SoapVortex: Rise Above Tiny Bubbles

SoapVortex is a loop-based wand designed to create larger, slower-forming bubbles—not a cloud of tiny ones. It features a unique design, with fluid-retaining channels on both the top and bottom of the loop. These ridges help continuously feed solution into the film as you wave the wand, supporting smoother, more consistent bubble formation.

This wand works best with a high-quality “large bubble” mix which can you make yourself from dish detergents like Dawn Ultra + or you can buy commercially.  The skilled people over at Soap Bubble Wiki and https://www.bubblemancy.com have recommendations.  Funny enough the secret ingredients sometimes involve personal lubricant!  Start here.

Unlike standard bubble wands, this one’s meant to form one or two medium-to-large bubbles at a time, not dozens of small ones.

To use it effectively, wave the wand gently so that bubbles form away from the handle. Fast or erratic movement will likely break the film or cause spray. A calm, steady motion gives the best results.

Printing notes:

The main wand prints flat with a test fit piece for the handle interface.  The handle prints separately and attaches with a bit of superglue.  You can print the test piece to make sure it fits before printing the whole handle and scale the handle accordingly. BambuStudio pre-arranged file with optional dish [in spiral vase mode] included, just small enough to fit on an A1 mini printer. I recommend scaling the dish to 105% in XY if using a larger printer, which wouldn't quite fit on the A1 Mini. 

PLA or PETG will work well at 0.16 mm layer height.  Note that if you leave a PLA version of this outside it will potentially warp over time in the hot sun just because of the handle weighing on it.. so PETG might be a better choice in that case.

Generic 3MF and STEP also provided.

Quick and Dirty Big Bubble Solution:

It is important to use Dawn Professional Pot and Pan or Dawn Platinum soap here, other soaps may or may not work as well.. but soap type is known to matter!  Here I list the brands of what I used for the soap and polymer additive to make a gallon of bubble juice.  Adapted from the bubble gods at the links above.

1 Gallon Recipe  (20:1)

Soap:   Dawn Platinum Dishwashing Liquid

Polymer :  MB Herbals Guar gum

Amounts:

• 5.25g guar Gum
• 10 g baking powder (not soda) - pH Buffer
• 175 g of Dawn soap
• 3550 g water.

Instructions

Weigh out the water to be used in destination container.

Weigh guar gum into paper/plastic cup.  Tare scale and begin adding Dawn, slurrying as you go, upto the total amount of soap.  Pour slurry into destination container, pouring some water back into cup and then back into container to rinse the cup several times.  The solution will likely foam a bit from this.    When done, invert container gently several times to mix (avoid shaking because of foam). Let any foam die down and things to settle for a little while before adding baking soda to a calm solution.  Mix again.  There may be residual clumps of corn starch from the baking soda, this is fine.