Super Cheap and Easy Fog Chiller

A fog chiller cools down fog from a fog machine so that it stays low to the ground. This one costs around $5-$10. I had everything I needed already, you probably do also.

Remove these ads by Signing Up

Step 1: Materials

There is not much that you need for this project.

MATERIALS
1. Foam cooler
2. Dryer hose
3. fog machine
4. Ice

TOOLS
1. compass
2. knife

jasongroupindustries says: Dec 18, 2012. 7:00 AM

This is a brilliant discovery.

crosa3 says: Oct 30, 2012. 8:47 AM

This is brilliant! I always thought this effect would cost a lot more and hated my fog machine just spraying out smoke lol thanks for uploading this!

dag4415 says: Jul 29, 2012. 9:00 PM

I have 2 fog machines. Never know when you need one.

Aron313 says: Dec 24, 2011. 9:09 AM

It kinda sucks that its to big to hide if you have it at your front door.

butterninja says: Oct 25, 2011. 4:34 PM

Brilliant Idea. made our £20 purchase well worth it

lolligag says: Oct 16, 2011. 3:45 PM

I'd suggest using dry ice so there's no water to clean up.

Shadetree Engineer says: Oct 18, 2007. 3:35 PM

I just want to see this fog rolling out of the jaws of my pumpkin, that's all...

Trivial27 in reply to Shadetree EngineerNov 5, 2009. 1:38 PM

Dude, just put a small glass jar in your pumpkin, fill with water, and add one of those floating pond foggers. A couple of years ago I used a small salsa jar and one of those pond foggers you can buy at Menards... and it was the coolest effect. Fog came drooping out of the jack-o-lantern and the foggers had a built in flickering blue LED that lit it up really well.

CodeKid1001 in reply to Trivial27Aug 6, 2011. 1:30 PM

do you have any pics of that?

Trivial27 in reply to CodeKid1001Aug 6, 2011. 2:40 PM

Unfortunately I don't, that's the one year I forgot to take photos during my "build frenzy" as the bosses call it... lol! I've gotten better though... now I bring extra camera to let other people take photos as we work. :-)

Anyways, if it helps what I used was a Sunterra Mistmaker Fogger http://www.sunterrausa.com/decorative-accessories/product/300409 that I picked up at Menards. It seems they have something similar listed on their website now. http://www.menards.com/main/p-1657811-c-10121.htm (the LED setup is different).

The first time I tried combining the jack-o-lanter, the pond pump, and the mister I put it in the "catch pond". It wasn't bad but well... you can guess how much better it looked with the fog mister inside the pumpkin...

Trivial27 in reply to Trivial27Aug 6, 2011. 4:44 PM

It looked something like this www.thecostumer.com/p-16235-creepy-mister-pumpkin-fogger.aspx only using a real pumpkin.

powdermnky007 in reply to Shadetree EngineerNov 2, 2009. 5:37 AM

If you want low lying fog for cheap, buy a 5 lb block of dry ice from a grocery store. Krogers has them in my area. They cost around $7. Just throw a piece of dry ice in water and it makes low lying fog. You could put a big piece in a tin can, and put the can on a hot plate, because the hotter the water, the more smoke you get, and the dry ice will eventually cool off the water it's submerged in. You should stay with one big piece, because it will last longer than lots of little pieces. Less surface area. But if you want a TON of smoke, throw a bunch of smaller pieces in hot water. wont last as long, but it works. It may be safer to use some sort of flame, or chemical heat packs for camping, rather than a hot plate, that way in case the water is spilled you won't electrocute anyone. Safety first.

allenh says: Oct 18, 2007. 4:16 PM

I was very excited about this project, till I realized I didn't own a fog machine. Any ideas on how to build a cheap fog machine?

Longtimer in reply to allenhAug 24, 2010. 2:02 PM

I've used this same principle for about 5 years in my home haunt. Our difference is size and placement. I use a fog machine setting on a table top (under the "machine" to the left of Franky in the 2nd pic), a $12 rubbermaid garbage "can" from Home Depot (behind Franky in the lab in 2nd pic) plus about 25 feet of that same dryer hose coiled inside the trash "can." The inlet for the fog is a couple of inches from the top of the can and the outlet is a couple of inches from the bottom (to hold the melting ice water). I fill it with 2+ LARGE bags of ice - don't skimp! Result is in the pic attached. The later in the night, the colder the ground and the better/longer the fog stays low. I've had it cross the sidewalk and dip down the curb to the street before it rises. Regarding Fog machines ... you get what you pay for. The more volume the more they cost. MOST important is to use a white vinager and water solution to clean the machine BEFORE you put it away for any length of time.

Longtimer in reply to LongtimerAug 24, 2010. 2:15 PM

OK, I didn't attach the pics correctly. Trying again. Hopefully you will see the fog in the cemetary and the lab on the other side of the "wall" from the cemetary. The fog vents into the cemetary from the Chiller trash can that is behind Franky on the table.

cowsrock87 in reply to allenhJul 9, 2009. 10:19 AM

Same!

