# How does a smoke machine work? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 29, 2001, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-smoke-machine-work/66871 "2001-05-29T09:49:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Galerion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/858c86/32.png) [@Galerion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galerion)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 9:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-smoke-machine-work/66871/1 "2001-05-29T09:49:55Z")
How does a smoke machine actually work? I mean the type of modern machines that use smoke fluid. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 10:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-smoke-machine-work/66871/2 "2001-05-29T10:35:15Z")
It has a heater element, the liquid burns when it hits the heater, and makes smoke. Press the trigger, and liquid flows into the heater element. Simple enough. FYI, the typical “fogger” is about the exact same design as commercial insectiside foggers. I know because I used to apply pesticides with one, and I also saw someone on a movie set with a smoke-making fogger and it was the same model I used. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-smoke-machine-work/66871/3 "2001-05-29T13:17:00Z")
The Fog Juice doesn’t actually burn, just turns into gas, I believe. The stuff smells righteously narsty. I, as a techie, was always impressed that the actors could breathe the stuff for hours and not vomit. ---
**Author:** ![Galerion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/858c86/32.png) [@Galerion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Galerion)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-smoke-machine-work/66871/4 "2001-05-29T13:24:51Z")
Does anybody know what temperature is required in the heater? ---
**Author:** ![galen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ecc23a/32.png) [@galen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/galen)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-smoke-machine-work/66871/5 "2001-05-29T13:29:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*The Fog Juice doesn’t actually burn, just turns into gas, I believe. > > The stuff smells righteously narsty. I, as a techie, was always impressed that the actors could breathe the stuff for hours and not vomit. > > \*\* I’ve heard that there are some health questions associated with the stuff and that the actors are not too happy with its use. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-smoke-machine-work/66871/6 "2001-05-29T13:37:22Z")
I have a fog/smoke machine at home and I find that the first few blasts have a bad smell but after that it is ok. So I always blast some outside befor using it inside. ---
**Author:** ![Chas.E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e99b99/32.png) [@Chas.E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chas.E)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2001, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-a-smoke-machine-work/66871/7 "2001-05-29T16:17:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by friedo \* > \*\*The Fog Juice doesn’t actually burn, just turns into gas, I believe. \*\* I think you’re right, I should have said “vaporize” instead of “burn.” And of course, there are more modern fog generators that use CO2 instead.