This bubble machine puts out an enormous amount of bubbles, and my toddlers (ages 1 and 3) REALLY enjoy it. There are a few details that I don't love about the machine, but I found a solution that allows me to continue enjoying this product. Like a few other reviewers, I used the suggestion on Wayne Smith's Bubble Page ([...]) to modify this awesome little bubble machine, in order to fix the vibrating-off-the-table issue. As is, the bubble machine vibrates quite a lot when powered on, and tends to spin a little bit. Oftentimes, this vibrating can cause the machine to fall right off the table or surface it is on. To counteract this, Wayne (a bubble expert, from the looks of the experiments he details on his thorough little website!) recommends hot-glueing a 1.25 pound weight to the bottom of the machine. This weight keeps the machine stationary, along with making it less easily tipped (amid a small crowd of dancing toddlers). Logistically, I bought this weight on Amazon: CAP Barbell Standard 1-Inch Cast Iron Weight Plate, Single (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002BRAN66/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1), then I set the weight out in the sun for an hour to warm up (so that the hot glue would adhere to it a little better). This modification worked great for me, although it looks a little Macgyver-ed :)
Unfortunately, Wayne's second recommendation did not work well for me. Wayne suggests using an empty 12 oz Sprite bottle as an automatic refill bottle for the bubble solution. He recommends filling the (emptied) soda bottle with bubble solution, indenting the side a bit, and then placing it, upside down, in the reservoir. Theoretically, the bottle would pour out the bottle solution a little bit at a time, refilling the machine as needed, so that you extend the bubble-blowing time between when the parent needs to manually refill the machine. In reality, the bottle just overflowed the machine for me, wasting some of the bubble mix. For now, I'll just keeping sitting next to the machine, refilling it a 1/2 cup of solution at a time (ish). If you fill it more full, the solution will leak out of the small holes on either side of the "Hurricane" logo.
Note about solution: the "Gazillion Bubbles" brand solution really is the best in this machine. It's thick (doesn't drip off of the wands too fast), makes noticeably more colorful bubbles, and a larger quantity of bubbles than other brands I've tried. I purchase my 2 Liter bottles of solution from the big box Walm. store, on the website, for only four dollars (half the price they are currently sold on Amazon). I use the Ship to Store feature, since I've never seen the 2 Liters for sale on the actual store shelves.
Overall, we really enjoy using this bubble machine, and I highly recommend it to friends, so long as they're willing to glue a weight to the bottom of it. Maybe someday the manufacturers will read reviews like these, and fix this issue themselves? We can hope! :)
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Customer reviews
Very fun. We devised a simple way to increase the ...
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2016
Very fun. We devised a simple way to increase the reservoir volume. We used a plastic coke bottle, drilled a pin hole in the cap and in the base, filled it with Gazillion bubble Solution and placed it upside down in the reservoir. Works great!
Reviewed in the United States on July 7, 2016
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Top reviews from the United States
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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on June 23, 2016
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 30, 2018
UPDATE: I’ve had to remove a star due to blindingly incompetent assembly/design I found out today. The machine still works, but it won’t if I can’t find the patience to reinstall the entire front face (including bubble circle assembly) because NOTHING IS HOLDING IT ON. They do realize this product is made for kids and that they may, in fact, want to touch it if given the chance, right? I’d understand if it were clipped in for easy access to cleaning, but there’s no clip, no tension, no nothing making sure the face stays on!
After seeing the other reviews’ photos, I felt I should post on the newer design I received. Photos don’t do it justice so see end of the video for bubble output - it’s impressive!
Things you should know:
- Buy an additional bottle immediately, as the first bottle WILL run out in a matter of about 5 minutes. It’s a no-joke bubble machine! Thank goodness our local store had a huge bottle in the middle of winter or my kids would have been seriously ticked off.
- As stated above...TONS of bubbles! So much so, I carpeted the floor of the kitchen in bath towels.
- It isn’t as “tippy” as the older version, but still something you want to keep out of reach of the kiddos. Top-mounted batteries are probably the cause, and, I’m sure, the reason for the redesign with the heavier plastic on the bottom. I can’t blame them, it wouldn’t be pertinent to mount them on the bottom where they’re susceptible to leakage. Speaking of...
- It LEAKS! Not much, but it seems to be an unavoidable hazard. We aren’t talking a bottle a minute but enough to necessitate protection underneath.
- It can tip and not be irreparably damaged! As I say in the video, I’ve been through my share of these over the years, other brands, that could not survive being tipped. If there was any solution in it, it would infiltrate the motor and render it unusable. This one takes it like a champ!
Tip 1: If your bubble machine suddenly stops producing and is more spitting solution out, run water through it until almost all the bubbles dissipate. Then refill and it will work good as new. Sometimes dried solution clogs the prongs and solution can’t adhere properly.
Tip 2: If you’re going to use an empty water or soda bottle for more solution, tape the unit down, or push into some clay/Play Doh on a plate to hold it in place, or you’re going to end up with a tipped bubble machine.
