So, right out the gate, I've blown it trying to post here. Sorry for that. E-liquids are the fluids that go into the e-cigarettes and other devices that are used for "vapor" smoking. I was recently asked if this e-liquid would be safe to use in HO scale smoke equipped steam locomotives. From my knowledge, the basic concept is similiar, both have small coils that heat the liquid, causing it to evaporate creating the smoke effect for both users. In the locomotives, several people, myself included, opt to not use smoke because of the smell and the oiley films it leaves on the layout. The e-liquids already have a strike against them since most have nicotine in them. However, one can get the fluid without nicotine and a variety of different flavors exist for them. The e-liquids also claim that the "smoke" is merely a water vapor. It seems that this may be a useful alternative to the traditional smoke fluids and could almost act as an air freshener for the layout room. I still advised against it since I did not know if it would work or not. My question is: has anyone attempted this? Would it be safe to attempt from the standpoint of the locomotive's smoke generator? My steamers are BLI Paragon2 series in case there's a difference.
Thanks
Don`t bother with it...........that crap is worse for your lungs and for those around you.
Dennis Blank Jr.
CEO,COO,CFO,CMO,Bossman,Slavedriver,Engineer,Trackforeman,Grunt. Birdsboro & Reading Railroad
NW1200 So, right out the gate, I've blown it trying to post here. Sorry for that. E-liquids are the fluids that go into the e-cigarettes ...
So, right out the gate, I've blown it trying to post here. Sorry for that. E-liquids are the fluids that go into the e-cigarettes ...
Speaking of blowing, smoke in HO................................
Problem is I don't think the smoke units on locos get hot enough to vaporize the e-liquid. There's a reason e-cigs are mostly battery.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
Isn't that e-cig vapor mostly nicotine? Not a good thing to be putting into a model, IMHO.
No, as the OP stated, there are nicotine-free varieties.
If the OP returns, could they ask a mod to lock the other partial thread?Also, besides the questionable health issues (nicotine-free or otherwise) and operational issues (will the smoke unit even vaporize the liquid properly?), I think model locomotives belching Strawberry or Lemon tasting smoke will seem...somewhat bizarre.
See my post in other thread....
Ricky W.
HO scale Proto-freelancer.
My Railroad rules:
1: It's my railroad, my rules.
2: It's for having fun and enjoyment.
3: Any objections, consult above rules.
Google the e liquid. You will get an eye opener.
Rich
If you ever fall over in public, pick yourself up and say “sorry it’s been a while since I inhabited a body.” And just walk away.
chutton01 If the OP returns, could they ask a mod to lock the other partial thread?Also, besides the questionable health issues (nicotine-free or otherwise) and operational issues (will the smoke unit even vaporize the liquid properly?), I think model locomotives belching Strawberry or Lemon tasting smoke will seem...somewhat bizarre.
OP must be new. All he had to do is Edit his message. No one would have known.
Gee, the coupler is on the tender, but I guess you can still get hooked at the other end.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
What about just straight water? If a coil becomes hot enough, of course.
When I was little, I had a Thomas the train set that was converted to use water, rather than smoke fluid.
I have experimented with E-cig vaporizors. My other half used them to quit smoking a few years ago and I took them apart when she was done. You can easily use one to just vaporize water into steam and I successfully used the oil meant for loco smokeboxes too. But, E-cig vaporizors get HOT! Way more hot than traditional smoke units. Hot enough to burn skin and without metal to dissipate the heat, definatly hot enough to melt a plastic model. Maybe in a brass loco, but even then, it might discolor the paint.
Don't ask me how I know that you can ruin one by just touching a bit of solder to the atomizer when it's energized.
I still think I will pass on the e-liquids.... Real steamers don't have flavored smoke, just coal smell. Smoke fluid is still cheaper, and the e-liquids most likely will vaporize at a different temperature.... Plus I avoid the unrealistic scented smoke, and the sometimes not good chemicals.
I also avoid the not so good chemicals, in smoke fluid too. I avoid the smoke systems in HO Scale. They just do not operate as realistically as real steam locomotives do.... Nor do I like the smoke-filled room that they create. Yes, synchronized smoke is "cool", but for me, quickly loses it's "cool" factor. Make it scent less, and way more smoke "volume" and I will be interested.... Maybe that water version in a few years.....?
