Cotton candy in pastel colors - it evokes visions of county fairs and carnivals. And it never goes out of favor with any age. Rent a cotton-candy machine and whip some up for your next party or event with these tips from your Tejas Equipment Rental party/event rental professionals.

Tips for trouble-free operation
Consult our party professionals for more instructions, and for additional equipment and accessories for your event.

1. Plug in floss machine and turn main power and motor switches to "on"
2. Always add sugar with the motor running
3. When you add sugar, fill 90 percent full
4. Reduce "heat control fine tuning" setting to eliminate smoking of machine
5. Determine optimum setting for "heat range" and "heat control fine tuning"

Cotton-candy-making procedures
Practice makes perfect!

1. Moisten the inside of the floss pan with a clean, damp cloth so floss will adhere to the pan
2. Note the direction of the floss as it is spun off the floss head
3. Adjust floaters (on top of the spinner head) - up for more lift, down for less lift
4. Hold the cone at the pointed end between two fingers and thumb
5. Break into the web of floss with a light flicking motion
6. Lift up the cone with a ring of floss attached and wind the floss onto the cone
7. Brush cone with clean, damp sponge so floss does not adhere to cone
8. Roll floss on outside of pan only
9. To make a larger web, turn the ring of floss onto the cone in a "figure-8" pattern

Sugar, flossine and flavorings
The right ingredients and measurements make easy, frustration-free twisting.

* Sugar for cotton candy can be any 100 percent pure-cane or beet sugar
* Regular granulated sugar is recommended
* Avoid extra fine granulated, bottlers fine or "free-flowing" sugar, which may contain cornstarch that can burn or clog the ribbons
* Coarse sugars will require more voltage to the head for best production
* Pre-mixed sugar, coloring and flavorings are available from Tejas Rental
* If you use the manufacturer's flossine and your sugar, mix well and follow directions carefully
* One tablespoon of flossine per five pounds of sugar will bring out bright colors
* Excess color will not deepen the color, since cotton candy is 98 percent air
* Avoid flavors with gum or starch base, which will burn the ribbons

Cleaning tips
Clean, whether you stop making candy for several hours or for the day!

1. Run all the sugar out of the floss head
2. To remove carbon from ribbons, empty machine and turn heat to the highest setting for one minute
3. Next, unplug main electrical supply cord
4. Wipe floss head with damp cloth - never allow water to enter the floss head
5. Be sure all parts are dry before resuming operation or returning machine to the rental center