Hazer vs Fogger for lasers display

[johnpoe12]

What do you think is better for the lasers display? a hazer or a fogger? and why?

[Mr.Coffee]

both, either or none, depending on what/where/how/who/which flavor

[Vidal Wolf]

Hazer for me.smaller particles ,and better distribution. hazer *smoke* tends to stay up longer. you need less of it as well.

[platinum]

Overall, I'd say hazer, but I agree with Mr. Coffee that it depends on the application.

If you have a large venue and you want your beams to have a little more punch, I'd go with a hazer (ex. DF-50).

Fog isn't all bad though. I don't remember the model, but a friend of mine used what he called a "fazer" which was more of a high-volume fogger. The effect stayed in the air pretty well and filled what was a very tall venue. (4-story lobby of a convention center.)

There is also the "goo-factor" to be considered if the device is to be used long term in a venue.

HERE is a thread where the topic was discussed to some length.

-Jonathan

[JohnYayas]

I have cheap party fogger. The fog didn't stay in the air long enough to work well. But then I got some Froggies Swamp Juice. That stuff has great hang time and is great for what I do. I just use it at home, though. If I had to fog up a theatre I'd probably go for a hazer.

[beamann]

I have seen both foggers and hazers in public venues and of the two the hazer over all is the better chioce for beam effects, does not give a smoked out look and no smell that I remember and the haze stays in the air a lot longer.

[MechEng3]

My Martin stage hazer seemed to hold it's own for quite some time this year's SELEM...I didn't see anyone hitting the fog machines at all while it was set to a level 4 out of 10. No fogged out look when the house lights were on and the beams seemed to be proud then.

[buffo]

Hazers produce a uniform "fog" that is very light and even. It also hangs in the air forever, so you don't use much fluid. But it is so uniform that there is never any variation in it.

Foggers produce a more splotchy, uneven fog that varies quite a bit in density. But this gives fans and tunnels more definition, and you get these wonderful paisley-like patterns that you won't get with a hazer. It also does not stick around very long.

A Fogger loaded with "Froggy's Swamp Juice" (as Gary mentioned above) plus a fan to move it around the venue is an ideal compromise, in my opinion. The Froggy's fluid ensures a longer hang time, which helps minimize fluid use, and the fan helps to disperse the fog so it doesn't become too opaque. But you still get those wonderful paisley-like patterns...

And of course, if you've got the money, get one of each! Then you're golden. Set the hazer to maintain a basic level of fog in the venue, and use the fogger with a fan to add definition when needed.

Adam

[MechEng3]

Good thing I kept the Antari.....

[norty303]

I'm a fan of a fogger with a big fan and 'long hang' fluid. This way you can move the fog where you need it and it gets dispersed nicely enough.

I find that in this way you can get away with outdoor/semi outdoor gigs where you simply couldn't with a hazer.

And much cheaper...

[superj7777]

The most effective technique (IMHO) is to place an industrial, variable speed work site blower, perpendicular to a standard fog machine. So the fog shoots into the blower, and is blasted into the air.

This allows you to adjust exactly how much fog is diffused into the air. You can order these blowers from any industrial supply co. like www.grainger.com they're about $60.

This also creates an amazing effect, say your scanning a large cone into the air, and shoot a blast of fog which is then diffused and blown out from the blower. What the audience sees is this 'tornado' like cloud...it's spectacular!

I learned this trick from PACE production co. out of TX, they used this method for their traveling Pink Floyd laser shows in the early 90's.

[QUAZAR]

The most effective technique (IMHO) is to place an industrial, variable speed work site blower, perpendicular to a standard fog machine. So the fog shoots into the blower, and is blasted into the air.

I prefer to place the fan behind the smoke machine. You still have enough velocity to move the smoke, but you dont end up with a fan covered in crap. Once the fan gets smoke fluid on it, all manner of dirt will stick to it and you will never get it clean again.

[Doc]

I prefer to place the fan behind the smoke machine. You still have enough velocity to move the smoke, but you dont end up with a fan covered in crap. Once the fan gets smoke fluid on it, all manner of dirt will stick to it and you will never get it clean again.

^^ +1, I use a 24" fan behind the fogger ^^

[superj7777]

I prefer to place the fan behind the smoke machine. You still have enough velocity to move the smoke, but you dont end up with a fan covered in crap. Once the fan gets smoke fluid on it, all manner of dirt will stick to it and you will never get it clean again.

Actually I'm talking about a totaly different effect than the fan behind the fogger method.

Check this link out http://www.electricsuppliesonline.com/airki95piutb.html

With this type of fan (Squirrel cage downdraft design) you lay the fan perpendicular in front of the fogger. Yes, it does gum up the blades over time. But the effect is much more dramatic, as it is not only diffusing the fog (as you would with the fan behind) but it is also blasting out a thinned out haze. And, becuase the fan is much more powerfull than a standard hazer's fan, it is much more instantanious.

Try it, you'll like it....I almost guarantee it

[Doc]

You get exactly the same effect with the fan behind the fogger and the fan stays clean.

My 24" floor fan can blast a fairly concentrated cone of fog about 40' on full speed.

