FAQ's
These are some questions that often get asked about latex balloons and balloon printing.
  1. How are they made?    Latex rubber balloons are made out of the same kind of rubber as rubber gloves or hot water bottles.  A former is dipped into liquid latex, dried and then heat-treated. Latex is a natural product.

  2. How do I fill them?  They can be filled with air, by mouth or by using a plastic hand pump.  With air they will not float. Fill them with helium (balloon gas) from a cylinder to make them float.  For helium filling see No 6.

  3. Are they biodegradeable? Latex balloons will rot down like any natural vegetable product.  The foil or metallic plastic balloons will not degrade and are destined for landfill unfortunately.

  4. What sizes do they come in?   Latex balloons range in size from tiny 5 inch ones about the size of a grapefruit when inflated, to ones 15 inches in diameter. Much larger sizes are available but tend to be hand-made and very expensive.   We only print and sell the eleven inch (280mm) diameter baloons.

  5. How long do they float ?  Only the larger latex balloons float with helium inside, at least ten inches in diameter.  The gas slowly diffuses through the rubber so they only float for about eight or ten hours.       
  6. Why do they float?   Helium gas is lighter than air, when it displaces the equivalent volume of air   buoyancy is produced which makes balloons float in the same way that a ship floats on water. 
  7. How can I get hold of helium gas?    It comes in steel cylinders because it is under great pressure (it does not liquefy under pressure like the butane in a cigarette lighter!)  Call Air Products on  0800 920920
  8. Can I get a very small light-weight gas cylinder?  Yes, they cost about £28.00 and fill about 25 of our balloons.  Find them on eBay, at party shops and large supermarkets or hobby stores.
  9. How do I seal the balloons after filling?  For latex balloons the best way is to knot them. If you do not fill them too full  it is not very difficult.  Or there are plastic valves with built-in ribbon but they can be unreliable and are not biodegradeable.
  10. Can I write on balloons?  Yes with a POSCA felt tip pen on inflated balloons,  these are water based. Dry the ink with a hair dryer to avoid smudging. Find them on Ebay.
  11. Why is the printing different for air-filling as as opposed to helium-filling?  Because air balloons are often used "neck-up" in bunches for decorations,  hanging with the stalk on top just like apples hanging from a tree! Helium balloons float "neck-down" with the neck at the bottom. . The exception is when air balloons are fastened to a balloon stick that holds them "neck-down". When ordering printed balloons be sure to tell the printer exactly what you have in mind for the balloons.