Vortex Fog Chiller

I would have to say that it probably doesn't matter. I've used kitty litter pails, 55 gallon drums, old coolers, and styrofoam blocks to build chillers. If the vortex is set up correctly, the shape of the container doesn't make much difference.

BioHazardCustoms said:

I would have to say that it probably doesn't matter. I've used kitty litter pails, 55 gallon drums, old coolers, and styrofoam blocks to build chillers. If the vortex is set up correctly, the shape of the container doesn't make much difference.

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I agree, it's amazing what you can do these days with a little know how and stuff just lying around the house to make things for Halloween. Like what BHC did for his fog chiller. If it's done correctly it really won't make much of a difference. Sounds like your off to a great start! :jol:

Ah come on. You guys are no fun. This is the point where we're supposed to have a 30 page discussion on the pro's and con's of round versus square designs. Then someone quote's some 1930's science text about how a reverse vortex would be more efficient and require half the ice.:googly:

Sorry had to.

The above answers are correct. The vortex chillers are made both ways and can function very well. Below is a link to the vortex owners manual and it show both square and round.

http://creepcrafters.com/Products/Pics/vortex_instruction_manual.jpg

Whats the point of a chiller ? To keep the fog low and at foot level, like we see in graveyard scenes in movies?

Exactly.

Horror Roots Productions said:

Whats the point of a chiller ? To keep the fog low and at foot level, like we see in graveyard scenes in movies?

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The problem you have with most standard foggers is that the fog usually goes everywhere. It would be okay if your going for an old Hammer film type fog look where you have back lighting against the fog for effect. There the fog when it comes up is all over the place. But with the chiller's it keeps the fog close to the ground. The only problem would be if your outside and the wind is blowing and then you can't do much about that. :jol:

Wind is the enemy when creating chilled fog!

The whole idea about fog chillers is to push the hot fog through a wall of ice to chill it. It cools, condenses and picks up moisture to help weigh it down.

It's a good idea to use whole cubes of ice because little pieces can clog the ice wall and slow down the flow of fog. Typically I find that ice bought at the grocery store contains too many little pieces. That is why I buy whole cubes at an ice house. Freezing my own is great but it can take a long time to collect enough for my chillers.

Thanks guys! I always wondered how they kept the fog low like that, since when I fog up my house it looks more like a fire then a spooky fog - once i heard fog chiller, suddenly all my elementary school science clicked in with that A-HA moment...

Funny story, the night i came home with the foggers from party city's "please take these sale" i plugged them all in and filled them up and wired them all together so that one remote would set all foggers off at once.

My girl had already gone to bed and must have woke up to get a glass of water or something. I hear her start yelling and screaming and runs down the stairs and is on the phone calling the fire dept as shes scrambling out the door.

So after a fun chat with some less then enthusiastic fire fighters, i had to promise her no more fog machines in the house (unless a new walking dead episode was on...)

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Now I have a few more questions,
1. Would a square bucket cause ice or fog to get stuck in the corners? (I am leaning towards a round bucket because of that potential problem.)
2. Drain hole or no drain hole?
3. I was also wondering whether using a block of ice would work, depending on how big the block?

If you don't provide a place for water to drain out, then it will drain out of the tube where the fog comes out or where the fog goes in (whichever is lower).

A block of ice has less surface area than lots of cubes. Lots of cubes tend to melt together eventually and form a block in the chiller though. I've heard good things about freezing water in smaller soda bottles (not 2 liter bottles) and using that, but I have never tried it.

Coors said:

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Now I have a few more questions,
1. Would a square bucket cause ice or fog to get stuck in the corners? (I am leaning towards a round bucket because of that potential problem.)
2. Drain hole or no drain hole?
3. I was also wondering whether using a block of ice would work, depending on how big the block?

