Smoke Machines

Interestingly (for some of you anyway!) the name smoke machine is not strictly correct for consumer effects units, as the official definition of theatrical effect smoke is solid particles released from a combustible, so is only true of pyrotechnics and other solid flammable substances. The machines we know and love are actually all variants of the fog machine, which came along during the mid-1980s as a safer alternative to using dry ice and nitrogen-based units on film sets which were fairly hazardous both in use and storage, and would present health problems with continued exposure. A smoke machine nowadays is a device that uses a safe liquid that is vaporized by heat, creating a perfect smoke effect that is able to linger around the room.

This type of machine is a special effect system that greatly improves lighting effects and adds a lot of atmosphere to parties. Nowadays these systems are very affordable and people buy them for a whole array of different applications other than just parties. Great for use at Halloween events as the celebrations involved call for many UV lights and other house party lighting.

Our small smoke machines are designed for house parties and other gatherings such as kids parties or small to medium-sized music venues. With that said, our larger smoke units are designed toward professionals catering to larger, seasonal events such as New Year's Eve or St Patricks Day. Smoke and fog machines work efficiently for most indoor events, this works to perfect the atmosphere you're creating whether in a club, bar or similar.

The brand we stock most is BeamZ smoke machines and we’re really happy with the vast selection we have available to our customers. Whether for the occasional home usage or for the working DJ, there’s a wide variety of systems that are great for both portable and installation purposes. We cover all of the related atmospheric effects machine types from bubble machines, snow machines and hazers.

Due to our wide selection of smoke systems, each design will suit the individual differently however they are roughly the exact same operationally. You’ll notice that the core instruction remains the same across the entire selection, this makes the machines usable by most people. You might find more options such as a separate bubble fluid area, built-in light shows, DMX capability and maybe all three of the above.

These extra additives are for those that like to keep their tools easy to access and in one specific place. If you are looking to keep things simple then you can’t go wrong with one of the small units from as little as £28. Affordable, portable and compact and can easily fit in with the remainder of your existing equipment.

The system works by pouring liquid made from a mixture of water coupled with mineral oil and glycol, into the machine reservoir. This is then fed from the reservoir tank via a small pump and directly into a rapidly working electric coil heat exchanger. The liquid is then vaporised by the heat under pressure and sent out of the nozzle in a burst controlled by the included remote.

Smoke effects are a variant of the fog effect which arrived during the 80s as a safer alternative to dry ice and nitrogen-based units on film sets. Both of these outdated smoke effects both turned out to be hazardous in use and storage, presenting health problems via continued exposure. A modern machine is a safe device that uses a safe liquid that turns into a thick yet harmless vapour.

Speaking of smoke fluid, we have a huge amount of different fluid choices for you in the smoke fluid category. Depending on how often you plan to use your machine there are options for everybody's needs including various different scents for your smoke. From eco-friendly green smoke fluid and high-density pink, though the actual smoke won’t change colour this is just a way to tell them apart at a glance.

Whether it's a low fog machine or a dry ice machine, smoke machine or another, they can be seen almost as the same: simply one has onboard ice storage and fans to produce a more 'low level' effect. Fog and ice machines are a generally higher power than its smoke counterpart, as the nature of their unit demands its output to be high volume capable.

Smaller units use fluid quite sparingly, be that as it may, it is a good idea to remember about our excellent value for money fluid bundles. For example, a five litre bottle will cost less than five separate one litre bottles so be sure to save yourself some money at this stage. Not only this, but this method lasts just as long, cuts down on plastic waste and grants you space in your equipment bag.

We have a few protective equipment bags in stock on our website, these can protect either your lighting or effects machines while you’re on the move. This goes for any of your equipment, but it’s advised you implement a protective bag of some kind where possible to avoid accidental damage and disappointment.

The smaller the machine the less expensive it will be, though it will still create the expected smoke effect that lingers in the air. That is to say, the smoke will highlight disco lights in the room during the partial absence of natural light the smoke creates. Small smoke machines are now frequently used by photographers and videographers for a dynamic and customisable textural addition to their shots.

We're proud to offer a wide variety of high-quality smoke machines, all that provide a powerful output of smoke into the surrounding area. You can find some of our favourites in the BeamZ RAGE smoke machine range.

With our wide variety, you'll find that variations in heating element power and pump performance are the main reason for differences in price and physical size, ensuring that not only the output of smoke will increase as you go up the levels but also that the larger units can cope better during an extended period of time, functioning consistently for an entire event. Smaller units can sometimes be prone to 'cool down' periods, so the bigger units are always a worthwhile purchase.