For years we’ve had a spider and bug theme for our front porch for Halloween. This year, I’m thinking of adding a fog machine. It would be on/under our covered porch. I don’t need to fill the entire yard just push out fog over the porch and down the steps. Quality seems an issue when I go online. Suggestions for a the best machine and bang for the buck would be appreciated as our home has become the “scary home” that kids love to come visit so I’m looking for something a little new this year.
Thanks!

I can't point you in the right direction for quality (we bought cheap-ish), but they usually don't put out a constant low rate of fog, but spray it out in a big cloud every now and then.

Definitely try to do it under the porch as any wind makes it quite unremarkable.

Speaking from my nightclub experience.....

Even the more expensive units are "disposable". I don't think there's much to them from a construction standpoint, but we would use them until they wouldn't work anymore, toss them, and buy more.

Three types of smoke effect. Faze, fog, and haze. Most of the inexpensive units I've seen at the Halloween store lean towards the fog machine. It heats up, you press a button, and it shoots a stream of fog. If you want something that is more steady you'll want to look at faze or haze machines.

There are water based and oil based fluids.

Anybody that sells DJ equipment will sell these devices. To give you an idea regarding styles, manufacturers, and price points, here you go:

https://www.guitarcenter.com/F...peAheadRedirect=true

Inside, some machines will set off smoke alarms. I hate it when I get called at midnight.

Let it warm up.... Forget it if it's windy

I'm curious, would a chunk of dry ice in a bucket with a fan blowing over it in the desired direction give you the desired results?

quote:

Originally posted by OKCGene:
I'm curious, would a chunk of dry ice in a bucket with a fan blowing over it in the desired direction give you the desired results?

Used to play with dry ice as a kid. To get enough fog, you would need a rather large chunk of it and submerged in water. It would have to be chipped away at every now and then as it would freeze the water around it.

I think it would work for just the porch area without using a fan. A fan might blow it too much and not let it build up enough to get the desired dense fog effect.

Hi. We inherited two. One is better than the other.
It’s shows in the build.
As another post said, wind is a bummer

We use them both on Halloween. I’m located in a village center, We get about 700 kids typically.
Small town. No stop lites here so the cops slow/shut down threw traffic.
We live in a 1832 converted church so our decor is limitless.
We are doing spiders these days.

Our machines are older but both work real well. My only complaint is noise from one is kinda
Loud, so we hide it and use pvc to Chanel the fog to where we want.
The other is quieter and we can use it in the garden, hedge etc for ambiance, closer to the walk way.

You gotta clean it with the solution... Iparty has that and also use clean mix.
The tip to let it warm up is key.

Have fun.

I've been through three "cheapies". The inexpensive ones hum while the unit warms up "purrs"(noticeable small pump sound) while the pump pushes the fog fluid over the element then billows a large-ish cloud of fog in an area. Then warms back up in about 30 seconds or so and does it again.

Almost like having a giant vape cloud every 30 seconds or so.

A good time and worth the effort. Any wind negates the effect as the others have mentioned.

Dry ice would not and does not produce the same amount of "fog" over the same area/time. I found that putting small chunks of DI in water with food coloring makes a better effect. Kind of a "mad scientist" theme.

Years ago we purchased a Chauvet fog machine from Amazon. It was a higher end unit and somewhere around $200. It has a wired remote and an optional wireless remote.

We incorporate the fog machine into our Halloween display every year. Here are some things to consider.
1. If it is windy the fog machine is useless
2. Depending on wind direction determines the placment of the fog machine. Prepare to have to reposition the unit as the wind shifts.
3. Get a unit with a continuous function or a timed release. Much easier than manually pushing a button.
4. Give the kids some area to play around in the fog. They love running into and out of the cloud.

quote:

Originally posted by BB61:
push out fog over the porch and down the steps.

Color me paranoid, but this is exactly what I'd avoid. As sue-happy as most folks are, as soon as little Johnny or grandma takes a dive off the lowest step I'd be worried about what happens next. Shouldn't have to be this way, but it's the reality of where we are.

I've always gone to the other extreme and actually installed lights shining ON any steps, just so folks don't bust ass.

Maybe there's an area off the porch between a walkway, etc. where you can work the same affect with less risk?

.

BB,
If your area has stores that rent sound systems to bands or DJs ~ call to find out if they have fog machines. Even some party supply stores have fog machines available for rent.

Visit a couple of those stores to see how well the machines function. In San Diego, a demo is always available. Get the make & model of the machines you like to price out when you get home or just rent it for the night to see how well it works before you buy.

I expect prices for these machines will go down after Halloween and you might even find some on sale.

quote:

Originally posted by bigmule:
I’m located in a village center, We get about 700 kids typically.
Small town. No stop lites here so the cops slow/shut down threw traffic.
We live in a 1832 converted church so our decor is limitless.
We are doing spiders these days.

Can you post some photos? Sounds like a blast!

Thanks all. Some good suggestions for me.

Dry ice makes awesome fog. It'll stay low to the ground. If you use it on your porch it'll roll down the stairs and onto the ground, in front of it. We used to use a metal drum with a hot water heater element in it, and a blower motor on top. The trick is the water has to be hot to get the dry ice to melt to get a thick fog. Use dryer hose to get it to go where you want. I didn't look, but you might be able to find plans online.