T3Hprogrammer in reply to allenhOct 21, 2007. 10:54 AM

Check the grocery store or walmart. I got mine last year at a grocery store for $13. I don't think it's worth it to build your own.

Hawaii00000 in reply to allenhOct 19, 2007. 5:25 PM

Its Halloween so try your local party store.

admanrocks (author) in reply to allenhOct 19, 2007. 5:44 AM

well, I thought i saw a project on here "How to build an iron based Fog Machine" - But I couldn't find it just now when I searched. This one here is only $20 though.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Lighting-400W-Fog-Machine?sku=801401

MaXoR says: Oct 30, 2009. 11:09 AM

Alternatively if you were to go down to your local super store, or food mart (General Term), you can ask a manager if they sell their dry ice for science projects?

What I mean by "Their" dry ice, is that most of their cooled goods that have to travel by air, will be packed with dry ice. In fact, it could possibly be that they use it for a multitude of other packaging needs as well.

I have purchased pounds of dry ice this way. They have NO use for it after it has arrived, and a token sum is usually all they ask in return, if anything.

So I am thinking this: If you were to trade in your Styrofoam for a rubbermaid container, you could seal the holes around the flexible ducting, and then fill it with alcohol, isopropyl works.... anything with a LOW freezing point. You then put the dry ice into that, and you'll have a SUPER COLD source to cool your fog... you could BLAST TONS through here, and it would all get nicely cooled.

jhvh.one in reply to MaXoROct 30, 2009. 8:04 PM

the best source i've found for dry ice is the local welding supply shop. you can buy it in blocks or pellets and its super cheap.

the theater i work in has a couple of homebuilt dry ice foggers that are pretty nice. all you need is a plastic drum, a wooden lid, broom handle, wire basket, and dryer hose. an immersion heater helps, too, but isn't absolutely necessary. maybe i should make an instructable for that....

threeflags in reply to jhvh.oneNov 3, 2009. 10:59 AM

Yes you should on that instructable. Cheers

MaXoR in reply to MaXoROct 30, 2009. 11:12 AM

OH YEAH! another great thing about dry ice is if you put it in water... it AUTOMATICALLY makes "Cool Fog".

websherpa says: Nov 2, 2009. 1:07 PM

The ultimate low cost chiller is very simple (and practical for indoor/outdoor piping). I simply purchase black plastic corrugated drainage tube (the 6" diameter type that is used as weeping tiles for draining house footings. It comes in perforated and non-perforated and y adapters, end caps and other accessories. I simply take a bunch of water bottles (that I empty and use year after year) which I throw in the freezer the week or so before Halloween. They freeze solid. When ready to chill I "stuff" the supply pipe full of these frozen waterbottles and the fog machine (I have relatively high capacity ones) blows into the tubes (which are laid out to direct the fog where I need it using y adapters and sometimes smaller tubes or black dryer venting. I also use Froggy Swamp Fog Juice for nice low lying fog. You can get colder if you do use the ice cubes and salt method in a cooler, but I haven't noticed enough of a difference because it's almost always windy around Halloween time here. For outdoor displays, lack of wind and a cold night help the most in keeping fog near the ground.

ddpie says: Nov 1, 2009. 3:12 PM

hey thanks, I have a fog machine that I almost gave up on because I was wanting this effect....you may have very well saved it's life for next year!

astrong0 says: Nov 1, 2009. 2:32 PM

could you make the hose that is the same inner diameter as the nozzle of the fog machine and turn it around in a spiral to make a ultra-thick fog?

lil_brown_bat says: Oct 18, 2007. 1:30 PM

Who has a fog machine lying around? Other than that, sure, it's a $5-$10 project.

Wire54321 in reply to lil_brown_batOct 30, 2009. 4:32 PM

i do

MaXoR in reply to lil_brown_batOct 30, 2009. 11:11 AM

"The Source" in Canada is selling them for $50 CAD right now.

mman1506 in reply to MaXoROct 30, 2009. 4:44 PM

canadian tire is selling them for 31

mman1506 in reply to MaXoROct 30, 2009. 4:44 PM

canadian tire is selling them for 31

admanrocks (author) in reply to lil_brown_batOct 18, 2007. 3:22 PM

the real question is who doesn't

Pyrowuzzup in reply to admanrocksOct 18, 2009. 8:51 AM

Normal people don't have 7 fog machines in their basement? What?

TheOneTrueStickman in reply to PyrowuzzupOct 30, 2009. 8:04 PM

You forget, not all normal people have basements - my fog machine has to be stashed in my work shop/corner. Only one though, until I get a bigger shop.

But, thanks to Goodwill, I am cool like ballerboi because I have a fog machine. My wife still doesn't really understand this fact.