If you’re thinking about building your own fog chiller, the best way to get ideas is to take a look at some of the best DIY fog chiller designs out there. Doing this research is a long and somewhat tedious process, but don’t worry – we’ve scoured the internet to find some of the best ideas for you.
Creating a fog chiller may seem like a daunting task, but with the right materials and inspiration, you could easily turn yourself into a fog-chiller-building professional in a matter of hours. By taking a close look at the designs that are already out there, you can find all kinds of tips and tricks that can make your DIY smoke machine chiller exactly what you wanted it to be.
What’s A Fog Chiller?
Before we get into what a fog chiller does, you need to know a little bit about fog machines in general. Most fog machines use heaters to produce fog. Here’s a simple breakdown of how they work:
The fogger has a reservoir which you fill with fog machine fluid. A pump pulls fog fluid from a small tank and passes it through a heat exchanger. The liquid is heated and then expelled from the machine as a gas. When this gas hits the cooler outside air, it cools and turns into fog. Usually, this fog output floats around the room or up by the ceiling because, although it’s cooled since it left the machine, it’s still quite hot and, as we know, heat rises.
But what if you want low fog that sinks and creeps along the floor? That’s where a fog chiller comes in. A fog chiller cools the warm fog released by a fog machine. So instead of rising to the ceiling and spreading around the room, it sinks to the floor, giving you the effect you’re looking for. Fog chillers are useful for creating stunning, ethereal, dream-like effects. If you’re trying to create a spooky atmosphere for a Halloween party or a dreamy look for a photoshoot, using a fog chiller with your fog machine is an easy way to get a unique effect.
If you’re planning to build your DIY fog machine chiller, be prepared. It takes about one to two hours to build one, depending on the design and materials you use.
A chiller unit is highly effective, but it will also depend on the output of your fog machine. You need to be sure that the chiller you build will properly meet the needs of your machine, and is able to chill the amount of fog your machine produce. Below, we’ll give you more details on building your own fogging chiller.
How Do Fog Machine Chillers Work?
So, you know what a fog chiller does. But how does it do it? Let’s get into the science of it all.
Everyone should know that hot air rises and cool air sinks. That’s the first and most important point to understanding how fog machines work. Probably the best example of this is a hot air balloon. The heater heats up the air which is then contained in the large balloon. When enough hot air accumulates, it lifts the balloon into the air because it is lighter or less dense than the air around it. When it’s time to land, the pilot lets out some of the hot air so that colder, heavier air fills the balloon, lowering it to the ground.
Now, let’s take a look at how a fog machine makes fog. To start, you need to add the right fog liquid for your machine into the tank. Then, turn the machine on. The machine then pumps the liquid into a hot chamber where it is heated and vaporized. The vapor is then pushed out of the machine’s spout and into the air. Because the fog vapor is very hot, it naturally rises.
It makes sense, then, that to bring the fog closer to the ground, you need to cool it. The best way to do this is to attach a fog machine cooler to the nozzle of your device so the fog cools a bit before entering the room, sinking to the floor instead of rising. Essentially, you’ll turn your regular fog machine into a low lying fog machine!
Fog Chillers vs. Fog Machines
If you’re wondering whether or not you should invest in a fog chiller, we’ve put together a guide with some differences between the effects that the two machines produce, the pros and cons of using one or both, and when you might use a fog machine with or without an added chiller.
Differences between Fog Machines and Fog Chillers
Fog machines are the devices that produce the fog-like effects, usually by vaporizing a special kind of liquid, or “fog juice” as it’s oftentimes lovingly referred to, until the faux fog is emitted into the air from the machine.
As we explained, fog chillers are external devices that connect directly to your fog machine to produce the ground-creeping fog effect. You can’t use a fog chiller without a fog machine because a fog chiller doesn’t produce fog on its own. Keep in mind that some hybrid devices actually combine the two, ie. fog machines with built-in chillers, but these are few and far between.If you’re a visual learner, here’s a good outline of how these chiller machines work.
Pros and Cons
Here are some pros and cons of using fog machines with and without added fog chillers.
Fog Machines Without Chillers
Pros:
- Fog machines without chillers are a lot easier to set up.
- You won’t have to worry about safety-checking, configuring, or in some cases building two separate devices.
- You spend less money altogether.
- You spend less time on your set-up.
Cons:
- Without fog chillers, you won’t be able to achieve the effect of fog creeping along your floor. All of the fog will rise and collect at the ceiling.
Fog Machines With Added Chillers
Pros:
- The effects you can produce are dream-like and ethereal.
- Your party guests won’t be able to stop talking about your party’s atmosphere!
- Sometimes, depending on your fog machine and the environment you’re using it in, it’s really easy for the fog to just disappear once it’s emitted into the air. When you’re cooling the fog, it’ll become a lot more visible and easier to see.
- Chillers are cheap to make and many of the materials can be found lying around your home!
Cons:
- The DIY process may be daunting for some.
- The DIY process may also be time-consuming and put people or families off from building the machine altogether.
- Fog chillers take up a lot of space that you may not have, depending on your setup.
- Although it doesn’t cost much to make, depending on the model, you have to be skilled in using some of the tools mentioned in the individual models. If you’re not very handy, you may want to invest in a machine with a built-in chiller — which can get quite expensive.
Best Uses for a Fog Chiller
Often, the best way to know whether you need something is to look at its intended usages. In this section, we’re telling you all the ways you can use your DIY fog chiller. Hopefully, you’ll get some inspiration for deciding whether it’s something you need to build!
Wedding or Event: Fog chillers are the perfect tool for adding some atmosphere to your next event! A low-lying fog creates a mystical, wondrous effect for any partygoers. It can suit the mood for anything from an elegant affair to an exciting rave. It’s a versatile effect, and perhaps its usage is limited only by your creativity.
Dance Floor: Low lying fog is the perfect effect for a dance floor. It covers a dance floor in a layer of mysterious fog. Attendants feel like they’re dancing on a cloud, as they cut through the fog with ease. It turns a regular dance floor into something extraordinary, attracting more people to keep the party going.
Haunted Display: A low lying for machine is perfect for a haunted house. It envelopes the ground in a spooky fog, leaving participants to wonder what lies beneath. Mystery is a key component to that spooky vibe, and no haunted house is complete without a fog machine.
Special Effects: Fog has long since been used by special effects artists, and low lying fog is no exception. Its usage is varied, and it can be used to imitate everything from regular fog to real smoke! Crafty special effects artists are constantly finding new ways to utilize fog machines in their work.
Performances: Low lying fog is commonly used as theatrical fog. Ground fog works great for various performances, concerts, and displays. It’s great for adding an ambience without distracting from the performance. Because the fog keeps to the ground, it is noticeable without getting the way. Audiences will remains focused on the presentation, while also enjoying the unique fog effect.
Conclusion
Remember, although the process of making your own chiller may seem daunting, it’s the most affordable way of getting the effects that you want. Designing your fog chiller could also be a fun friend or family bonding activity, especially if you have a group of people enthusiastic and excited about whatever event you have coming up!
