Thread: Fog machine advice from previous experience

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I got a small 400w fog machine last year, did not perform like i wanted. We had a chiller to keep it low lying and it worked. Just did not put out the amount of fog i needed. However any newer ideas for a chiller would be appreciated.

I am trying to figure out what wattage and CFPM i need to get. Is wattage more important than CFPM.

What i am using it for is my front yard i have a "cemetery" just outside my door.

It is recessed if you will between the two sides of my house so the wind does not get to it. Its about 30 feet long and about 15 feet deep the area i want to cover, if it goes more than that, its ok

Thanks in advance for any help

I am debating on this one
H-1100 Hurricane

Get a CHAUVET HURRICANE 1250 or 1800. I had the same problem and this thing spits out some major fog. Covers the yard really well.

I am sure the 1100 will work just as well.

It does spit the fog out quick so do not expect it to lay low going through a chiller. Water the grass down helps keep it lower. No wind helps a ton.

I ran it through drainage pipe as well, and put ice bottles throughout. It helps but the fog is just to fast to cool it down.

Here is what I did last year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55071152@N07/5111582127/

Worked ok, but hard to tell because Halloween here was breezy, which of course ruined the fog. But I think this setup would be good in still conditions. The surprise to me was how long the pause was between bursts. That may be improved by going with a more capable, higher wattage machine, but it becomes a matter of how much you are willing to spend.

This year I'm also toying with getting http://www.froggysfog.com/ instead of they Chavet brand I used last year. Froggys makes a special formula for low-lying fog. http://www.froggysfog.com/category/1...or-ground-fog/

Don't buy the 1000 watt fogger they typically sell at Party City I bought two of these in as many years. worked great for halloween but didn't the following year, pumps went out on both of them. Ok so I only paid $50 each but I would expect to get more then one use out of them. So don't waist your money you get what you pay for.

Originally Posted by rxnb90

This year I'm also toying with getting http://www.froggysfog.com/ instead of they Chavet brand I used last year. Froggys makes a special formula for low-lying fog. http://www.froggysfog.com/category/1...or-ground-fog/

I can attest to the Froggys Freezin Fog's effectiveness. It is simply outstanding, with great hang time. I very easily created a London Pea Soup last year, with a Chauvet H-1100 and a Ness (both are 700w elements- I can't recall the model of the Ness because I sprayed it flat black years ago for camo in the dark). There was little need to run my (2) 400w spot foggers, except in the lowest burst duration I could get. So that they would intermittently spurt under pressure out of my hell hole and cauldron. It actually caused a problem with visibility on a major highway more than a hundred yards away.

At the OP: You can either take one of two routes, either get a more powerful machine. Or alternately, get several low power machines. For your purposes with a chiller, the only real option is a more powerful machine. I'd recommend a good quality machine in excess of 700w for the size area (450 sq. ft) that you have to work with. Ofc, larger is better. As more power allows for less reheat cycle time. Also more power means that physical demands on the pumps aren't as high as you don't have to run it as often vs. near continuous duty with a smaller machine. In turn, that nets you a longer lifespan on your equipment.

Overkill is not really possible when speaking in terms of yard haunts. Especially considering mother natures propensity to play tricks of her own with windy nights, that somehow magically coincide with the one night that we need no wind. Which is why I'm armed w/ 2200 watts of foggers. Boy Scouts motto: Be prepared!

Btw: I almost forgot. Froggys is wonderful to deal with directly. I ordered my fog scented last year (Swampy Forrest, I think it was called), and they accidentally sent just the normal formula. I called as soon as I discovered the error (3 days before Halloween!). Not only did I receive a response from the owner of Froggy's (Adam Pogue-at 2 A.M mind you!), he overnighted me the scent with Saturday delivery! That my fiends, is customer service like very few others provide. I vowed then, I'd use no other, ever!

Originally Posted by rxnb90

Here is what I did last year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55071152@N07/5111582127/

Worked ok, but hard to tell because Halloween here was breezy, which of course ruined the fog. But I think this setup would be good in still conditions. The surprise to me was how long the pause was between bursts. That may be improved by going with a more capable, higher wattage machine, but it becomes a matter of how much you are willing to spend.

This year I'm also toying with getting http://www.froggysfog.com/ instead of they Chavet brand I used last year. Froggys makes a special formula for low-lying fog. http://www.froggysfog.com/category/1...or-ground-fog/

That looks good thank you for sharing! I like the way the hose is set up, to come out throughout the hose instead of at the end.

THANK YOU ALL! Keep em coming. Price is not so much a factor, i mean i dont want to go buck wild and have a rock concert in my front yard LOL

I would like more fog output than i had last year, WOULD really like to get one as well that i dont have to continually monitor to press the button, maybe with a timer?

WE did a quickie set up last year because i decided last minute to add one. Grabbed a Styrofoam ice chest from WM, had a silver dryer hose and snip snip ice ice and away we went. It worked pretty decent for as fast as it was made. This year i have designated hubby to start now on a better design.

Going to check out the ones you all have suggest and come back

Has anyone used the Vortex Fog Chiller Cold Fusion at froggys?
http://www.froggysfog.com/product/VX...round-Fog.html


Just wondering if it works well enough, and 119.00 is reasonable enough for me not to have to have hubby make one. HOWEVER i think the plan was to make one from a plan he found on line. So just wondering opinion on pre made versus making it yourself?

Looking i am wondering how difficult it would be to attach a hose to the pre made one?

Originally Posted by scareisburg

Don't buy the 1000 watt fogger they typically sell at Party City I bought two of these in as many years. worked great for halloween but didn't the following year, pumps went out on both of them. Ok so I only paid $50 each but I would expect to get more then one use out of them. So don't waist your money you get what you pay for.

My neighbors bought a couple of these and run them non-stop from when we have the decorating contest to halloween. They run them dry without any fog sometimes. I'm just waiting for them to die so I can laugh my *** off.