Yes, little ones smoking is bad for you etc, and I don't encourage any one to do so.

However...I am looking for a miniature battery operated smoke machine for my puppets to appear to be smoking. Every where I've searched there are big clunky ones that are well over my limited budget. Here is a picture of what my stage act sort of looks like. My puppets are similar to 70s cheech and chong and need a means to make them appear to be smoking on command. Thank you any one for any help you can be.
I appreciate it greatly.

Jimmy

I've seen this come up elsewhere, without receiving a definitive answer. If I were you I might visit a model train shop for starters, and learn about the oil and heating element used to make model locomotives puff smoke. If that approach isn't practical for your needs you could also try a squeeze-bulb style air-puffer with talcum powder in it , or something like that. There are hand and foot-activated squeeze bulbs available.

You could even fill some kind of reservoir with real smoke just before the show, and use some sort of mechanism to blow out one measured puff at a time.

If you're looking for something off-the-shelf I can't help you. Hopefully someone else here can.

Good luck!

 

Ron G.

Well I assume that you are using papers filled with tobacco (don't say otherwise ) that you light up then stick in the puppets mouth.  If that is the case you might be able to get some plastic tubeing like you find in the fish shops and attach a turkey baster to the end of it.  Run the tubing up through the puppet and out the mouth just a bit. When you stick the dubbie (sp?) in the puppets mouth you actually stick it in the tube. The compress the end of the turkey baster and I think you well get a vacume that well look like the puppet is smoking.  Just an idea of the top of my head.  Perhaps someone else and build on that.

I have read awhile ago about "Smoke in a Can" an aerosol type spray.  I am not sure how to get it but I am sure a Google search will help you come up with places to purchase it. 

**update**I did a quick search and found out that it is used for testing fire alarms.  It is non-toxic and you can buy a hose to run from the can to wherever you wish.  I guess you would call companies that deal with fire safety to see if they know any place that sells it locally.

Hope this helps......

Daryl H

Smoke in a can can sometimes be bought from places that sell disco/dj'ing gear.

Check with Axtell.com.
Their dragon "Dusty" breathes smoke. It's smoke in a can.

they make cigarrettes for the stage and movies which have a little bit of powder in them which comes out like smoke when you breath out into them. If you can exhale without it looking like you are, it is a very effective and realistic prop. I am sure you could get one and build onto shawn's idea of a turkey baster and tubing, perhaps with a valve to let in more air so that it could do it continuously. THe you would just have to attatch the end of the cigarrete into the tubbing and it should smoke.
You could even do this with a real cigarette, but lots of venues ddo not like it, plus it is more of a fire hazard to have an actgual lit cigarette dangling out a puppets mouth.

Lets don't forget just plain ole simple dry ice an water that will produce a fog that appears as smoke.

Billy D.

Some one put me in touch with the name of a product called Ultra Smoke 2000,  please some one google it and tell me if this would be suitable for my puppets thanks. I appreciate it greatly.

Jimmy,

The ultra smoke 2000 is fun looking, and I have been considering getting it for a character that was burnt to death.

http://www.ellusionist.com/product/accessories/additional+-+other/ultra+smoke+2000.do

HOWEVER a lot or people say the smoke from the ultra smoke 2000 is harmful to people and animals, can corrode metals and can damage fabrics. there also seems to be a lot of trouble with it getting clogged. Thats more trouble then its worth for a simple effect. The reviews from the "average Joe's" on message boards and magic sites were all quite negative, and turned me off this product.

turkey baster and tubing

The fake cigarettes with powder coming from them are the way to go (in my opinion), with the turkey baster (or one of those smaller medical  squirt thingies, what are they called? Not eye droppers, they look like bulbs....) and tubing. you can get those fake cigarettes and even sometimes cigars with the powder from almost any theatre supply store.