How to Make a Fog Chiller out of a Styrofoam Ice Chest
Fog machines allow an artificial haze to be created in theaters and haunted houses. They work by heating a special fog fluid into a haze, which hangs into the air for several minutes. Because the fog fluid is heated, the haze floats above the ground. If you want a creepy fog that stays at ground level, you must pass the fog through a chiller. These chillers are available commercially, but you can make a low-cost version with a Styrofoam ice chest. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Styrofoam ice chest
- Aluminum downspout
- Rotary tool with cutting blade
- Knife
- Scrap Styrofoam
- Bathroom caulk
- Wire mesh
- Wire cutters
- Ice
- Duct tape
- Fog machine
- Black paint (optional)
Instructions
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1
Purchase a large Styrofoam ice chest. It must be the kind that has a lip halfway up the inner walls.
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2
Cut a piece of aluminum downspout 2 feet longer than the ice chest using a rotary tool equipped with a cutting blade.
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3
Lay the downspout flat and cut a 12-inch section out of the top. This hole should be positioned in the middle of the downspout's length, and will allow fog to fill the chiller.
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4
Cut two holes in the ends of the ice chest at ground level using a sharp knife. They should match the diameter of the downspout.
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Slide the downspout through the two holes so that it extends one foot from both ends of the ice chest. The hole you cut in the downspout should face up.
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Poke a few small holes in the bottom of the ice chest. These will allow water to drain.
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Cut a piece of scrap Styrofoam to fit as a center divider. It should extend from the bottom of the ice chest to the inner lip, dividing the cooler into two sections. It will help to take some of the weight of the ice.
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Seal all connections and seams with bathroom caulk. Allow the caulk to dry for 24 hours.
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9
Cut a piece of heavy wire mesh to fit onto the inner lip of the ice chest.
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Set the wire mesh onto the lip, then fill the space between the mesh and top of the cooler with ice.
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Place the lid onto the cooler and seal it with duct tape.
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Put a fog machine against one end of the downspout. As the fog enters the fog chiller through the hole that you cut in the downspout, it will be cooled to the point that it hugs the ground instead of floating into the air.
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Tips & Warnings
Use the fog machine in short bursts to allow the chiller to re-cool.
If desired, paint the chiller black to help it blend into a dark area.
References
- Photo Credit Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images
