Just Don't Breath IN!

June 30, 2009 1:00 AM

Here's something interesting you can do with those clear plastic buffer discs that come in stacks of blank CDs: Blow a looooong bubble that looks like a condom. Here's another example. Here's a doubter trying it for himself. Apparently you can do it with actual CDs too, at least according to this post at English Russia. There are lots more videos of CD bubbles on YouTube, showing varying levels of success.
posted by amyms (19 comments total)

*waits for report of someone inhaling and laminating his throat and lungs*
posted by pracowity at 2:17 AM on June 30, 2009 [3 favorites]

Darn, the first video made it look like it instantly hardened that way. That would have been much cooler.
posted by scrowdid at 2:40 AM on June 30, 2009

Ha ha, that doubter reminded me of someone. I bet he's got a rug that really ties the room together...
posted by smoke at 3:16 AM on June 30, 2009

I hope you all have your homeowners insurance paid up.. And we do NOT want to see a rash of stupid askme's about "my house burned down what should I do now...whine, whine, whine...."
posted by HuronBob at 3:23 AM on June 30, 2009 [1 favorite]

I have wondered what to do with those! I can't wait to get home this afternoon and try it (outside). I was kind of surprised to see that this wasn't posted by orange swan, though.
posted by TedW at 4:19 AM on June 30, 2009

I hope you all have your homeowners insurance paid up

Or know how to light a candle or a cigarette. WTF.
posted by DU at 4:46 AM on June 30, 2009

Oh Fred, you know I want to, but I left my birth control at home and the drug store is closed.

Gosh darn it, of all the rotten luck, up here all alone with the prettiest girl from class. Say you don't happen to have a DVD or CD buffer disk and a cigarette lighter in that bag of yours?

Why yes Fred, yes I do.

Zelda, stand well back.
posted by mattoxic at 4:54 AM on June 30, 2009 [6 favorites]

Man has had the silver, bronze and iron ages. Now we have the YouTube age where Man has devised untold cool inventions with unfortunately no practical application.
posted by digsrus at 5:09 AM on June 30, 2009

"Ah baby, why didn't you bring a condom?"
"Hold on....."

*flick*woosh*AHHHHHHH!!!!!!!AHHHHHH!!!! OMG
posted by KevinSkomsvold at 6:52 AM on June 30, 2009

This is right up there with putting a dvd in the microwave, shiny side up. Note: If you are adverse to the smell of burnt plastic and ozone, don't do this with a microwave you ever want to cook food in again. Or a kitchen you ever want to cook food in, really.
posted by FatherDagon at 7:53 AM on June 30, 2009

Well I know what I'll be practicing for the 10th anniversary meetup now.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 7:54 AM on June 30, 2009

Hey, who took all the coasters?
posted by rokusan at 8:06 AM on June 30, 2009

Nifty. My office has tons of those things lying around (I work in IT). Time for a CD-protector bubble party!
posted by spitefulcrow at 11:27 AM on June 30, 2009

This is cool and all, but I can't help thinking about what godawful chemicals are released by heating the plastic.. and if you do a lot? Eep.
posted by dirtynumbangelboy at 12:42 PM on June 30, 2009

Before I watched the vids I was picturing using it as a wand for soap bubbles. Or something.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 4:10 PM on June 30, 2009

Well, I couldn't get it to work. It seemed like the disc we tried was just too thick, and it didn't really melt. I'll definitely try again when I find another one.
posted by spikeleemajortomdickandharryconnickjrmints at 5:02 PM on June 30, 2009

CDs (and coasters) are polycarbonate plastics. As long as you don't actually burn them, the chemicals released upon heating (a mere 180°C should be enough to do the trick) are pretty much nothing to be worried about.
posted by _dario at 5:21 PM on June 30, 2009

I just wound up burning holes in mine. Tried a few different distances between lighter and disc, but nada.
posted by Mister Moofoo at 3:39 PM on July 1, 2009

Now you tell me! I had collected about 100 of the clear discs thinking eventually i would think of something cool to do with them, but I threw them all out a couple weeks ago!
posted by Sprocket at 3:11 PM on July 2, 2009