9 replies to this topic

[overflow]

Hello fellow pyrotechnicians!

I'm trying to build a smoke production device, for magicians, which:
-should produce small quantities of smoke (the color is not important)
-must ignite rapidly and easily (sparks or electrical ignition)
-must burn rapidly (1,2 seconds of smoke)

while:
-being small enough to hide in a hand (or at max in a sleeve)
-being safe enough to be kept and used in hand (or hidden in the sleeve)
-being reasonably non-toxic (it will be used indoors!)
-the mixture has to burn reasonably cold (no one want's to burn himself or take fire during a show )

I was thinking of a small (~1cm diameter, ~3cm long) paper tube, half full with composition and then layered with baffles to prevent the flame from exiting, but i have a few doubts on how to ignite it and on what type of composition to use, considering it will be burnt indoors.

Plus i don't know if the baffles will actually be able to prevent the flame from exiting.

Suggestions?

[Arthur Brown]

There are many suppliers of magicians accessories and stage pyro. Consider a DIY solution ONLY if you can get it to comply with your country's regulations for close proximity devices.

A Professional supplier in your country should help you. Otherwise contact www.lemaitreltd.com who are a well regarded supplier in the UK and may have a dealer or contact in other European countries.

[YT2095]

why don`t you make a miniature Fog machine? the heater coil can be made easily enough with a coil of nichrome wire (it doesn`t have to get red hot, just hot) and the nozzle is easily machined and the liquid is quite cheap and plentiful esp for a small device it would last you for years.
it`s non toxic and could be run off a couple of `D` cells, AND you wouldn`t risk breaking any laws.


just a thought

[overflow]

Normally i'm a DIY person, but this time i'd gladly use something already made by pros.

Problem is, smoke machines are simply TOO big for certain things. What i was thinking was more about a one-shot device, much similar to flash paper but with smoke instead of light.

I didn't find a similar device on lemaitreltd, but maybe i wasn't able to search well... those it exist?

[Mortartube]

I would suggest that a very small amount of granular BP in a tube would produce your smoke. Exactly the same as used in smoke puffs for stage work. Having said that, I would investigate all other avenues, before you try this.

If you do try this it will need extensive testing and the optimum mesh size must be found. I would think that very small grains of BP would be optimum so that burning debris cannot fly far.

The top of the tube can be closed with a glued on paper disc (the thickness of copier paper), the paper being sprayed with fire retardant first.

Remember this will need a LOT of testing under various conditions. I would suggest that you start testing with less than 0.5 g of powder.

Edited by Mortartube, 03 September 2008 - 09:56 AM.

[Arthur Brown]

I'm sure that LeMaitre would design a device for you if the market was big enough. They will also have a good contact in most European countries for local rules and regs.

Do remember that most places where magicians perform, will have smoke alarms and making smoke must be cleared with the venue or that will be the last part of the show seen before the audience leave and the fire service come to investigate!

[overflow]

I'm sure that LeMaitre would design a device for you if the market was big enough. They will also have a good contact in most European countries for local rules and regs.

Do remember that most places where magicians perform, will have smoke alarms and making smoke must be cleared with the venue or that will be the last part of the show seen before the audience leave and the fire service come to investigate!

Good idea, i'll try proposing this.

Btw since, i'm myself an hobbyist magician, it would be fun to experiment such a device by myself (and for myself only since it would just be another DIY fun project) so i'd gladly accept suggestions on this matter.

I would suggest that a very small amount of granular BP in a tube would produce your smoke. Exactly the same as used in smoke puffs for stage work. Having said that, I would investigate all other avenues, before you try this.

If you do try this it will need extensive testing and the optimum mesh size must be found. I would think that very small grains of BP would be optimum so that burning debris cannot fly far.

The top of the tube can be closed with a glued on paper disc (the thickness of copier paper), the paper being sprayed with fire retardant first.

Remember this will need a LOT of testing under various conditions. I would suggest that you start testing with less than 0.5 g of powder.

Interesting! So you propose plain BP?
I was thinking something more fuel-heavy would work better. Maybe adding some paraffin wax?

[Mortartube]

My proposal would make a puff of smoke and not generate continuous smoke.

[YT2095]

if you just want a puff of smoke, wrap some thin Nichrome wire around a strip of ping-pong ball and pass a current through it.

[Arthur Brown]

There used to be (may still be?) loose smoke powder from Le Maitre and a igniter was sufficient to fire it..