) Subject: Bubbles! Date: 12 Jun 95 00:10:06 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Message-ID: I've just finished construction of a bubble machine. A friend of mine made one. I got a copy of the plans from him and made one for myself. I don't have the plans here at home, and I can't remember the authors last name, but his first name is FELIX. (I wish I could give the proper credit) Gave the machine its first workout last weekend, and it was a rousing success. It just shot bubbles out for hour upon hour, and the kids went nuts (at least some of them) Does anyone have any further information on making bubble solution >From scratch? I've been able to find commercial solution at a reasonable price, but I want to investigate making my own solution. Richard In Boston amirault@tiac.net From: jburka@Glue.umd.edu (Jeffrey C. Burka) Subject: Re: Bubbles! Date: 11 Jun 1995 21:29:36 -0400 Organization: Project Glue, University of Maryland, College Park Message-ID: <3rg5a0$5ru@geog20.umd.edu> In article , Richard Amirault wrote: >I've just finished construction of a bubble machine. A friend of >mine made one. I got a copy of the plans from him and made one for >myself. I don't have the plans here at home, and I can't remember >the authors last name, but his first name is FELIX. (I wish I could >give the proper credit) That would be Felix Cartegna. He's from...Delaware, as I recall, and has been a long-time staple at mid-atlantic festivals, including Smithsonian and SunFest. His bubble machines have always been wildly popular, but as far as I know, he doesn't sell them, though a few have appeared in SunFest auctions. And yes, Felix does kites too. ;-) >Does anyone have any further information on making bubble solution >from scratch? I've been able to find commercial solution at a >reasonable price, but I want to investigate making my own solution. Felix has told me that he's tried various recipes for homemade bubble solution, but has found commercial types to be much better. He buys in bulk (I believe I've seen one gallon jugs under his rig). Jeff From: amirault@laraby.tiac.net (Richard Amirault) Subject: Bubble Machine Date: 22 Jun 95 02:21:01 GMT Organization: The Internet Access Company Message-ID: In response to numerous requests, I will be sending out Felix's plans to make a bubble machine. Those who have E-Mailed me with a SNail Mail adress will have one within the week (I hope) Anyone else interested in obtaining the plans send me persone EMail with your postal address. A short description to help you decide: Parts cost from $50 to $70 not counting the 12v battery necessary to run the thing. It does NOT fly on a kite, it sits on the ground on top of a 5 ft mast held up by a 3' antenna tripod (about 6 ft total height) You will need to make some basic electrical connections, and some basic mechanical work. Most part are available in your local department store and Radio Shack (with one exception, a gearmotor >From Edmund Scientific) The bigger the 12v battery you use the longer it will run (also the more it will cost$),but you want to be able to put it out on/near the flying field, not off in the parking lot. At last weekends Boston Area Stunt Kite Championships (BASK) we had two bubble machines, and were invited to bring them to next months Newport (RI) competition! (we will!) If you are interested, I'll be glad to help spread the word. Richard in Boston amirault@tiac.net ==================================================================== Bubble Mixtures ==================================================================== Subject: Re: recipe for soap bubbles wanted From: jordan@inland.com Date: 30 Jun 93 07:20:41 CST Organization: Inland Steel Company; East Chicago, IN In article <93181.123922ACIARLO@ESRIN.BITNET>, writes: > Does anybody have a recipe for soap bubbles which does not require > difficult to find components? Thanks in advance. > A. Ciarlo (ACIARLO@ESRIN.BITNET) This is the recipe my wife uses to make soap bubbles for the kids to blow around outside and in the bathtub. When it is fresh, the solution can make some pretty large bubbles. After it has aged a while (usually, the kids forget to close the container) it seems to be slightly less effective. I hope it works for you. 1 cup liquid dishwashing detergent (Joy or Dawn works for us) 2 cups warm water 3 tablespoons glycerin (available at most pharmacies) one half teaspoon sugar mix store in airtight container. Don Jordan JORDAN@INLAND.COM -------------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Re: