Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup: smoke

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smoke

Printed From: Community Theater Green Room
Category: Producing Theater
Forum Name: Props, Scenery, Costumes and Makeup
Forum Discription: For how-to's and where-can-I-find
URL: http://www.communitytheater.org/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2223
Printed Date: 10/31/25 at 5:46am
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 8.05 - http://www.webwizforums.com

Topic: smoke

Posted By: GoldCanyonLady
Subject: smoke
Date Posted: 1/19/07 at 9:52am

We need to have a basin of burning papers to bring on stage in The Curious Savage. We don't really want to have a fire so how do we simulate that? I have searched for canned smoke and it looks like that is a viable product which is used to test smoke detectors, but does it work in theater too?
Barb

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Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

Replies:

Posted By: Linda S
Date Posted: 1/19/07 at 10:52am

Hi Barb,

Have you thought of using dry ice? It would be inexpensive and easily managed.

Linda

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 1/20/07 at 12:04am

I hav used smoke cookies before and they work well. They are about 3" dia X 3/4" thick. You can break them up to whatever size you want. They burn like an incence cone, just faster and more smoke.

Posted By: GoldCanyonLady
Date Posted: 1/20/07 at 12:30am

But it would have to be in a basin of burnt papers. What would happen to the paper? Maybe it would work. I will try it. Thanks. Barb

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Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

Posted By: GoldCanyonLady
Date Posted: 1/20/07 at 10:29am

Where do you get the smoke cookies? I like that idea better than the dry ice.

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Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.

Posted By: TimW
Date Posted: 1/21/07 at 11:08am

I get most of my supplies from TheatreFx. I looked at their site but didn't see them. It has been about 4 years since I have used it. You could also use smoke powder, It also lights with a match/lighter. Hoping that someone has working knowledge of pyrotechnics I suggest the following (you don't want to create a real fire). Build a secure device( I use a metal tray) to hold the smoke in. If you have concerns about the 'basin of trash' being dropped, address that now! Have a SECOND person light the powder for safety! Once it burns out, you will have a little ash.

Here is their site. Hope this will give you a start.

http://www.theatrefx.com/ - http://www.theatrefx.com

Posted By: MikeO
Date Posted: 1/21/07 at 8:31pm

Barb,

Many smoke devices can be obtained from magic stores. I would try there.

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I'd rather act, but they found out I can do tech & sets!!

Posted By: GoldCanyonLady
Date Posted: 1/22/07 at 10:19am

Thanks everyone, I think I will try dry ice first because it is the easiest to get. I will let you all know how it works.

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Barb Hofmeister,
MountainBrook Village Players, Gold Canyon, Arizona.