Thread: 1st Fog Machine: what do I look for?

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I'd like to get a fog machine, but I have NO idea what to look for and what is a good price. I have seen some advertised as using only water and others using fog solution, but I don't know which is better. I'm going to be using it inside but would like to be able to use it outside later too. I don't need something super powerful and fancy, but I don't want a super cheapy one either. I'd like to be able to put in in my bathtub and have it fill up and spill over. What type is appropriate for my use and what price should I look for? Help!

for a first fogger I would recommend a 700W machine the uses glycol based fog juice......


however......

You idea of having a bathtub overflowing with fog isnt practical as you would need a means of chilling the fog and despite the many thousands of threads on the subject fog chillers are rarely any good.

For this particular application you may find that a few pond foggers are suitable, these are the water only type that are designed to sit in a garden pod and produce a layer of mist over the pond, Ive seen these put to good effect for making toxic barrels, and I would think they would do a reasonable job in a bath if you used 2 or 3

Yes, I would agree that you would want a 700 watt fogger.
A 400 watt fogger will be cheaper but, the 700 watt is usually twice as much.
You will also want a timer delay wired remote, instead of a push button pulse wired remote.

Just remember.... the higher the wattage fogger, the less time it takes to heat up, or to recover after each use.
Always fill your fogger at the beginning of use, check on the fog juice level after a few hours. Keep extra fog juice on hand, you never want to run out. If it's kept closed tightly should last a long time. Read & follow the mfg.'s suggestions about cleaning it & storing it for extended periods.

Fog Machine Timer Control < Halloween Props < Fright Catalog, Inc.

Originally Posted by Phoenix_UK

for a first fogger I would recommend a 700W machine the uses glycol based fog juice......

however......

You idea of having a bathtub overflowing with fog isnt practical as you would need a means of chilling the fog and despite the many thousands of threads on the subject fog chillers are rarely any good.

I agree with the above - one more thing. Do you have smoke detectors in your house? if you do, don't use a fogger unless you want to hear them go off.

I'm looking to purchase my first also (this is my first post here as well!) and I'm looking for a recommendation on a good ground fogger for indoors. I know I want to get at least 700w (as I'll probably be looking to build myself a Vortex in the future), but for right now, which brand or unit would be best to get for a good consistent low lying fog?
Is it best to purchase brand to brand fog juice and do you have to used ground fog juice as well? Some brands seem to say you must, others not.

Any expertise you can impart to me?

Ive bought expensive/ branded fog juice and cheap stuff, and the most significant difference Ive noticed is that the cheap stuff cost less

When I was considering buying my first fog machine, I thought long and hard about it. Then it hit me. What industry uses fog machines all the time? The DJ industry! If you buy a machine that DJ's use on a nightly basis and swear by, how can you go wrong? So I talked to a professional DJ I was acquainted with who did huge parties (Disney events, for example), and he strongly recommended American DJ fog machines. Guess what I bought?

American DJ FOGSTROM 1200HD Fog Machine W/ Remote*-* Fog & Smoke Machines*-* Fog, Snow & Bubble Machines*-* Lighting*-* PSSL.com

I have since bought another one and I am fully satisfied. Just remember to run distilled water through them when you are done to clean out the system before storing.

Note they do have cheaper models.

Fog & Smoke Machines*-* Fog, Snow & Bubble Machines*-* Lighting*-* PSSL.com

Originally Posted by Plague

I'm looking to purchase my first also (this is my first post here as well!) and I'm looking for a recommendation on a good ground fogger for indoors. I know I want to get at least 700w (as I'll probably be looking to build myself a Vortex in the future), but for right now, which brand or unit would be best to get for a good consistent low lying fog?
Is it best to purchase brand to brand fog juice and do you have to used ground fog juice as well? Some brands seem to say you must, others not.

Any expertise you can impart to me?

Read my above advice, and...

I used plans on converting an ice chest into a fog chiller and it worked really well. All you need to do it put your normal fog machine up against the ice chest conversion, and you have chilled fog.

Here is what I used a few years ago:

Fog Machines - Your Guide to using Fog Machines for Halloween

I made the holes in the chest lower to the ground. I also didn't bother with the bending of pipes. I just had the pipes sticking out a couple of inches on each side of the chest so I could set the fog machine on the ground.

It depends on the application. I had a Fog FX/Lite, and the output was barely worth talking about. (cheap plastic piece of shi*!) I don't reccomend it. You want something with some hefty output if you're doing a yard haunt.

A fogger indoors is going to create a cloud. Even if you do try to make a chiller. Once the AC or heat kicks on, you can kiss the low lying fog goodbye. Same thing in the yard. If it's windy, place the unit upwind. then it'll pass through the area you want to fog up.

Originally Posted by I B H Wolfman

A fogger indoors is going to create a cloud.

Thanks, Wolfman.
Is a cloud going to happen indoors no matter what you do- my house in unencumbered by such niceties as AC and auto-heating- so if it's at say a temp of 65 to 68, will the fog still rise?
And is such an effect immediate or does it take a few minutes?

I'd like to have some fog around my indoor graveyard, but if the guests will end up walking through a haze instead, I'll just cross it off my list of fun.