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Question about Sugar Blowing with Only a Copper Tube


minas6907

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Hey everyone.

Lately I've been doing some pulled sugar projects, I just got a heat lamp, and that combined with a formula for pulled sugar I stumbled across on ChefTalk that was a little different then I've been using, I've been having some good results. I havent attempted blowing any sugar, just making some flowers and trying to be artistic with the help of some pastry rings. But check this video out:

I do think its interesting that he's blowing the sugar with just a copper pipe. Now I did see a $16 sugar pump on amazon, but from there it goes to $64ish all the way to $120 or so. I want to know peoples opinion, like...is that a safe thing to put my mouth on? I would like to go to Home Depot and get a 1ft section of 1/4inch copper pipe, but is there any health concern? For some reason I feel like things would get trapped on the inside of the pipe, but I guess nothing ever will go inside there except for water when I wash it. All in all, I just wanted to see if maybe blowing by mouth is more common then I realize, and any things to consider, because a sounds alot more attractive then a $64 pump I wont use too often.

Thanks all.

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If you blow like that you're blowing a LOT of humidity into your sugarwork. You also cannot see it very well to see if it's even.

I use a blood pressure pump bulb like THIS ONE you can get them at a good pharmacy or medical equipment store, the sort of place that sells braces and crutches and such.

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Huh.

Well maybe its worth it to get this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Sweet-Wise-Inc-Sugar-Blowing/dp/B005SEUIKK/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1333605191&sr=8-3

The pump looks identical. Lisa, would you purchase the pump bulb, rubber tube, and metal pipe separately and then assemble? I'm asking because I was looking at the picture from the link above, is the metal pipe just sort of stuck into the rubber tube, or is it adhered with anything? I've never used a sugar pump or seen one in person, so I dont really know whats standard.

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I have never used a metal pipe. I get some of the rubber tubing that is sold for the pump. The pharmacy has big rolls of it and they will cut off whatever you need. I use a connector at the end. The hardware store sells a double-ended connector that looks like the metal bit sticking out of the pump, they cost a couple dollars, it fits in the tubing very snugly and because it's tapered on both ends, it has a small tip and can be used to form small shapes. I hope I explained that sufficiently...

That kit looks pretty good. My outfit cost about half that much but involves some driving around.

(edited for clarity)

Edited by Lisa Shock (log)
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Thanks for the reply Lisa. I havent been able to locate just a pump at a pharmacy, only full kits, but I think I actually will go for the one you posted in your post, thats $6 plus free shipping, while the sugar pump kit that I found is $18, but theres about $9 worth of shipping attached to it. Thanks for your help, hopefully I'll report back soon with a blown figure.

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