I did a job today and all I can say is thank God it's over!  I have been using hand pumps on those retractable keyring.  Well about 1.5 hours into a 4 hour job the keyring holding my 260 pump breaks, not amused but I take the one from my little pump and replace it only for the pump to jam.  After trying unsuccessfully to force it I took it apart to fix it that way only for it to cease working all together.  So I got my spare pump out only for my other keyring to snap too.  To add to this my spare pump kept jamming so much that I was genuinely worried that it too would pack up on me.  Add to that a couple of shirty parents with the "just one more" or "but he's crying and we only came down for the face painting / balloons" I am so glad it's over  :evil:

My quandary now is do I get another couple of pumps or do I just burn the plastic a little more and get a filbert?  I had planned on saving up for a few more months before I got one as money has been tight for a while but DH has just announced they are being asked to take a pay cut at work in order to save jobs.  This means my earning is more important than ever but that we do not have spare cash either.

For those of you with a Filbert what would you recommend.  I have tried one and I really liked it and as I say I was going to save up but the way I am getting through hand pumps at present it seems a false economy.

Also could anyone give me an idea as to shipping costs to the UK and how much they were stung for Import duty too.  This is obviously going to have to be factored into whether my credit card can handle it too  

Hi Yvonne,

I feel it for you, I was in a similar situation a few years ago where three pumps broke in one day, I couldn't blive it, thankfully, I can blow up by mouth if required so was Ok to finish the gig.

With regards to the Filbert, I paid a total of £118.70, this included the £22 customs charge.

I love the pump, but still carry a couple of hand pumps in the back of my van just in case, you never know.

Best wishes,

Graeme

Right Hubby has said it is better to get this now rather than waste too much more money on hand pumps if I have my heart set on getting a Filbert at any time soon  

Now what colours to get.  I am currently enquiring to the availability of the yellow tube and whether this will delay the order in any way but I am curious to know if the standard tube is white or grey as they look grey in the photos  :?

When I got mine Yvonne, he did mention that he had just received a supply of yellow tubes, so fingers crossed for you. I'm sure you won't regret buying one. I feel it's a great prop and it's all part of the look when you're working, people often comment on it.

While hubby says yes, maybe you should buy two, one as a spare.    :lol:

I love my Filbert... very light though, sometimes it feels so light it might break, but I am sure it is a lot stronger than it looks.

Being a colourful chap I got mine in all black. If you look on the website you won't see black main tubes but they do have them.

Mine cost me £99 all in not soo long ago... crappy exchange rate but no customs duty.

Exchange rate is rubbish isn't it  :shock: Just keeping my fingers crossed it is not going to cost me more in Import.  In the end I ordered blue base, yellow tube, red handle, blue top disc and red cap!  Well my busking bag and apron are black and I want to be colourful!!!

You got me thinking now !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
http://www.filbertpump.com/

Shall I ?  8-)

I received my Filbert a couple of weeks ago - and it is great so far - there's a bit of a technique to using it but nothing difficult - I got stung for £23.00 in charges.

Mine is white tube and alternating blue and yellow on the rest

Go on Neil... you know you will  :lol:

What convinced me was I was twisting with another twister one day and I had my elctric pump and he had a Filbert.

The Filbert was much quicker, although I will still use the electric pump for walkabout stuff.

You could probably get it in Everton colours, although it sounds like Smiggle has already gotten close to that as it!

There is a lovely choice of colours but I do wish they had a proper green rather than teal but never mind.  I had a go with Rogers at the Care & Share back in Jan and it was really easy to use with a small amount of guidance.  I was able to inflate balloons to the correct length with very little effort and it would certainly increase productivity on a busy job and reduce the RSI on a long job  

The only thing it does not come with (that I will be sorting asap) is a carry strap.

Oh sorry I nearly forgot to say if you are going to get one I was told they are gluing bases on Monday so I would get in there before then as the lead time will probably be less  

Yvonne
I dont belive you will regret it I have had mine well over a year and well you know how much i love it. and the service from filbert has been briliant.

Roger

Hi Yvonne, I ordered one a few weeks ago when I was feeling the January blues!  A legitimate business expense, honest.
It is just lovely and it gives me pleasure just to look at it!
It cost me £103 and then I got stung for duty charges at about £23 so quite an expensive exercise.
But, its a must for a serious twister is it not?
I also have a battery charged pump which I got for about £75 and I really like that too!  Its got a big red button and I love that more than the children do.  I think both have their place.
 

Well mine has hit customs according to the online tracking system with USPS!  So just waiting for them to send me the bill.  I am kinda hoping they will do so quickly as I would really like it by the weekend as I am doing a balloon only booking on Sunday and I want to take it along  

I've been using my black & PINK    one but only at home making the pre orders and jamming but find it to be very nice. It does lean slightly when I inflate a balloon due to it being on the carpet but I'm sure will be great on a solid hard floor surface or I could attach some mdf to weight the pump down