Q.    WHAT EFFECT DOES HI-FLOAT HAVE ON LINK-O-LOONS(tm)?

A.    The amount of Hi-Float used should be no different from a normal 11" balloon. In fact Don Burchett from Hi-Float tested our balloons and found a float time of 5-6 days was not unusual. Due to our manufacturing process, Hi-Float sticks very well to the inside wall of our balloons. Some manufacturers use too much silicon oil as a release agent during manufacture, which can cause serious problems for Hi-Float.

Q.    I'VE USED HI-FLOAT, BUT MY BALLOONS STILL WON'T FLOAT. WHY IS THIS?

A.    Too much Hi-float is the common cause. More does not mean better, as the extra weight is simply too much for the helium to hold up. Use Hi-Float sparingly and follow the instructions. LINK-O-LOON(tm) should be treated like any similar sized latex balloon.

Q.    PEARL/METALLIC BALLOONS DON'T SEEM TO  INFLATE AS MUCH AS NORMAL BALLOONS

A.    Like all such balloons (competitors included), these balloons do not stretch as well as the standard colours. This is because the filler used to produce the pearl effect actually makes the balloons less flexible, and they therefore do not inflate as much (normally to about 10" before "pearing"). This means less helium (about 20%) and therefore less float time. Add the weight of Hi-Float, and the problem increases. HINT: - use plain colours when float time is critical!

Q.   CAN I ADD BALLOON COLLARS AND RIBBONS ON ARCHES?

A.    Whilst using 5" balloon collars looks great, they do increases weight and should be used with caution when high float time is essential. HINT: Using helium to inflate the 5" collars doesn't help much as they deflate in a few hours due to gas leakage from their high surface-area-to-gas ratio. HINT: Cutting off the excess balloon tips at the knot to reduce weight does help if time is critical.

Q.    MY BALLOONS "PEAR" ON INFLATION. WHY?

A.    LINK-O-LOONs(tm) are especially cured for maximum flexibility necessary when making sculptures, etc. The balloon is therefore also softer and easier to tie (a further plus). The downside is that the necks also inflate easily, but we feel the benefits outweigh the cons. We therefore use the inflation technique of inserting the inflating nozzle well inside the balloon prior to inflation to avoid the neck becoming inflated. Once you are used to this method, the rest is easy. HINT: If the balloon does go out of shape ("pear"), you simply hold the balloon firmly and "punch" the neck into the balloon body. This works very quickly, but becomes unnecessary with practice.

SUMMARY

Keep in mind, LINK-O-LOON(tm) IS different from most conventional balloons by design, and therefore needs a little getting use to, and is no reflection on balloon quality. However, once these little tricks are known, it's easy to become a "pro" who stands out from the bunch!