[superj7777]

You get exactly the same effect with the fan behind the fogger and the fan stays clean.

My 24" floor fan can blast a fairly concentrated cone of fog about 40' on full speed.

Wow, I've never tried a box fan, but how do you get it to shoot up? Or, does it only shoot straight ahead?

I've never tried a fan that large before....

[QUAZAR]

Actually I'm talking about a totaly different effect than the fan behind the fogger method.

Check this link out http://www.electricsuppliesonline.com/airki95piutb.html

With this type of fan (Squirrel cage downdraft design) you lay the fan perpendicular in front of the fogger. Yes, it does gum up the blades over time. But the effect is much more dramatic, as it is not only diffusing the fog (as you would with the fan behind) but it is also blasting out a thinned out haze. And, becuase the fan is much more powerfull than a standard hazer's fan, it is much more instantanious.

Try it, you'll like it....I almost guarantee it

Thats a damn good looking fan. I haven't seen anything like that over here. Especially for that price.
I usually use these.

[Bradfo69]

In a perfect world, I'd like a large oil based haze machine with small fog machines near each projector to get the best of both worlds.

I though I was close to that with what I have but, I'm disappointed with the oil based hazer I got a few months back. I suspect I need more than one as big as my venue is but at $450 each, I don't want to get a second one "as a test", just yet. In the interim, I bought two Antari Z300 fazers this week for the bulk of the atmosphere and I have two Chauvet HZ1100 fog machines hooked up as well right near the projectors for that periodic blast to achieve the paisly look Adam mentioned above. Two 10 ton A/C units are serving the room so, the air movement does a number on hang time. Tonight I've got a 5 hour dance event with 600 people so, I'm looking forward to some real testing to see how THIS combination works out throughout the course of an evening.

I prefer haze for the weddings since it's almost invisible so, at some point, I know I'll have to bite the bullet on another oil based haze machine.

[Bradfo69]

TOO.........MUCH..........SMOKE. Amazing how fast approximately 99,000 cubic feet was full! Even the DJ commented (over the mic) on how smoky it got!

[norty303]

Was that the Fazers that tipped the balance, or the Chauvet? I'm thinking about another machine as a backup plan in case my big fogger breaks, and toying with a hazer/decent fazer as a slightly different alternative.

[dnar]

I find hazers best. I run a fog machine, yet I run BaseHaze fluid.

[Bradfo69]

@Norty...

I typed a long response last night and somehow lost in in the posting process. In short, the fazers are really kind of amazing. Two of them were probably too much though. But, if you're looking for a suitable backup, they're well worth a look.

I'll try this again.

Couple thoughts/observations. The banquet facility I manage has a ballroom 104' x 68' with an average of 14' high ceilings. It is dividable in half for smaller groups with a large folding wall. To this point, I've always done dance events with light/lasers/atmosphere in 1/2 of the ballroom. Dan from X-Laser has been there once and confirmed my suspicion that two hazers would be needed for the entire ballroom. In half, the oil based hazer I bought doesn't make a dent. I had the Chauvets, which work o.k. but, it takes a long time to fill the place up. I have a DJ friend who periodically brings his Antari Fazer in and has great results. Rather than buy a second oil based hazer with the question of whether even two would do the job. I decided to go the fazer route. I also knew that I'd likely want two if I ever did an event with the entire ballroom. I had such an event Saturday night and the units were delivered Friday. I put one in two opposing corners so, without doing the geometry, I guess that put them about 120 feet from each other. Set on continuous with a low output setting, they filled the place remarkably quickly. Maybe 4-5 minutes. It didn't take long for it to be too much. I had the Chauvets situated right under the RGB's just for that occasional burst of definition. I really only hit them for a moment a couple of times durning the evening. I only needed to turn the hazers on about 2 more times in the remaining 4 hours of the event. So, to answer.... it was the fazers.

An observation during all of this is, research, research, research. I've discovered that many models are exactly the same and rebranded by different companies. They may even be the same company and sell two lines. My haze machine is sold by MBT and is exactly the same as a model by Antari. Even the owners manual is written for the Antari but, it was $200 less. The fazers are sold by Irradient and again, exactly the same as the Antari fazer but about $100 less. I don't believe they are imitations or knockoffs. For $198.95 and free shipping (US) I don't think you'd go wrong with an Irradient Z-300 as a back up. I used Black Label "atmospheric" fog juice sold through Guitar Center, which is SUPPOSED to be lighter that other Black Label solutions.

[dnar]

You should check out the Basehaze products.

[buffo]

We've had a few of those Antari 300 Fazers at various LEM's over the years, and I can attest to their ability to fog up a room - FAST! They really pump out the fog...

If you want to save some money on fog juice, don't buy that Black Label stuff. Get some Froggy's Swamp Juice and you'll be all set. The stuff hangs in the air much longer than anything else I've ever used (including the Black Label brand).

Adam

[masterpj]

I prefer to place the fan behind the smoke machine. You still have enough velocity to move the smoke, but you dont end up with a fan covered in crap. Once the fan gets smoke fluid on it, all manner of dirt will stick to it and you will never get it clean again.

Thats an great idea.
I will try that sometime, thanks.