If you want to make fog juice but don’t have glycerin on hand, you can still create a homemade fog fluid using water and other ingredients. While glycerin is the typical thickening agent used to create denser fog, there are alternatives you can try for lighter fog effects.
What You’ll Need:
- Distilled Water: Using distilled water is important because tap water can contain minerals that might clog your fog machine or leave residue.
- Propylene Glycol: If you don’t have glycerin, propylene glycol is a great alternative. It is commonly used in fog fluids and is safe to vaporize in fog machines.
- You can usually find propylene glycol in health food stores or online.
- Measuring Cup and Container: To properly mix the solution, you’ll need a way to measure out your ingredients and a clean container to store the fluid.
Basic Recipe for Homemade Fog Juice without Glycerin:
- Ingredients:
- 1 part propylene glycol (PG).
- 3 parts distilled water.
- Instructions:
- In a clean container, mix 1 part propylene glycol with 3 parts distilled water.
- For example, if you’re using 1 cup of propylene glycol, add 3 cups of distilled water.
- Stir the mixture well to ensure it’s evenly combined.
- Pour the mixture into your fog machine’s fluid reservoir.
- In a clean container, mix 1 part propylene glycol with 3 parts distilled water.
Adjusting the Fog Thickness:
- Thicker Fog: If you want a denser fog, you can increase the amount of propylene glycol. Try a 50/50 mix of propylene glycol and water for thicker, longer-lasting fog.
- Lighter Fog: If you want a lighter fog effect, increase the amount of distilled water. A 1:4 ratio (1 part propylene glycol to 4 parts water) will create a thinner fog that dissipates more quickly.
Important Notes:
- Test Small Batches First: Before filling your fog machine, test the fog juice mixture in small amounts to make sure your machine handles it well.
- Use Distilled Water Only: Using distilled water is crucial to avoid mineral build-up in your fog machine, which can cause clogging or damage over time.
- Avoid Using Regular Household Substances: Do not use household items like rubbing alcohol, essential oils, or other chemicals in place of propylene glycol. These can damage your machine or produce harmful fumes.
Can You Make Fog Juice with Just Water?
While you can technically vaporize just distilled water in a fog machine, the result will be very light misting instead of the thick, atmospheric fog you might be looking for. The glycol (whether glycerin or propylene glycol) is what helps create that dense, lingering fog. So, using only water won’t give you the same effect.
Conclusion
Making fog juice without glycerin is totally possible with propylene glycol and distilled water. This simple mix will work in most fog machines and allows you to create low-cost fog fluid at home. Just be sure to experiment with the ratios to achieve your desired thickness of fog!