Snow Machines

There are plenty of ways to make snow, from dropping plastic flakes to spraying high-pressure water/air mixes into the cold air (as ski resorts do). We aren't concerned with any of those.

A "snow machine" in our context is a gadget that spews tiny bubbles, giving the general appearance of falling snow.

Here are some snow tips...

Snow questions and answers
Snow warnings
Gallery of snow machines
Market Trends

Snow questions and answers

One gallon of snow fluid will last approximately 30-60 minutes, depending on how high you crank it.

Where do I get fluid for it?
It is theoretically possible to run a snow machine using bubble fluid similar to that which one uses in a bubble machine. For better performance, get fluid that is specifically engineered for snow-machine bubbles. You should be able to get this "snow fluid" wherever you got the machine.

Snow warnings

The bubbles created by the snow machine are soapy and damp. One or two won't hurt, but masses of them will make a surface slippery. Luckily, most of them will blow away. Warning: Heavy use in confined areas may result in slippery floors.
Snow machines have a reputation for being a bit noisy, like a small vacuum cleaner or very loud hair drier. I have seen three different models in operation, and all are loud.
Keep plenty of fluid in the tank. If the machine runs dry, it can permanently damage the machine.

Gallery of snow machines

We present pictures of random snow machines, with a little descriptive info. Not to scale - picture sizes can be deceptive!

MBT Flurry

MBT Flurry.

Regulated with output control knob. Snow density/output is fully adjustable Tank Capacity: 1 gallon
I just bought one of these. I'll let you know how it works.

Le Maitre True North

Le Maitre True North.

Described as follows:

Dimensions: 20.5" x 10.25" x 9.25". Weight: 26.5 Lbs. Capable of producing a light fluffy snow fall, to a raging snow storm. 100% control can be achieved by adjusting the output level knob on the controller. Light weight and portable design. High output with low noise. Variable snow output and variable flake sizes.

Market Trends

I haven't been watching the prices of snow machines, so I assumed that they were still costing in the hundreds of dollars. Then I stumbled on a very important price. During October 2003, I got a flyer from Halloween Club advertising a snow machine for $24.99. The picture shows a gadget in a fluorescent plastic case.

[photo]
According to my observations of the commercial life cycle, this is a sure indication of competition and the mass market. I predict that Christmas 2003 will be the year of the cheap snow machine.

Thank you for visiting. Your comments are welcome.
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