OK, this is a somewhat odd question… but I’d like to know how to make, or buy, some of those balls (or whatever they are) that ninjas use in hollywood movies. You know, the ones that they throw on the ground that go POOF, make a lot of smoke, and instantly make the ninja disappear? Well, I want some. Not for any particular reason… I just think they’d be handy in case I was in a tight spot and needed to do a little disappearing.
So anyways, I’m being totally serious here. Is there any way to make “Disappearing Ninja Balls” with different chemicals? I searched google and couldn’t come up with anything, but maybe thats because I suck at searching google. I’d like something that’s relatively easy to make and safe to use (you know, I want to have total confidence that my Disappearing Ninja Ball wont blow me up into a bunch of tiny pieces instead of gently making me disappear.) Actually, now that I think of it… something that just smokes a lot would suffice for my cause (which is really not a cause, but thats besides the point). Any tips and/or suggestions and/or detailed directions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
I think they’re just smoke balls that blow up and send out a lot of smoke that’s very thick for a very long time that’s long enough to allow the very agile ninja to jump into a nearby tree and escape the people that are chasing after that ninja. I know the ice cream man sells smoke balls that you can light with a lighter, I can’t guarantee you having enough time to light the ball and throw it on the ground, wait for the ball to start smoking and then jumping into a tree…i don’t know what i’m talking about now. ice cream men sell smoke balls. go there.
Well, from this site you can order smoke solution (look about 3/4 of the way down the page). That is two liquids that combine to make a cloud of smoke. I don’t imagine that it would be too difficult to make a ball with two sides that when shattered, combines them. Not sure how fast it would be, or if you’d be standing there waiting for the reaction to occur.
This company offers a variaty of product to produce smoke. Although I can’t tell from the descriptions if they need something to ignite them.
And at this site you can order a variaty of powders that you can probably make work.
Lastly, you can look at this document that has some very good explinations of methods of creating self igniting flashes.
I almost did not post there sites, as there is a large degree of danger when using these chemicals. I strongly urge you to take some time to read a few books on the subject of pyrotechnics, and follow all the safety guidlines. I’m not sure what the throw down smoke balls were made of, but most of these chemicals I would not want to be sneaking around with in my pocket.
The smoke has to be slightly caustic. This has to be there because it would be vitally important to force your opponent to shut his eyes for a second or two, allowing you to escape.
I’m not so sure you will be satisfied with what you find out there. The ones you see in the movies are, obviously, props. I would say that “ninja balls” were popularized here in the US with the old TV show “The Masters” with Lee Van Cleef (and Demi Moore!!). From what I remember, the Houdini act began with a cutscene of a couple of silver balls in what is presumably Van Cleef’s hand. He would then theatrically throw them down and a large semi-cylindrical cloud of smoke would arise quickly from the ground (actually, an unseen smoke generator, I’m sure). I doubt you will find a ready-made product that could duplicate that. I can’t see two little balls could produce such a large volume of smoke in such a short period of time.
You would be better off throwing sand or dirt in someones face than carrying caustic chemicals on your person, the danger of which has already been addressed.
I suspect ‘ninja balls’ are just beanbags or something. The ninja throws them on the ground, just out of the camera frame. And a technician sets off a smoke pot sitting there.
The real ninjas here are the SFX guys working on the set.
While I won’t post the recipe, one of George Hayduke’s Getting Even books has a smoke bomb recipe that a one pound bomb will yield enough dense smoke to cover a city block.
I’ve used smoke bombs. They work, but not like a ‘ninja ball’, which goes off more like a, well, like a smoke pot. Because that’s what they are.
Real ‘smoke bombs’ just sizzle and start releasing clouds of smoke. They don’t go ‘poof’ and release an instant cloud. You need a very fast burning powder for that. Real smoke bombs look more like those tear gas cannisters you see at riots. set one off, and they just smoke. A lot. No flash, no bang.
