Thread: Colored Smoke Bombs

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okay so i have found a few places that offer up some tutorials on how to make colored smoke bombs.
the problem is that many of the replies are angry saying the video or tutorial is fake and you cannot make colored smoke bombs.

the video calls for 'organic powdered dye' but offers no suggestions as to what that is. the closest i found is candle coloring dye. but i don't want to waste time or money on that if it doesn't work.
now the basic mix is:
saltpeter and sugar in a 3:2 ratio. adding baking soda slows the reaction and prolongs the smoke (?) i don't know how much; some say teaspoon some say tablespoon
some say adding coloring doesn't works others say it works great.

here's the tutorial that's debatable - How to Make Colored Smoke Bombs | Sangent - The Daily Ramblings

i already have a small stockpile of store bought bombs but it wont last the night, and i cant afford to go get more.

the bombs are for halloween and will be placed and lit FAR AWAY from ToTers. we're not risking ToTer injury.

i wanna know if any of this works, or if there is an easier and cost effective way of making colored smoke bombs?

Well, if you have the potassium nitrate, you can do a dry mix with powdered sugar to get a quick and easy smoke bomb - I guess you could mix in some form of powered dye to that mix to see if it gives a colored smoke.

Another method of making smoke bombs is to mix the ingredients in with a little water, for a wet mix.
Once it dries, you can burn it like any other smoke bomb. I don't wonder if using a wet dye, instead of water, would leave the dye residue in the mix when the moisture evaporates out, and make a colored smoke.

These are simply guesses - I have not messed around with making colored smoke bombs (making regular ones has been around for a long time).

Is there any chance you could generate the same effect for your haunt with plain white smoke, compared to colored smoke?

i have no idea what my mom is looking for, she liked the color bombs we used last year so.... i'll have to ask if white smoke is ok...
and yes i am relaying info for mom (family haunt) because i am in charge of minor tasks for the haunt (as i will not be there Halloween night, i will masquerading as the Joker )


then there was a post i found suggesting these for color smoke (it's generally for color fire)
White - Magnesium Sulfate (Epsom salts)
Carmine - Lithium Chloride
Red - Strontium Chloride
Orange - Calcium Chloride (a bleaching powder)
Yellow - Sodium Chloride (table salt) or Sodium Carbonate
Yellowish Green - Borax
Green - Copper Sulfate
Blue - Copper Chloride
Violet - 3 parts Potassium Sulfate1 part Potassium Nitrate (saltpeter)
Purple- Potassium Chloride

so... is the above list a good idea or avoid at all costs....


and with that i found this and i figured you guys would like it
Pumpkin bombs!

I remember reading somewhere that you can use fabric dye like from Michaels

fabric dye is a toss up as to whether or not it works... for some it does for many it doesn't.

the haunt is supposed to be completely set up in two weeks and the effects need to be tested before halloween.

i really dont have the option of a lot of trial and error.

i have a spfx book i'm going to check but and help that you could offer would be great

Yeah, dogman, those chemicals you've listed BURN with a particular color, but they need a pretty hot fire to do so - you're looking at using gunpowder as an accelerant in that case...I won't harp about how that stuff can explode if not prepared / used correctly.

Do you have a good supply of saltpeter?
I seriously recommend buying a little of the powdered fabric dye, mixing it in with some powdered sugar and saltpeter, and igniting it to see what color smoke you get.
(nice thing about this - you can do it quick, simple, and in small amounts, so you're not wasting excessive materials or time)

I've played with your list for colored fire, they all gave off white or black smoke.

i kinda figured the colored fire was for fire not smoke...

i'm gonna be getting some fabric dye for my gloves so i'll see what i can get to happen
has anyone actually done this sort of thing before?

can i light a dry mix with a candle wick? or something of the sort... i think i have some dud fireworks that i can rip the fuses out of... and would the little tin that tea lights come in be a good holder for the mix?

as for saltpeter, i know it can be found in a lot of places but where am i guaranteed to find it?

this is really helping guys thanks

I found this... and i don't know what to think... is it a good idea?

Legendary Smokebomb • Pyrosummit

it seems like it would work but i am so not sure.....

Here's another site for you to check out:
How to Make a Smoke Bomb

As for lighting the dry mix, you can very likely do so with a long fireplace match...light it, lay it across the top of the little pile, so it gives you a few seconds of back-up room, and it should start the pile burning (sugar burns pretty easily).

Found this site through Google for buying potassium nitrate:
1 LB. POTASSIUM NITRATE