Re: OT: where to hire smoke generator

["Paul Gordon" <paul_gordon@xxxxxxx>]

Graham, some stuff I've found which may be useful, including some links to
suppliers near the end...

Paul G.


It is important to know that the carbon dioxide will displace oxygen and if
the concentration of oxygen falls below 19.5% may cause asphyxiation. For
this reason Dry Ice could become hazardous if, for example, someone was
lying down in the area where it is used. Users should also be aware of the
dangers of gases and moisture around the machine.

Dry Ice must be stored in a properly designed container. As it is extremely
cold it can cause severe cold burns. Handle dry ice with chrome leather
insulated gloves available from the suppliers.

It should be noted that Dry Ice is, like anything else not dangerous if
used
properly. It is cold, -78C ish but wearing welding gauntlets solves this
problem. One big factor is that in order for the effect to be good the
water
in the machine needs to be very hot. Too hot however and the pressure
produced will propel pellets of dry ice down the pipe and potentially
towards people!

The stuff costs around £8-10 per 10Kg bag from BOC or Ellis and Everard and
if you ask nicely they will lend a storage box.

Left in the bags at room temperature the stuff will last at best 36hrs in a
box nearly a week.

A 10kg bag will give about 2mins useful effect.

Dry ice is a great effect in theatre and film, however it is not very easy
to work with.
If you have access to a smoke machine and dry ice, and you require a low
lying fog on demand, try this:
Cut a 1 hole in each end of a polystyrene box, one big enough for your
smoke
machines jet nozzle to fit into. (It may need a small amount of ducting).
Place a few kilograms of dry ice in the box, and place the lid on it.
When you pump the smoke machine into the polystyrene box, the dry ice
instantly cools the smoke, and it flows out the other hole onto the floor.
Although this still requires the dry ice for the effect, you have much more
control over the amount of fog and it is virtually availible on demand.
The smoke machine is best set on a low volume setting if possible, and the
smoke does eventually rise, but it is a good effect.

http://www.partyworks.co.uk/effects/p_dryice.htm
http://www.blackjackuk.co.uk/lowfog.htm
http://www.ice-cooling.co.uk/welcome.htm
http://www.maximumfx.co.uk/dry_ice.htm
http://www.kave.co.uk/KAVEPages/effects.html
http://www.special-effects.co.uk/2000/italiano/hiresales/smokefog.htm



_________________________________________________________________