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Tiny Fogger has been getting a lot of interest over the past year.
Its incredibly compact design and efficient output have made it
the choice of sports mascots, Broadway shows and special effects
producers across the country. This week, I'd like to take a quick
look at just what makes this machine so great.
My English professor used to say, "You can always tell what
the author thinks is most important about a story by the title he
chose." I've found this little piece of advice to be invaluable
over the years, and it holds true outside the realm of literature.
Consider the "title" of this week's special Tiny Fogger.
It's not the Little Fogger, Small Fogger, or even Miniature Fogger.
So, what do we mean by "Tiny"? Simply put, the Tiny Fogger
is the smallest fog machine in the world. The fog head is only slightly
larger than a pack of cigarettes, which means you can hide it in
all sorts of places. We've heard of the Tiny Fogger being used inside
sports mascot costumes, small onstage props for magicians, and in
a decorative dragon-head trophy! Despite its small size, the Tiny
Fogger has almost the same output as a standard "party"
fogger, meaning that it can be used on stage and still produce a
significant visible effect.
In addition to its small size, the Tiny Fogger also operates very
efficiently. There isn't a traditional heat exchanger inside the
fog head. A heat exchanger in a normal fog machine is like a small
oven; it heats up to around 400 degrees Fahrenheit in order to vaporize
the fog fluid. This means that most foggers become hot to the touch
once they reach their operating temperature. Without a traditional
heat exchanger, the Tiny Fogger stays cool enough to be used in
costumes and other places where excess heat might be a liability.
Also, the majority of a standard fog machine's electrical requirements
are due to the need to keep the heat exchanger hot, which means
the Tiny Fogger uses a lot less electricity, which makes battery-powered
operation possible.
Let's face it, the smallest fog machine in the world wouldn't be
such a great thing if it had to constantly be connected to a 120-volt
wall outlet for power. The battery that the Tiny Fogger uses is
the same size as an old-style camcorder battery. Fortunately, the
manufacturer has provided a six-foot power cable so that the battery
can be stored away from the fog head. In costuming, the battery
is usually worked into a belt-pack of some sort while the fog head
is placed where it's needed. The Tiny Fogger can be controlled with
the built-in fog switch or via wireless remote.
Wireless control makes the Tiny Fogger incredibly versatile. The
fog head, fluid tank and battery can be built into a set-piece or
prop and the effect can be controlled from offstage. This combination
of small size and wireless control allows special effects producers
to create some truly magical effects. In addition to the wireless
remote, a digital timer is available that allows the Tiny Fogger
to run in stand-alone mode. Finally, a DMX interface allows designers
using DMX control for their shows to add the Tiny Fogger into their
cues.
It's the combination of small size, efficient battery-powered operation
and customizable controls that makes the Tiny Fogger such a great
device. As more designers and producers learn about the Tiny Fogger,
you'll see it -- or, rather, you won't see it -- on Broadway, television
and at the movies. The next time you see a fog effect that seems
to be impossible, take another look, there's probably a Tiny Fogger
hiding somewhere.
*********************************************
Theatre Effects Customer Service Department
service@theatrefx.com
www.theatrefx.com
Theatre Effects, 642 Frederick St., Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone: 1-800-791-7646 or 301-791-7646 Fax: 301-791-7719 *********************************************
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