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1) Nope, the shape of the container might matter if your counting molicules of fog for a specific application, otherwise for Haunters the shape doesn't matter.
2) the fog exit hole "is" the drain hole (IF your outdoors). If your indoors, fabricate a drain hole (Fitting) for a garden hose or similar to slide out the back kitchen door.
3)Block of Ice.....Not as Good.....You want a "Matrix" of ice for Fog to impregnate and absorb "Coolness" of your meduim. Ice cubes have a HUGE amount of surface area to transfer the cold to the hot fog. THE "Block" of ice has very little surface in which to transfer the coldness to the fog.

Niblique has taught us all a ton about chilling fog. Best person here to respond to this thread, IMO.

Coors said:

Thanks for all the replies and suggestions. Now I have a few more questions,
1. Would a square bucket cause ice or fog to get stuck in the corners? (I am leaning towards a round bucket because of that potential problem.)
2. Drain hole or no drain hole?
3. I was also wondering whether using a block of ice would work, depending on how big the block?

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1. Does not matter. don't over engineer the problem.
2. Drain hole with hose- you need to control the melted ice water some how.
3. Cube-you need a lot of surface area

By the way, there IS a 93 page thread on fog chillers. I read it for 2 hours the other night. Boy, can some folks get involved in a simple project!

Horror Roots Productions said:

Thanks guys! I always wondered how they kept the fog low like that, since when I fog up my house it looks more like a fire then a spooky fog - once i heard fog chiller, suddenly all my elementary school science clicked in with that A-HA moment...

Funny story, the night i came home with the foggers from party city's "please take these sale" i plugged them all in and filled them up and wired them all together so that one remote would set all foggers off at once.

My girl had already gone to bed and must have woke up to get a glass of water or something. I hear her start yelling and screaming and runs down the stairs and is on the phone calling the fire dept as shes scrambling out the door.

So after a fun chat with some less then enthusiastic fire fighters, i had to promise her no more fog machines in the house (unless a new walking dead episode was on...)

Click to expand...

OMG! That must have been a choke fest. Foggers used inside can leave a residue on everything and perhaps create a slippery floor. Another great reason to limit there usage to outdoors.

typoagain said:

By the way, there IS a 93 page thread on fog chillers. I read it for 2 hours the other night. Boy, can some folks get involved in a simple project!

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Ahh the Legendary obtuse 93 page (and counting) Fog Chiller thread. Aside from the fact that most of the pictures have been removed, it is a fascinating if not Mind numbing read. That thread could have saved me TONS of time if I had just read it first before building my cube chillers. There really is a lot of Great information in there. SOme Great people spent a LOT of time and engineering getting the "best" possible chiller at that time.

BioHazardCustoms said:

Niblique has taught us all a ton about chilling fog. Best person here to respond to this thread, IMO.

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Ummm "Lunatic" (see below) is just as (If not more) qualified to comment on this thread. He has had some great insight and influence in the aforementioned legendary fog chiller thread.

Lunatic said:

OMG! That must have been a choke fest. Foggers used inside can leave a residue on everything and perhaps create a slippery floor. Another great reason to limit there usage to outdoors.

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"Slip Sliding away"

I didn't mean to imply that Lunatic didn't know what he was talking about. If I came across that way, I apologize to the forum and to Lunatic himself. I just remember reading your thread about the extremely large chillers you built and learning a lot from them.

BioHazardCustoms said:

I didn't mean to imply that Lunatic didn't know what he was talking about. If I came across that way, I apologize to the forum and to Lunatic himself. I just remember reading your thread about the extremely large chillers you built and learning a lot from them.

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You didn't come across that way at all. Everything is good In fact I'm flattered at the acknoqlegment. Thank you.

Thanks everybody for all your help.
I decided to go with the round 5 gallon bucket and a separate drain hole. I will still experiment with ice cube shapes and see what works better with my grate.
I will post a picture once I have tried it out and see how it works.

Tomorrow I will be working on getting the PVC into my sitting down blucky.
Wish me luck as this will be my first. I did see my husband make one, but he only had legs and arms. He had to make everything else, ribs, head, torso and pelvis. It didnt come out too bad, but I think i can do better.
Any hints, suggestions or ideas are very much welcome.