Takes way too much heat for water, so I doubt it. Most palstics will melt nicely at the temps needed to boil the water off. The problem is all you get is steam, there's none of the black from the burning coal or oil and cinders There shouldn't be much black smoke in a properly maintained fire (showing off for railfans is another story), but even the best fireman didn't have pure white billowing out of the stack.
There once was a company in the 70's or 80's that offered scented smoke oil, with several coal, oil, and wood smells (so your woodburnings in the piney woods could smell like they were tossing pine logs in the firebox), as well as all sorts of oddball ones and things that sound like maybe they should have been for e-cigs, like wintergreen and peppermint (gingerbread for the under the tree train at Christmas). They advertised for a few years, then seemed to disappear. Olfactory Airs, I think it was.
@Dennis Blank Jr: You might want to do a little research before you give us your "knowledge".
Mike C.
I recently picked up one of the fog machines that are popular for Halloween parties to enhance some of my photo shoots.
I understand these machines use a food grade glycerine fluid. I bought a commercial mix to start with but I may attempt making my own with the recipes found at various web sites.
http://www.amazon.com/Quart-Great-Party-Fog-Machines/dp/B005UQWT6W/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1440352658&sr=8-3&keywords=fog+machine+fluid
http://chemistry.about.com/od/howthingswork/a/smokemachines_3.htm
I have no idea if a model smoke generator would vaporize this mix. I turn off the smoke generator on all my locomotives. I don't find the smoke to be realistic and the supplied "oil" has an annoying odor and eventually becomes overbearing.
The fog machine does make for some neat photos, though!
[edit:] I should mention that after running the machine for about 15 minutes my layout room was enveloped in a foggy mist and there was no trace of foul odor or any detectable film or residue. YMMV
Have Fun Ed
Hello All,
After a 15-year career in theatrical lighting I can tell you that liquid smoke machines are just plain nasty!
The fluid used to generate the smoke is a mineral based oil. It is pumped through a heating element and exits via an orifice. If the heating element is not hot enough or the orifice is clogged the hot mineral oil will spit out of the nozzle and create a puddle of hot oil- -not smoke.
Even if the smoke machine is operating properly, within a 5-foot radius of the smoke machines nozzle everything is covered in a film of oil, which attracts dust! Bad for keeping DCC trackage clean for optimum operation.
There was a smoke powder that was used but it was deemed to be carcinogenic. This powder was placed in a pie tin on top of an electric hotplate. I remember mixing this smoke powder with cinnamon to make the toxic smoke smell like cookies baking. Some artists would walk over to this setup and inhale the smoke because of the cinnamon smell.
A method of producing ground fog is to use dry ice in a warm water bath with a fan. This fog doesn't act like smoke billowing upwards. This clings to the ground or stage and doesn't enhance lighting effects. Compared to mineral oil based smoke it is safe to inhale and doesn't leave an oily film on everything. However, handling the dry ice can be dangerous.
If you really need to have smoke emitting from your steam locos go with a known system from a model train manufacturer and stick with their fluid. Just be prepared to clean your track more often and have an oily film over everything.
After my experience with theatrical smoke generators I would never have one on my layout.
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
I don't have a lot of guests to see my train layout; few people like climbing my 8 foot ladder to watch my signals change or the welder in the inspection pit, uh, weld. The result is that most of my layout's views will be on line.So instead of train smoke, (and background scenery, real people, and even possibly some lighting), I plan to use Adobe After Effects as a video edtor to insert what I need. And make sure my weathering skills are up to par.I've been working with it for a couple of years now, grabbing every tutorial I can & I must say, it's pretty amazing what you can do. Of course, it's not going to be a slick Hollywood production but just an adjunct to my normal operation. The best special effect, you see, is the special effect you don't see.As for sound, well, since every manufacturer has rushed to put up YouTube videos demonstrating every single sound on their newest offering, I somehow think that won't be a problem, either...
Paul
FWIW, the Olafactory Airs referred to a few messages back were not intended for smoke units. They were concentrated scents intended to be placed on smal pieces of foam and placed out of sight, to give off the scents. There were quite a few scents offered, including natural ones such as pine, etc., and also gasoline.
I saw a demo at the 1986 NMRA convention in Boston, the dealer had gallon jugs with a piece of scented foam at the bottom, you could remove the cap and take a whiff. The gasoline scent made my friend nauseous, it was so strong. The firm didn't last long.
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/