Smoke ring machine construction is a simple as you like to make it.

The construction team making the smoke ring machine in a day is myself, Christopher, Michael and Justin.
“Continue reading” about making a smoke ring machine.This smoke ring machine is made out of a metal drum with a open at one end and with a 50% diameter hole at the other. Add a diaphragm and some smoke and out come smoke rings.

A ring vortex is a circle of circulating air. This can be made visible with any form of smoke. Think of a small tornado wrapped around and joining itself in a stable structure.

They are formed when air moves out of a ring with a sharp edge.

First the small one made out of a large can and a rubber glove and held over a smoke generator. Gives a surprisingly strong puff of wind up to 10 feet of more away. I cut a 50% diameter hole in the base. Fill with smoke, pull the rubber glove membrane back and let go to fire. A smoke ring shoots out and sails across the room.

Next the big one made from a discarded compost tumbler measuring 80 cm diameter and 90 cm deep and mounted on a sturdy frame. I am finally finding a use for those old bike tubes. The diaphragm is made of a rubberized picnic blanket. It is airproof but not stretchy.

The smoke ring machine sits on the stand for the compost tumbler.

Fill with smoke, grab the handle in the middle of the diaphragm.

Air and smoke is sucked in as you pull back against the tension of the elastic strap.

The elastic strap pulling the diaphragm in is shown as is the blue smoke machine.

Then let go and the diaphragm shoots inward forcing air out the front. Turbulence at the edge of the circular opening causes the rapidly rotating ring.

This is a small alcohol burner to heat fog fluid for the “smoke”. Not very effective.

Above shows the commercial fog generator (about AUD $80 at Dick Smith’s) as used in nightclubs. The fog is a proprietary mix of propylene glycol and triethylene glycol in water and a $10 1 litre container lasts all day.

A flash outdoors on a still night highlights the vortex well.

There is no escape from the speeding vortex.

If the wind is absolutely still, this will hit the trees and rustle the leaves.

Above shows another slightly smaller vortex ring launcher made for the Physics Dept. Improvements include being lighter, portable and having an internal light and sights. The left photo shows the red internal light.

Shooting hoops that move.