@propsmith • Posted Sep 27

Need Feedback: DIY Smoke-Breathing Witch Cauldron built with fog chiller & amber LEDs

Hey everyone! I've been prototyping a giant 45-gallon cauldron prop that sits between my 12ft Skelly's feet to look like he's stirring a witches' brew.

Materials Used So Far:

45-gallon plastic drum cut in half with rolled foam lip
800W low-lying fog machine routed through an inline PVC ice chiller
WS2812B addressable LED strip pulsing fire embers (orange/magenta hue)
High-density upholstery foam carved with heat knife for bubbling skull stew

Questions for the group:

Does the mist dissipate too fast in open air? Would adding a low-RPM inline computer fan help force the smoke down to ground level?
Has anyone waterproofed WS2812B strips for damp foggy environments? What silicone sealant holds up best against condensation?
Should I add a motorized stirring stick anchored to Skelly's right hand, or would wind gusts snap a 6-foot PVC staff?

Would love any thoughts, critiques, or safety tips from folks who have rigged fog near their skeletons!

#diy #fog-machine #lighting #witch #props

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Dan The Haunt Engineer

@macabre_dan • Sep 27

For your LED question: Use neutral-cure silicone (Dow Corning 737 or GE Silicone II) rather than acidic acetoxy cure. Standard aquarium silicone emits acetic acid during cure which corrodes copper traces on addressable strips! Put heat shrink over the ends with silicone squeezed inside for a submarine-grade seal.

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Sarah (Skelly Queen)

@skellyqueen • Sep 27

A 6-foot PVC stirring stick will definitely act like a sail in 15mph wind. I recommend using 3/4 inch Schedule 80 PVC (the dark gray conduit) instead of thin white Schedule 40, and drilling a few air pass-through holes disguised under the bubbly foam!

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