I did it – skewered balloons without bursting. 🙂 I’ve done a few more since these but still have a way to go before I can truly say that I’ve mastered the art form – and art form it is as well as being really great for the lungs.
The trick to doing this without bursting the balloon is to insert the skewer into the balloon right where the knot is tied and then – take the skewer right out the other side and through the thickest part of the balloon.
Still have a ways to go though before I’ll be giving this party trick a public demo 🙂
How does it work without bursting or all the air escaping in a rush – as the skewer is inserted through the balloon, the material grips tightly on to the skewer. Eventually the air does escape but usually this takes quite a while. How does this related to engineering – I think the concept of pressure is relevant here but I’m sure a passer-by may be able to shed some light on this for us.
I demonstrated this at our recent skills training workshop and was unable to convince anyone to have a shot for themselves – all my attempts were a resounding failure – learning from mistakes is what engineering’s all about so back to the drawing board.
Action for Involvement 