Basics for calculate Hazer needs

[WookieBoy]

Hey Astatic,

You say you have bought a TourHazer II???

If that's right, you'll be fine in most venues upto and including small arena sizes!

That's a seriously high output machine when it's running full power.

If you need to move the haze around, just use a large desk fan near the machine to push the haze further away.
If you're in a larger venue, you can run the hazer before the gig starts to get a 'background haze' level even then just keep it running throughout the gig on a lower setting to keep the haze topped up.
The haze fluid from Smoke Factory is fine... I've not found anything that does a better job yet...

Hope that's helpful

[Bradfo69]

The answer is to skip dealing with the uber-commercial lighting companies that outsource their R&D and call a traditional Hazer company like MDG. Get their guidelines for sizing a machine to a room. Good hazers have variable rates and a consistant particle size. I imagine Marc Gringas has probably retired at MDG, but since he sold hazers to the military and insurance companies, a company like MDG will have a means of measuring "obscuration", and know what their machine does in terms of real measure.

For example,
MDG's oil based systems use a ultra pure oil and a tank of liquid Co2 in a very carefully designed chamber under very carefully controlled conditions, resulting in a known particle size. This is important because a certain size range easily gets deep into your lungs and should be avoided. They use a controlled molecular weight oil for a reason. They had, at one time, clients outside of entertainment, that wanted controlled results.

3500$ for a "Atmospheres" machine is not cheap, but it gives you a idea of the care of design compared to a 500$ machine. 3500$ and it uses a fraction of the fluid of a " water" based machine.

Steve

As I said, the formula is: "Hear about one people like. Buy it. Decide if it works in your venue." I know Steve is big on MDG but, I also knew the associated price tag... $3500+ is a lot to blindly blow on something you've never seen in person so, I didn't go that route. (Funnny...I've done that with projectors though.) Inevitably, I probably will wish that I did because the cumulative expense of going the other route ends up the same. Well, kinda... I guess I've put about $3,000 into experimenting with fog/haze at this point whereas if I had bought an MDG to begin with....

I think if I owned the building or, I was a theater or television studio or some other major commercial entity, MDG would have been the way to go. Sounds like you need HVAC people involved and a lot of calculations, tuning etc. A year ago, that was unfathomable. Today though, it might have been a bit more realistic since I'm now doing a permanent laser install.

@dnar - Length x width x heigth seemed to be the only logical way to do it. Like I said, it's kind of crap though because in reality, I can have a satisfactory haze for lasers in about 4 minutes give or take a little time for air movement and, I'm a big fan of using the least amount of haze possible. I'd rather opt for more powerful lasers than rely on atmosphere.

[astatic]

Glad to hear that wookieboy!

I just came home from a visit to Francesco "Collimated" and he also told me that's a nice hazer, nothing to worry about!
I had to pickup my second qm2000.net incl. laptop enclosure.

[jtnichol]

WOW I wish I could hit a "thank you" button for every single post here.


I'm a fan of the MDG as it seems that name pops up EVERYWHERE. However, I'm on a beer budget. Fortunately I've seen what a Hazebase machine can do. But my budget will be $1500 or less and won't be happening soon. I'm having fun reading for now. I get it that Le Maitre XS and Radiance are good units but I'm still looking around.

Everyone that has used an Antari HZ-500 had a good time with it? Does it put out?

Seriously...I've used Hazebase and Ness. Never Antari Hazers. I had a Fazer 300(?) that crapped out on me but so did every one elses. No more Fazer marketing for me thank you.

But alas, here I am Currently looking to go either HZ-350 or HZ-500 because reviews seem decent for them in the $800 - $1600 range of hazers. I did call elation and they mentioned the particle size and dryness out of the HZ=-500 is really comparable to higher end ($2000+) hazers out there and at worst its better technology than HZ-350. I'm very impressed with Elation and their support which is why I'm giving them another shot.

Are they Cracker hazers? This is where I'm getting lost in the jargon again...

My purpose: Particularly I'm interested in just doing a teeeny bit of haze to bring out some X-Laser units that I have. I don't think it will take much haze to get it done. Just want to be reallly cautious about the fire alarm situations. I know there is always the potential and in some ways its easier for a hazer to set them off, but I'm really only wanting the bare minimum haze to bring out the lasers I'm using.

Anyone have a clue what percentage of modern schools and event facilities have visual particle detectors? Well whatever the case, those types of detectors seem to be the worst.

Anyway...Antari lovers/haters? Love to know and thanks!

[mixedgas]

When you can't buy, you can rent.

I could not afford a MDG, so I rent it from the local theatrical place at a fraction of the cost, plus a gallon of oil.

As for the vents, we usually just ask the venue staff to pop the air handler door, and set the units into the air handler, or in front of a main diffuser.

Usually I would want to run the system for them before asking to stick a device they have never seen into a duct.

If you just want to play with small cracked haze in a garage, google Hobby Hazer, and find the design on the Laser-FX web site. Its experimental, but Mark put a lot of work into it. I helped.

Steve