Big Balloon Help, Please!

[AllenCohn]

Hi everyone,

The art at my camp is going involve some very large balloons. However, we have some concerns about:

* the safety of anchoring balloons (because of the unpredictable high winds)
* the best places to get these industrial-size balloons and related equipment
* the best ways to install them, etc.

If you have any experience using large balloons on the Playa, please get in touch with me!

Many, many thanks,
Allen

[spectabillis]

* the safety of anchoring balloons (because of the unpredictable high winds)
* the best places to get these industrial-size balloons and related equipment
* the best ways to install them, etc.

Most people anchor things with rebar (sucker rod) hammered into the playa and take along some sort of ground puller when finished with them. If you drive them in far enough, you are not going to have any problem.

As far as supplies, I would like to know where to get some cheap ones myself. I am looking for one with 100-120lb lift capacity.

[Bluebunnybee]

I’m thinking of buying a giant balloon. If you goggle
balloon there are lots of people who make them. I might go
through this one. (www.ballonsdirect.com)But if you find
something better, please let me know. Also I think the Eyes
of God art project used a big Balloon and might be able to
answer questions about safety. Look in the 2003 art
instillation archive.

[elvinagre7]

I tried to inflate a 20' balloon at BM in 2002. As I was using Hydrogen and was planning to detonate it above the playa, I had to be very careful about static charges while inflating. I gave up as I could not figure out a safe way to inflate it.

I assume you will be using helium, but the problems posed by high winds are still formidible. I suggest inflating it as large as possible inside a structure first.

Look for weather balloons. They are designed to expand way past their original size and are cheap, but ugly.

[spectabillis]

...using Hydrogen and was planning to detonate it above the playa, I had to be very careful about static charges while inflating. I gave up as I could not figure out a safe way to inflate it.

Multiple grounds did not work? Thats strange.

Hydrogen is one of the quickest dissipating gasses out there, non-corrosive, and a lot less susceptible to static ignition than say - acetylene. Inflating is the easy part, igniting it would be the tricky one.

[elvinagre7]

I did not want to trust grounds with the wind. I was going to ignite it with a home made bazooka at 10ft diameter and 100 ft off the playa. If you think you can pull this off safely, I still have all the stuff to do it. You can inflate it, I'll ignite it.

[alienfry]

hey anyone want to split a helium tank?

[elvinagre7]

If you do get this together, how big, how many and where will you be? When 40 MPH winds come up it will be real fun, so bring plenty of spare balloons.

[The_royal_t]

i have a quick suggestion for your ballons... im not sure if these will be big enough but... weather baloons... i bought mine from sportsman's guide or HQ (army surplus cataloge) ive never inflated it and if i can manage to make it out there ill bring it along and you are welcome to it

[spectabillis]

I did not want to trust grounds with the wind. I was going to ignite it with a home made bazooka at 10ft diameter and 100 ft off the playa. If you think you can pull this off safely, I still have all the stuff to do it. You can inflate it, I'll ignite it.

What camp are you in?

[Jungle Joe]

If you make the balloons big enough, you can tie them to a person who can go skydiving off the baloons.