I rely heavily on real, unbiased reviews and am hoping to provide the same. Please let me know if this was helpful!
New Design - Better Performance 🤗
By MommaB on January 30, 2018
*Non-compensated, non-discounted review!*By MommaB on January 30, 2018
UPDATE: I’ve had to remove a star due to blindingly incompetent assembly/design I found out today. The machine still works, but it won’t if I can’t find the patience to reinstall the entire front face (including bubble circle assembly) because NOTHING IS HOLDING IT ON. They do realize this product is made for kids and that they may, in fact, want to touch it if given the chance, right? I’d understand if it were clipped in for easy access to cleaning, but there’s no clip, no tension, no nothing making sure the face stays on!
After seeing the other reviews’ photos, I felt I should post on the newer design I received. Photos don’t do it justice so see end of the video for bubble output - it’s impressive!
Things you should know:
- Buy an additional bottle immediately, as the first bottle WILL run out in a matter of about 5 minutes. It’s a no-joke bubble machine! Thank goodness our local store had a huge bottle in the middle of winter or my kids would have been seriously ticked off.
- As stated above...TONS of bubbles! So much so, I carpeted the floor of the kitchen in bath towels.
- It isn’t as “tippy” as the older version, but still something you want to keep out of reach of the kiddos. Top-mounted batteries are probably the cause, and, I’m sure, the reason for the redesign with the heavier plastic on the bottom. I can’t blame them, it wouldn’t be pertinent to mount them on the bottom where they’re susceptible to leakage. Speaking of...
- It LEAKS! Not much, but it seems to be an unavoidable hazard. We aren’t talking a bottle a minute but enough to necessitate protection underneath.
- It can tip and not be irreparably damaged! As I say in the video, I’ve been through my share of these over the years, other brands, that could not survive being tipped. If there was any solution in it, it would infiltrate the motor and render it unusable. This one takes it like a champ!
Tip 1: If your bubble machine suddenly stops producing and is more spitting solution out, run water through it until almost all the bubbles dissipate. Then refill and it will work good as new. Sometimes dried solution clogs the prongs and solution can’t adhere properly.
Tip 2: If you’re going to use an empty water or soda bottle for more solution, tape the unit down, or push into some clay/Play Doh on a plate to hold it in place, or you’re going to end up with a tipped bubble machine.
I rely heavily on real, unbiased reviews and am hoping to provide the same. Please let me know if this was helpful!
Images in this review
Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on May 21, 2015
A few tips:
1. The itty bitty bubble solution it comes with only lasts about 20 minutes. (We timed it) I recommend getting the Gazillion 2-liter bubble solution. That stuff makes the best bubbles. Nothing else can compare.
2. Make sure not to over fill it. It's very easy to do. I do wish there was a way to hold more bubble fluid so I didn't have to refill every 10 minutes or so or at least a max line to show you when to stop pouring the bubble solution in. If you do fill it up too high it will leak.
3. If your bubble wand stops working check to make sure it's appropriately attached to the motor. My toddler was messing with it and it didn't work. Turns out his little fingers lifted it off the thing that makes it spin. After I made sure it was attached correctly we had no more issues.
UPDATE 6/10/15:
We have been using this bubble maker daily (with the exception of the few times we've had rain) and it's working as if it was still brand new! This is also after about a dozen times it has fallen off our outdoor table. For some reason kids are drawn to it and feel the need to play with the bubble wand while it's spinning so I recommend keeping it high out of reach. I'm really surprised how well it's holding together after all the usage it has gotten so far.
Creates TONS of bubbles!!!!
By Kimberly on May 20, 2015
After initially getting the bubble machine out of the box I was a little underwhelmed. It's small and doesn't weigh much. After putting in the batteries and starting this bad boy up I was shocked at how many bubbles this little machine produced. We've been playing with this machine the entire week with no issues and my kiddo loves playing in the hurricane of bubbles. I'll update my review later if my mind changes but if you have kids who like bubbles - get this. You won't be disappointed.By Kimberly on May 20, 2015
A few tips:
1. The itty bitty bubble solution it comes with only lasts about 20 minutes. (We timed it) I recommend getting the Gazillion 2-liter bubble solution. That stuff makes the best bubbles. Nothing else can compare.
2. Make sure not to over fill it. It's very easy to do. I do wish there was a way to hold more bubble fluid so I didn't have to refill every 10 minutes or so or at least a max line to show you when to stop pouring the bubble solution in. If you do fill it up too high it will leak.
3. If your bubble wand stops working check to make sure it's appropriately attached to the motor. My toddler was messing with it and it didn't work. Turns out his little fingers lifted it off the thing that makes it spin. After I made sure it was attached correctly we had no more issues.
UPDATE 6/10/15:
We have been using this bubble maker daily (with the exception of the few times we've had rain) and it's working as if it was still brand new! This is also after about a dozen times it has fallen off our outdoor table. For some reason kids are drawn to it and feel the need to play with the bubble wand while it's spinning so I recommend keeping it high out of reach. I'm really surprised how well it's holding together after all the usage it has gotten so far.
Images in this review