recipe wanted for soap bubbles From: jmichael@vnet.IBM.COM Date: Wed, 30 Jun 93 10:05:01 EDT 3 parts water to 1 part Ivory dish soap. Makes giant bubbles. Have fun. Subject: Re: recipe wanted for soap bubbles From: sdb@redbeard.physics.fsu.edu (Scott D. Berry) Date: Wed, 30 Jun 1993 18:05:16 GMT Organization: Florida State University In article <19930630.071116.565@almaden.ibm.com> jmichael@vnet.IBM.COM writes: >3 parts water to 1 part Ivory dish soap. Makes giant bubbles. >Have fun. My giant bubble blowing apparatus book says: 1 cup Dawn/Joy 10 cups water (optional/useful) 3-5 tablespoons glycerine It works great in summer Florida humidity even without the glycerine Scott D. Berry Assistant Professor of Physics Florida State University 315 Keen Bldg, B-159, Tallahassee, FL 32306-3016 (904) 644-1218 INTERNET: berry@redbeard.physics.fsu.edu BITNET: berry@fsu -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Edward William Matthews Subject: Re: Soap Bubbles; whats the best recipe ? Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 22:00:33 -0700 I don't have the article, but 1/3 glycerin + 1/3 dishwasher soap +1/3 water works very well. You may try less water, which is there only to dilute the others. These last fairly long, but may not be exactly what you're looking for. Ed Matthews ------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: xx975@lafn.org (Moderator) Subject: Re: Soap Bubbles; whats the best recipe ? Date: Sun, 30 Oct 1994 08:38:08 GMT In a previous article, hahn@newshost.lds.loral.com (Karl Hahn) says: >In article simonc@bri.hp.com (Simon Chandler) writes: > The Exploratorium in San Francisco recommends using dishwashing > detergent (I think they recommend Dawn and Joy brands), distilled > water, and a bit of glycerol. I don't have the exact recipe with > me, but I'll try to get it for Monday. The recipe for soap bubbles depends upon what you need the soap bubbles for. I use Dawn dishwashing detergent. However, my students have tried several combinations of this detergent with Karo corn syrup or a small amount of glycerin. Try different combinations. By the way, the longer you store your soap bubble mixture, the better its performance. HTH Z.M. Evensen ------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: ara@zurich.ai.mit.edu (Allan Adler) Subject: Re: Soap Bubbles; whats the best recipe ? Date: 30 Oct 94 19:11:08 Organization: M.I.T. Artificial Intelligence Lab. There is a wonderful book by C.V.Boys on soap bubbles, published by Dover. It mentions among other things how to make soap bubbles that last for 20 years. Allan Adler ara@altdorf.ai.mit.edu -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: zowie@banneker.stanford.edu (Craig DeForest) Subject: Re: soap bubbles Date: 13 May 1995 21:20:49 GMT Organization: Stanford University george farrants (m-10537@mailbox.swipnet.se) wrote: : Does anyone have a good recipe for soap bubble solution? : Does anyone know why the solution you can buy in toy shops : works so much better than washing-up liquid solution made : at home? What is the optimal concentration of washing-up : liquid? Glycerine is the magic ingredient. The washing-up liquid lowers the surface tension to the point that bubbles are possible; the glycerine strengthens the structure somehow. I seem to recall a recipe that went something like "1 gal water, 1/2 c. Dawn dishwashing soap (use your favorite brand, though Dawn does seem to work well), 1 tbsp glycerine". In nice SI units, that's "4 l water, 100 ml detergent, 15 ml glycerine". This was to make absolutely huge bubbles using large (~ 30 cm) loops of wire. I guess the best way to go really is empirical: you can make small batches and test each one. Good way to get the kids used to the Scientific Method, too! Cheers! -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: hahn@newshost.lds.loral.com (Karl Hahn) Subject: Re: Soap Bubbles; whats the best recipe ? Nntp-Software: PC/TCP NNTP Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 22:40:52 GMT In article simonc@bri.hp.com (Simon Chandler) writes: > Hello all, > > Some years ago I read an article, in Scientific American I think, that > described how to make VERY long lived soap bubbles. A recipe was > given for the best soap + water + other chemicals mixture to use. > > If you have a reference to that article, or have some other info that > would help, could you please e-mail me (I rarely get time to read the > sci.