Thread: Build Your Own "Vortex Fusion" Chiller

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OK, I built the cooler exactly as the plan shows. I have a 'Fog Machine' 400watt fogger. I filled it almost to the top of the tube with ice and turned on the fogger. The fog comes out and essentially hangs at the exit tube and slowly rises.
It is much better than using the fogger without the cooler, but the fog does not really hang at ground level.
What am I missing?
I love this cooler design but I do not seem to be getting the same results as some people.
I actually thought I would be better off. I am not using a cat litter container I am using a Styrofoam lab cooler that is about 2" thick on the sides. Almost same exact dimensions inside as the cat litter container though.
Any ideas or insight appreciated.
Lakedawgs

I found that cutting a garbage bag in half and putting it on the end of the output nozzle helped out well.
You can position the bag to where the output is wide and low and that should make a difference.

A bag makes all the difference I have found.
I built this and am using a Party City 400watt fogger with the cheap ( not so cheap at $15 ! ) juice.
I had OK results but worked MUCH better with a bag at the end.
I am going to try using dry ice and regular ice mix to get it really cold and see how it goes.The key is to get the fog cold.As cold as you can.But adding a bag, even a small one will show better results.

Of course another way to get better or best results is to upgrade to a later watt fogger.Party City has a 1000watt for $44 which I should have bought as the 400watt was $22

I just wanted to say thank you for this how to. The chiller worked awesomely with my 1000watt fogger. It was used for 4.5 hours with one 1lb bag of store bought ice. The fog krept 25' across our lawn and down the street with each burst. Just super! The only thing I changed was I used threaded fittings to attach my connectors to the pail rather than using sealant.
Keven

Originally Posted by 69ProCuda

The only thing I changed was I used threaded fittings to attach my connectors to the pail rather than using sealant.
Keven

I did the same so I could pack it better in case the space I needed to store it in didn't allow obstruction from the pipes.

This chiller works awesome even with a 400watt but we had too much wind here last night.I still kept it going though as it still made the place look creepy.
I used dry ice and that was better than regular ice.Bit more costly but I found mixing will melt the ice faster so it's either one or the other.

Originally Posted by 69ProCuda

I just wanted to say thank you for this how to. The chiller worked awesomely with my 1000watt fogger. It was used for 4.5 hours with one 1lb bag of store bought ice. The fog krept 25' across our lawn and down the street with each burst. Just super! The only thing I changed was I used threaded fittings to attach my connectors to the pail rather than using sealant.
Keven

No problem! Glad it worked out for you guys..
Good idea about the threaded fittings!

Thanks again.

Fog chillers are simple to build. The original post is the correct way to build them. You don't need fans or dry ice or any other crazy design. here are some some things that will help you build one.
1) A chiller needs a chamber for the fog to expand.
2) The tube entering the expansion chamber sould be as short as possible, no turns. You should not use heater duct, the ridges disturb the fog.
3) The fog machine needs to be placed about 2 in. away from the opening of the tube. this allows air to mix the the fog. dont try to sill the fog machine with the tube. Yes some fog will leak out when the fog machine shuts off, but it is not a big deal, it is not that much.
If you build one like the author of this post you will be very happy with your chiller.
P.S. 400w. machines work ok but try and get a 700W+ they work much better.

Digging up this thread. Bump.

Awesome how to for this. I have been looking for a good thread about and this contains all the details I have been wondering about hopefully I will be able to get a decent fog a machine this year and build one of these for myself.