helium

[miranda]

where is best ? D.R Simpsons or Tesco? thanks

[rogermellie]

Tesco's is best, you get a clubcard point if you use your own bag.

[Dadie]

Tesco is about £30 for enough helium in one of the wee tanks to fill 40 9" balloons....if thats any help.
It filled loads more smaller balloons(some sausage shaped ones and smaller round ones etc ..whats usual for a kids balloon pack) for us before it ran out....I used it for 3 kids parties and it ran out on the 4th with 20 or so balloons filled each time!

[Bill Fernie]

Before you buy Helium for fun things read this
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-the-world-is-running-out-of-helium-2059357.html


(http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/why-the-world-is-running-out-of-helium-2059357.html)

[joxville]

You beat me to it Bill, I recall reading similar a few years ago.

[Dadie]

Ahh but the helium used in our balloons was sooked up and reused for entertainment purposes too....:D
Then released to escape !

[Bill Fernie]

You beat me to it Bill, I recall reading similar a few years ago.
Yes - pretty sure it was on here from someone else.

Extra -
Yes it was on here in a post by Rheghead at
http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?122725-Nuclear-Fusion-stymied-due-Global-Helium-Shortage&highlight=helium
(http://forum.caithness.org/showthread.php?122725-Nuclear-Fusion-stymied-due-Global-Helium-Shortage&highlight=helium)
Sometimes we just know things but can't think where it came from but now we have search engines......

[jac1791]

Sooking helium is dangerous, it kills off brain cells, never let children do this...

Quote:
"Although inhaling helium is fun it's not exactly healthy. Every time you inhale pure helium, you are not inhaling oxygen. Whatever you do, never inhale helium from a high pressure tank! Besides the serious risk of lung damage, you could end up with bubbles of helium in the arteries that lead to your brain. This can lead to stroke-like symptoms and, of course, death."

[George Brims]

Actually jac the stuff in the small canisters is "balloon gas", which is not pure helium, but has just enough helium to make the balloons float. It may however be helium plus nitrogen, no oxygen involved, so your advice still holds as far as suffocation is concerned. That's why you get light-headed huffing the mixture! And on the dangers of high pressure gas, you are spot on.
Meanwhile here in the science world not one of us ever resists the temptation to do it!

[Dadie]

Of course the tanks all have big warnings on the risks of sooking helium...
I cant go past a wet paint sign without checking the paint is wet either....
And I figure that a wee bit of silliness from adults who have killed of more brain cells from a saturday night down the pub drinking. sooking balloons that are only half floating is acceptable, as the kids dont get the chance!
But the pressure of helium in a balloon isnt going to give you bubbles in the arteries...and you must be really stupid to try sooking from the canister!
Just like a canister of entinox (or whatever they are calling laughing gas now) is tempting or a shot of higher ratio O2 to normal is!