A smoke or fog machine isn't just a great gadget for spreading ambience-enhancing smoke, but also serves to support your spotlights and light effects. Thanks to the smoke or mist produced by a fog machine, any light beams and lasers are much easier to see and will have a much bigger impact during your light show.
Buying a Smoke Machine
If you're thinking about picking up a smoke machine, there are a few things you'll need to pay attention to. First off, think about your needs and consider the size and the kind of space you're planning to use it in. The next step is to look for a machine that's a good match in terms of size, power capacity (in Watts) and features. Prefer a machine with built-in light effects? No problem, there are various smoke machines equipped with integrated party lights. Another important point to consider is the kind of smoke you want, in other words: the kind of fog juice you're going to need. Bear in mind that some fluids are water or glycerine-based while others are oil-based, and not every machine is compatible with every kind of smoke fluid. Read more about smoke fluid below or head straight to our extensive range of smoke machines.
Smoke Fluids
Depending on your machine, you can use a number of different types of fog juice, either water-based or oil-based liquids. Water-based smoke fluid is the most affordable option, which won't leave any residue behind as long as there’s proper ventilation. Traditional fog juice is always water-based but also contains glycols to guarantee proper smoke plumes. To boost the impact of light effects, a light mist is better than high-density smoke and can be achieved by combining a standard fog machine with something like a stage fan.
If you want the smoke or mist to stick around, you'll want to use smoke fluid based on mineral oils. While this stuff is a bit more pricey, it's the go-to for professionals since it doesn't limit your vision, meaning that any spectators on a balcony will be able to see what's happening on stage without missing the highlighted bundles of light. As always, make sure to set any high-output smoke machine up in a space that's large enough and ensure sufficient spreading. If used correctly, the compatible kind of smoke fluid won't have any negative effects (e.g. leave behind residue, greasy surfaces, slippery floors, etc).
How long the smoke or mists lasts doesn't depend on the machine, but depends on the liquid, the intensity (or density) of the output and the way it spreads throughout the room. See our range of smoke fluids.
BeamZ and Other Affordable Smoke Machines
BeamZ is one of the most popular brands in the world of foggers and smoke machines. Their affordable units usually run on water-based smoke fluids, are easy to use, and often come including a convenient remote control. Popular budget smoke machines are sold by Ayra, while Antari is a go-to for countless professionals.
Mini Smoke Machines
Compact smoke machines are also extremely popular. They're great in smaller spaces, easy to get from A to B and don't take up much space. In addition, these machines often come complete with fog juice and can be used out of the box. The amount of time it takes for a room to fill with smoke depends on the output capacity of the machine and the time it takes to re-heat.
Battery-Powered Smoke Machines
Portable smoke machines are often battery powered, giving you the benefit of cable-free operation. These units are easy to transport and quick to set up at locations like photo or film shoots where you won't find any mains power sockets, but don't expect battery-powered smoke machines to be able to fill a club with smoke.
Remote-Controlled Smoke Machines
While entry-level smoke machines usually come with a wired remote control, the higher-priced models often support wireless remote control. Visit our Remote-Controlled Smoke Machines section to browse all models.
DMX-Controlled Smoke Machines
The DMX protocol opens up the option of taking remote control over your smoke machine in conjunction with your lighting gear. In most cases, this means control over the intensity of the output. DMX support can eve