How to Make a Fogger
Making your own fogger with dry ice lets you create an inexpensive, non-toxic alternative to an expensive rental or purchase that may use toxic chemicals. A home-made dry ice fog machine has another advantage in that the chilled fog vapors it produces crawl naturally along the ground. Fog produced from a commercial fog machine is heated vapor and naturally rises, and thus must be treated with a chiller in order to produce the same effect that dry ice gives naturally.
Things You'll Need
- Insulated, watertight container
- Fan
- Hot water
- Dry ice
- Protective gloves
- Tongs
Instructions
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1
Pour hot water into a styrofoam or other insulated container until it's about two-thirds full.
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2
Use tongs to place a piece of dry ice in the hot water.Take care placing it in the water, as opposed to dropping it in, because you don't want it to splash.
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3
Place a fan behind your fogger, oriented so that it will blow the crawling fog in whatever direction you desire.
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4
Monitor your fogger and add more hot water and dry ice as the reaction slows. How long the hot water and dry ice last will depend on how much water your container holds and how large a piece of dry ice you use.
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Tips & Warnings
There's no specific measurement for how much dry ice you'll need. The bigger chunks last longer, but you can use pieces of any size. How fast the ice melts depends on the temperature of the water it's in, which varies enormously throughout the fogging process
Wear gloves when handling dry ice to help protect your hands. Dry ice is much colder than normal ice and can cause frostbite on bare skin. Be aware that dry ice is frozen carbon dioxide. As the ice melts, it releases extra carbon dioxide into the air. It's vital that you work with dry ice in a well-ventilated area to avoid the risk of asphyxiation.
