Tech Blog 3 - Jeff Layton

For this Tech Blog, I am going to do something a little different. Instead of writing about an App, program, or technological advancement, I am going to write this tech blog about an engineering technique I have discovered that is geared towards my career interest.
The item is called a Fog Chiller. This contraption combined with a standard fog machine, is used to create that spooky low laying fog seen in horror/sci-fi films or every Halloween.
First let's talk about the fog machine itself. For those who have never seen or heard of one before, a fog machine is a mechanical device that heats up a special non toxic liquid to produce a smoke/fog like substance into the air. Now if you remember 6th grade science, when a gas gets hot it rises. Therefore no matter what fog machine you use, it will produce a smoke effect that drifts off into the air.
 Demonstrated in this link.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC7At4OiQvw
This is demonstrated on a 400 watt machine which is on the lower end and is something you can easily find at a local party store. However as you can see after several feet the fog solution rises into the air.
So how exactly does a fog chiller work? It's easy. A fog chiller does exactly what its called, it cools the temperature of the fog allowing the fog to linger on the ground for a longer period of time. Now they do sell professional made chillers but those can be quite expensive. 
http://www.valuefind.us/p/Vortex-Chillers-Home-Series-Cold-Fusion-Fog-Chiller-9746288.html
or you can by a fog machine that produces a low laying fog.
http://www.amazingshop.us/p/400w-Medium-Duty-Low-Lying-Fog-Machine-With-Wired-Remote-68592595.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAvKunBRCfsum9z6fu_5IBEiQAu4lg4nZ8gesu9V_Yz6H7v-eT3lb-EyVyaqu4kMcNNvFqxtsaAnaC8P8HAQ
If like me though, you are on a tight budget. One can make a fog chiller easily out of several household items like in these two links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku1fBghJF84
https://www.youtube.com/watch?annotation_id=annotation_2247534967&feature=iv&list=UU0_GsJiQ9P2rXxxr-Fm9l3Q&src_vid=ku1fBghJF84&v=MfGBbLusXQ0
The fog machine used in these videos is the Chauvet Hurricane 700
http://www.amazon.com/Chauvet-Hurricane-700-Fog-Machine/dp/B0002D0JX8

These chillers if you do not have any of the supplies at home cost only about $5-$20. These Designs save you hundreds of dollars and produce a great effect.
Here is a design I recently created as well. I also use the Chavet shown in the videos above.

This design cost me roughly 25$. The finished product cost me around 40$ for spray paint and a 2inch drill bit. However I subtracted those two items because the spray paint is not an essential and you can cut a 2 inch hole easily without a drill bit.
So this design consists of several items. The body is a large Pretzel jar that cost about 5$. Then you drill a 2 inch hole on the cap and on the opposite side of the container for intake and exhaust. On both sides I took 2inch plumbing connectors and screwed them into the 2inch holes. Not required but suggested, I added cut down 2 inch pipping on either side so i can add pluming elbows to angle the smoke or machine is a direction I need. Also suggested is a mesh like material over the caps which will make sense in a moment. Assemble time took me about a half hour for my first attempt. Not only is it cheap, its easy and fast to make and is easily transportable. In order to use the design, unscrew the lid. Fill the body with Ice. The optional mesh added inside both end pieces will help prevent the ice from coming out of the pipes and keep it inside the chillers body while still allowing air flow for the fog to pass through.
So if you are starting from complete scratch with no chiller or no fog machine, you are looking at spending around $40-$65. This is still half the price for just a lower end chiller and it produces the same effect. Another factor in the quality of look is the fog fluid itself. Check the recommended fluids for your machine to gt the best results. really cheap fluid will lead to a really cheap looking effect, but a fluid to thick for a lower end machine can lead to clogging in the tubes. Find a perfect balance for a perfect look.
There you have it. A cheap DIY fog chiller. Now go out a spook the little children on Halloween. I will be posting a DIY video in the near future on how to create this design with a demonstration.
-Jeff Layton Over and Out