Huge bubble maker

Hello and welcome to my first instructable. This instructable is how to make a huge bubble maker, now i'm no english teacher so please excuse the grammatical errors. I have seen some youtube videos of these but never found one on how to make one, so i rednecked one and with some trail and error got one that work great. can be made in just a few minutes and for cheap!! i also found a bubble mix recipe that works out great 

Step 1: Parts for the bubble maker

All you needs is 

2 wooden dowel rods
cotton cord
2 eye screws
a few washers


For the dowel rods i used 3/8" by 48" long $0.84 each
The cotton cord is braided cotton cord 1/8"x45' $2.97
Eye screws are 1 1/16"  $2.99 for a pack of 12
washers i had lying around

So for around  $8.00 you have one and enough supplies to build more if you buy more dowel rods.Witch i recommend because when the other kids on the block see huge bubbles they come running, believe me.

Comments

[Snibril]

I just followed your instructions and it worked perfectly.
I had all the bits, barring the rope, lying around anyway, but instead of the washers and metal loops I tried using metal hooks. I pushed the open end through the rope and then used pliers to close them into loops to stop any slipping - seems to work ok and saves having metal-weighted rope swinging around when a small child's enthusiastically bubbling. :)

[Barb37]

Well! I think you are one very talented redneck! WELL DONE!

[lesliecr]

I followed your instructions to make this for a family reunion (all hardware supplies came fromMenards). Kids and adults alike enjoyed the results!

[dtackett]

glad to hear everyone liked it. got all my supplies from menards also.

[crios42]

It was awesome. We ended up using glycerin and the bubbles were great. I the rods were only 24" and the cords were only 50" and 70". My kid have short little arms.

[dtackett]

glad to see they liked it, the best part of making these is seeing the kids enjoy themselves. thanks for the pictures.

[crios42]

Is there something about cotton cord that works well with giant bubble or would nylon or cotton/poly cord work? I'm having trouble finding a place that sells cotton cord, but nylon is in abundance.

[dtackett]

the cotton is better. nylon does not let the bubble mix "cling" to it as well home depot or any hardware store sells the cotton stuff

[taserian]

Do you know of any alternate places that might have the cotton cord? I visited both my local Lowe's and Home Depot, and almost all of the ropes and cords they have available is poly or nylon. I did find some cotton/poly blend, but it's much thinner than 1/8" so I doubt it'll work well.

[crios42]

Tell me about it. I went to two different home depots and they both only had the cotton/poly mix. I finally went to my local Ace (I should have tried there first) and found it. It wasn't 1/8", it was 9/64" (which is slightly larger than 1/8) but that should be fine.

[outcasted]

The bubble mix has to have some time to "age" before it will work. Make it up a few days before you plan to use it.

[FitUW]

I tried your mix, but it doesn't work for me :( Do you use distilled water? Our tap water here is quite hard, might that be a problem? And I used pure glycerin since we had a small bottle right here. How much would you take? I even bought a cotton cord, we had only some PVC strings around...
Damn it, I want huge bubbles now!! ;)

[dtackett]

if you have hard water i would buy a jug to use, and just a oz or two of glycerin. also dawn dish liquid works best i have found

[FitUW]

Well I live in Germany, I have to find out which brand works best here. Don't want to buy Dawn via the internet.

[mkog03]

Awesome Instructable!!

Great job!

[AtlantaTerry]

What sort of container do you use to hold the Bubble Mix into which you dip the cords?

How large is that container?

We are going to have a neighborhood block party soon and I plan to build several of these to keep the little kids occupied.

Thank you for the plans.

[dtackett]

i just bought a cheap flower container at the dollar store, you could use any large bowl or bucket.

[dokcal]

You can also get plain glycerin at the drugstore for a very modest price--surely cheaper than personal lubricant. Check near the pharmacy.

[ajvdmeij]

The PVC "sprinkler" is great! I'm gonna make that!

[Gadisha]

LOL the picture above of the giant bubble reminds me of Donnie Darko!
Cool idea btw :)

[JodyDenny]

Listen, thank you so much for posting!

My kids have bubbles on teh brain. It's a sure way to please both of them.
BTW, corn syrup will stand in for the glycerin, in a pinch.

Jody

[cogni]

The best bubble equipment and solution I have ever seen! Can't wait to try this.

[flyingpuppy]

Wow! You could have kids jump rope inside the bubble! : )

[Pattymouth]

I love the pic from "inside" the bubble! Thanks for posting such a cool, easy, and FUN 'ible! Can't wait to make some for gifts!

[sitearm]

@dtacket; Hi! Great article and your recipe for bubble mix is priceless. Not only that you are clearly a Great Dad. Cheers! : ) Site

[CrLz]

Sweet! Thanks for the ible. Saw someone doing this on vacation in Waikiki and have really wanted to do this.

Washers are new to me, good tweak.

[dtackett]

your welcome, and the washers are just there for a little added weight to hold the line down and dont interfere with the bubbles

[scoochmaroo]

This would be a great addition to the Picnic Challenge!

[dtackett]

i entered it in thanks

[mygibzone]

Cool! I'll have to try this. We bought an expensive one at the store with the solution & everything, and we couldn't get it to work! It sucked! I think having 2 rods is a much better design too! Thanks for the share!

[dtackett]

your welcome and probably cheaper then the one you bought, have fun

[danlynne07]

my 3 year old will love this. thank you

[dtackett]

your welcome

[rimar2000]

Four words: A WE SO ME!

[dtackett]

Thanks kids love it

[mikeasaurus]

Yay, giant bubbles! Summertime is here!

[rlambertnj]

Now, about the sprinkler.... hint hint!

[dtackett]

ill get one up one the sprinkler in a day or two thanks for the intrest

[rlambertnj]

Question: What is "personal liquid lubricant" ? Hey I'm 62 and there is much in this world I don't know about.

Request: Do an instructable for the sprinkler you made, please :)

[l3aca]

Personal liquid lubricant would be lubricant for intimate moments such as k-y jelly, and such