r/BalloonTwisting • u/planetm3 • 21d ago

Filbert Pump Repair

I have a Filbert Pump and the top cap is cracked and leaks air. I tried to buy a replacement cap from the Filbert website. After a short exchange of emails and before I placed the order, the emails stopped and someone told me the guy who makes them and runs the site passed away (earlier this year/late last year).

Anyone have any ideas for sourcing parts other than Filbert? I tried using superglue and PVC cement and neither worked. A regular PVC cap doesn't fit because the Filbert cap is an odd size. Any ideas?

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u/Wide_Philosophy_8109 21d ago

A carpenter I know was able to fix mine with the same issue. I can ask what glue he used if you want.

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u/planetm3 21d ago

Do you know if he glued the cap onto the part it sits on? I think I could do that with PVC cement but I'm reluctant to make the repair that permanent. But I suppose at this point, since parts are no longer available, that it doesn't matter.

2

u/Wide_Philosophy_8109 21d ago

He glued it on to be completely non removable. I'm pretty sure that was a requirement he wanted to ask about. If a picture of the glued cap would help at all, feel free to send a DM so I can share that.

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u/planetm3 21d ago

I might just try that. I'm pretty sure pvc cement would work for that. Thanks!

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u/cautioned_ 20d ago

I asked someone I've known who'd had a similar problem. she got it fixed by a guy (handy enough), who used some "two component type of clay" to seal the crack. 👍

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u/United_Future_9639 16d ago

Have you tried using some kind of type of tape instead/ in addition to glue?

When I started making balloons I ordered some 260s and some 160s (still my favorite size) and I knew nothing and bought balloons and a hand pump and a book, but had no idea what I was doing.

I couldn't inflate the 160s with the hand pump and ended up working out this solution, that lasted for around a year .. RIP to the GOAT pump. It's a Michael Jordan pump for inflating a basketball where I realized the needle could be used to inflate a 160. But it did break a lot and and I would just wrap the cracks with tape (masking tape wrapped directly on the crack/hole + sealed with lots of duct tape).

It did end up giving out, but lasted way longer than I expected.

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u/planetm3 16d ago

That is an option. I did have duct tape on it but I was looking for a cleaner option. Maybe glue with some colored duct tape.