****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
This is a wonderful and well-built machine. It takes up a fair amount of space, but when it is used, it is worth the price. Unlike the small table-top versions from bed and bath stores, which take forever to warm up and 1 minute per cotton candy stick (which are not fluffy) causing a long line of hungry frustrated kids, this one is fast. It takes about 45 seconds to heat up, and about 10 seconds a piece to make huge fluffy cotton candy, a full tray makes about 5 or six before needing refilling. BUT upon refilling the hot unit, the new candy is ready in under 5 seconds. It takes about 30 minutes to assemble with focus and minimal mechanical abilities. The biggest problem is that you need your paper cones (sticks) all lined up and ready to go before starting to make cotton candy, because as you finish one cotton candy, the time needed to root through a box and get out a new stick causes a build-up and a mess, making the process somewhat frantic. I have seen a plastic netting material to line the inside, which may make better candies and be easier to clean. It comes with a rubber toothed drive belt (extra), so presumably this can break while using it, and I am unsure how easy it is to change out. It's a breeze to clean, just removed the shield and cover and hosed it off, then dried with paper towel. The scooper that comes with it is small and each scoop makes about one or two cotton candies, so here's what's needed to complete the awesomeness of this machine:1) Plastic Bubble shield keeps kids from reaching in and getting burned or hurt by the spinning head.2) Box of paper cones (500 per box pretty typical).3) A rack, perhaps a multi-test-tube rack to hold all the sticks or finished cones, because the three holes in the tray are not enough.4) Consider cotton candy bags to quickly wrap done candy, then you can lay them on their side instead of in a rack (smushes them though).5) A cup to mix or pour cotton candy "floss" (sugar) to use instead of the scoop, just pour carefully.6) Cotton Candy Floss, which is purchased online or at stores like "Smart N Final". About one cup full of floss should be good for about ten kids who all want seconds.