* group). > The Exploratorium in San Francisco recommends using dishwashing detergent (I think they recommend Dawn and Joy brands), distilled water, and a bit of glycerol. I don't have the exact recipe with me, but I'll try to get it for Monday. From: Edward William Matthews Subject: Re: Soap Bubbles; whats the best recipe ? Date: Fri, 28 Oct 1994 22:00:33 -0700 I don't have the article, but 1/3 glycerin + 1/3 dishwasher soap +1/3 water works very well. You may try less water, which is there only to dilute the others. These last fairly long, but may not be exactly what you're looking for. Ed Matthews -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: xx975@lafn.org (Moderator) Subject: Re: Soap Bubbles; whats the best recipe ? Date: Sun, 30 Oct 1994 08:38:08 GMT In a previous article, hahn@newshost.lds.loral.com (Karl Hahn) says: >In article simonc@bri.hp.com (Simon Chandler) writes: >The Exploratorium in San Francisco recommends using dishwashing >detergent (I think they recommend Dawn and Joy brands), distilled >water, and a bit of glycerol. I don't have the exact recipe with >me, but I'll try to get it for Monday. The recipe for soap bubbles depends upon what you need the soap bubbles for. I use Dawn dishwashing detergent. However, my students have tried several combinations of this detergent with Karo corn syrup or a small amount of glycerin. Try different combinations. By the way, the longer you store your soap bubble mixture, the better its performance. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Peter Loop Subject: Re: Bubbles! Date: 13 Jun 1995 16:04:09 GMT Organization: Intel Message-ID: <3rkctp$j4i@ornews.intel.com> amirault@max.tiac.net (Richard Amirault) wrote: >Does anyone have any further information on making bubble solution from >scratch? I've been able to find commercial solution at a reasonable >price, but I want to investigate making my own solution. The best recipe for bubbles I have found is: Equal parts: - Dawn liquid dishwashing soup - the blue stuff. (the brand does make a difference) - Corn Syrup - Then add Water (experiment with the amount) This works very well for giant bubbles. And doesn't leave a sticky mess. Peter Loop -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: DHAXTON@SSSP.GSFC.NASA.GOV (Donovan Haxton) Subject: Re: Bubbles! Date: 12 Jun 1995 18:23:13 GMT Organization: NASA Goddard Space Flight Center -- Greenbelt, Maryland USA Message-ID: > > >Does anyone have any further information on making bubble solution from > >scratch? I've been able to find commercial solution at a reasonable > >price, but I want to investigate making my own solution. > > Felix has told me that he's tried various recipes for homemade bubble > solution, but has found commercial types to be much better. He buys in > bulk (I believe I've seen one gallon jugs under his rig). > > Jeff For a good bubble soap, try mixing dish washing soap (like Joy) 90 with glycerin 10 by volume. It is not the best, but works well and is easy to make. Don Haxton -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: Michael Goldman <73164.1426@CompuServe.COM> Subject: Re: Bubbles! Date: 15 Jun 1995 20:39:58 GMT Organization: via CompuServe Information Service Message-ID: <3rq5qu$rik$1@mhadg.production.compuserve.com> >Does anyone have any further information on making bubble solution from >scratch? I've been able to find commercial solution at a reasonable >price, but I want to investigate making my own solution. The recipe for bubbles included in the book with the bubble wand goes something like this: 1 part Joy dishwashing liquid 10 parts water optionally, about a 1/8 part glycerin or corn syrup (makes the bubbles last longer). Larger bubbles will last longer in humid, still air (something to do when we can't fly our kites!). For dryer air, use a little more Joy. -------------------------------------------------------------------- From: wastelnd@acy.digex.net Subject: Re: Bubbles! Date: 17 Jun 1995 14:33:54 GMT Organization: the wasteland Message-ID: <3rup4i$4vp@news3.digex.net> > Peter Loop writes: > The best recipe for bubbles I have found is: > > Equal parts: > - Dawn liquid dishwashing soup - the blue stuff. > (the brand does make a difference) > - Corn Syrup > > - Then add Water (experiment with the amount) >>>> The brand does make a difference...Dawn is fine, but I found Joy to be the best: 1 cup Joy 1 gallon water 50 drops of glycerin stay away from cheapy detergent... ==================================================================== " I'm for ever blowing bubbles, pretty bubbles in the air " Bye, = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =