Thread: Build Your Own "Vortex Fusion" Chiller

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Lets build a chiller that follows the same design principles as the Vortex Fusion model using a Tidy Cats litter pail.
Sorry in advance for not providing measurements as I eyed up everything.
Though you will get the idea by looking at the pictures.

Some guidlines about this design are:
1. Keep the ice at about a 1/3 of the way down the pail so the fog has room to expand up through the ice.
(not to mention that you might get blowback if there is too much ice and the fogger you are using isn't powerfull enough to "push" through the ice)

2. Keep the downpipe at around an inch from the lid. Just enough room for the fog to move down it.

3. Fill the ice tray to the very top of the downpipe and try and use loose cubes.

4. Add some salt to your ice and see if you can get that stuff "colder".

Parts:

Tidy Cats Litter Pail as pictured
Few ft of 2 in. PVC or ABS pipe
2 in. PVC Elbow
Few ft of 1/2 in. PVC pipe

Some sort of metal mesh or chicken wire to hold ice
Epoxy of your choice (I used Oatey Epoxy Putty)
Krylon Fusion Paint (optional)
Nozzle for Drain Hose (optional)
Drain Hose (optional)
Tools for cutting the materials

Fog Intake hole:



Fog Output Hole:



All the 2 in. PVC cut and assembled:



Here is the cage I constructed to hold the ice. I cut the steel to fit about 1/3 of the way into the pail. Then I cut the 1/2in. PVC for legs. I drilled holes into the top of the pipe and used cable ties to mount the legs onto the grate.



Test fit the 2in PVC pipes:





Test fit the grate with the 2in PVC pipes:



Test the input hole height with my 400watt fogger:

Check the gap of the output pipe to the lid. You want around an 1inch:





I used Epoxy Putty to hold the pipes into place. That stuff hardens like steel.
If this is a temporary build, you could just use plumbers putty.



Here is a shot of my drain plug setup. This is optional but I will need it since I'll be using it mostly indoors.


The drain plug with the hose attached:



More to come as I did actually test this but didn't get a video just yet. I painted it tonight and will add a few more coats, then I will post a video of my results.

I will say that this design works perfectly.
You can shoot fog into either pipe and it will come out chilled.
I got near same results as my garbage can chiller with 16ft of dryer duct and 80lbs of ice.

This design uses less then 1 bag of ice and near the same results!

Good how-to, thanks! I have one of those old Lite F/X 1741 foggers, too. I built an ice chest/Vortex chiller last year and it does a hecka job, but needs about 50 lbs of ice. How long did the ice last in your design?

First coat of paint: (yea a little heavy for the first )



The lid and an easy way to hide the tidy cats logo along with adding a little something. Just sitting there and not epoxied on yet.

Originally Posted by Otaku

Good how-to, thanks! I have one of those old Lite F/X 1741 foggers, too. I built an ice chest/Vortex chiller last year and it does a hecka job, but needs about 50 lbs of ice. How long did the ice last in your design?

Not sure just yet as I haven''t really used it yet. I bet not too long since it's only a kitty litter pail and forcing hot fog through it.

I'd like to use a cooler but the wife "won't let me" buy a cooler and then put a hole in it.
I have an old long cooler but I think the cube ice chest cooler type would work a lot better with this design.

We have an annual halloween party for the family and it only it only lasts around 5 hours or so.

I will be making one of those for sure. I have tons of those kitty litter boxes saved.. thanks for the 'how to', appreciate it!

Awesome tutorial! I will be making one of these. Thanks for the simple how-to.

Very nice! Any pics of it in action?

Well, since you are not "allowed" to ruin a cooler, why not squirt Great Stuff all over the outside for insulation, and make the chiller into a "rock" or amorphous blob, then paint it? You could get insulating value without sacrificing anything. Just a thought...

Good, cheap cooler design, by the way!

Ron

Thanks guys..

Was letting all the coats of paint to dry for a bit.
I should be getting it all finished this weekend and will post some in action shots and maybe if I can "borrow" a nicer vid cam then the one I have, I post up a video of it indoors and out.

Using Great stuff would be a cool idea. Especially if you could get it to look like a rock or something.
I actually got a can of that to start building those cool pvc candles I saw around here.