Build a "Fake" Snow Machine?

[MisterC]

I have been tossing around the idea of taking a shop vac and attach a homemade screenwire cone to the end of it. (wire only and then probably some type of cloth stretched over the wire) Dip the cone in the solution and see what happens. If it works even remotely I am thinking that I can modify the cone and incorporate an injection nozzle on the inside of it and possibly a fan to blow the "snow" as it exits the cone.
Ideas? Suggestions?
Martin

[mwo040]

I have 3 of these and I had to repair one of them so I have been in one of them. They have a switch that opens allowing the soap mix to flow out of the tank. Mine use gravity feed method to flow. The hose is hooked directly in front of the blower output side of the fan. It works like a ventrui creating a vacuum and sucking the soap into the sock. The sock is attached to the end of the blower at the same point the hose is attached. You could use a water switch from an old dishwasher or refrigerator to open the flow and put a tank above the hose hooked to the output side of a shop vac with a sock made out of a pair of panty hose. That is about the same type of material. I don't have any pictures but they are part of my display and I will be controlling them with a hockey puck type of SSR for this years show.

[kiwichristmas]

Hi,
I have one of these snow machines as well, here are some pic of the insides, I use a snow fuel mix of
half water
quater bubble bath
quater isoprople alcohol
which works great.

started to make a diy version last year out of an old vacum cleaner but then christmas sneaked up on me.
one thing to note there are holes around the outside of the case surrounding the sock, these match hole on the blower, and they blow the foam off the sock and into the air to get your snow.

hope that is of some help
cheers
Kiwichristmas

[kiwichristmas]

and one more picture.

here you can see where the snow fuel is pumped into the sock

[MisterC]

Thanks!! A couple of questions. (OK, three)

Is the valve in the picture a solenoid or is it a pump?

The blower not only blows thru the sock, but also has holes around the blower housing that line up with the holes around the outside of the sock? (trying to make sure I understand where the air that feeds the outer portion of the sock comes from)

You said half water?.... 1/2 gallon?

Thanks for everyones input, I am thinking we might make some snow!
Martin

[DynamoBen]

The picture is a pump (SP-12A), its the same type of pump used in a fog machine. While this works well for a small machine you might want a different type of pump that lasts longer.

[kiwichristmas]

the 1/2 is the ration
ie 1 gallon of water + 1/2 gallon of bubble bath + 1/2 gallon of isoprop = 2 gallons of mixture

or 1/2 gallon of water + 1/4 gallon of bubble + 1/4 gallon of isoprop = 1 gallon of mixture

re the blower
if you look at the last picture you can see where the sock in placed in the centre cone of the blower and there are holes in the blower housing, these blow the foam off the sock.

Remember these pic are of a cheap machine, so the more expensive ones probably do it differently. not sure as this is the only one I have:D

[oldcqr]

I did a bunch of experiments making snow fluid a couple of years ago. Here are my findings and my recipe.

[awhaley]

Well, here's why you need the vents around the outside of the sock.... But here's a DIY foam maker that might lend some inspiration...


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOZsg...eature=related


Art

[mwo040]

The picture is a pump (SP-12A), its the same type of pump used in a fog machine. While this works well for a small machine you might want a different type of pump that lasts longer.

That is actually just a solenoid. I had one that was gummed up from leaving foam solution in it and took it apart to rebuild it. I had one that was so bad I had to replace it. I replaced one of my solenoids with the water flow solenoid for an ice maker and it works fine.

Also my snow machine solution is 1 cup of Ajax dishwashing liquid, 1 cup 70% isopropyl alcohol and 1 gallon of distilled water. I have nice heavy snow that will last for a long time. A friend of mine used this solution and made over 1 foot of snow over his entire yard that there was still some there in the morning