popcorn maker

at last i got myself a popcorn maker - I've wanted a popcorn maker for years. I wanted one even more so after recently trying to make proper popcorn in a pan - which now  has burnt bits on the bottom I can't get rid of. [And whatever happened to Brillo pads? I haven't been able t find any.] Anyway - my first attempt resulted in lots of burning and smoke - I had no idea how much popcorn would come out of the thing - so my plastic container filled up really quickly and there was a log jam (corn jam?) - and burning - le sigh. However... practice makes perfect... and I guess smoke - lots and lots of smoke...