Thread: DIY Smoke Machine for Vacuum Leaks

I'll start by being the first to admit, this is not my idea although I may have put my personal touch on a few items. I mainly just want to share this build and hopefully help someone out along the way. If anyone is curious, just google the subject and you'll find my sources in the first few links and videos.

I've been chasing a vacuum leak for weeks and no luck with water, carb cleaner, or propane (it was a small leak). Took me maybe half a minute to find the leak after hooking it up!

I found everything local from either harbor freight, lowes, and grocery store, other than the nichrome wire. You might find a local supplier for the wire at an e-cig shop, but it's like $5 with free shipping on ebay so I really don't see the point. Over all, I think I spent around $30, although you can certainly spend less if you already have some of the materials. The regulator was the biggest cost for me. Here's a short list of what you'll need:

- 1 gallon empty paint can (seriously, don't use one that's been used before, I'm not responsible for anyone dying of toxic fumes). It was around $4 at lowes.
- mineral oil (fuel for creating smoke. There's other stuff you can use, but this worked fine for me, and it doesn't stink to high heaven)
- air compressor (you'll use this to supply the air pressure)
- 3/8" or other diameter tubing of your choosing
- 3/8" barb to 1/4" npt fitting
- 1/4" npt couplers (used these as nuts)
- 1/4" npt regulator (some have used propane regulator. I used an actual valve cause it looked better, but the psi is too low to register so it's really not necessary)
- 1/4" quick connect fitting
- assorted grommets (for sealing around threads)
- assorted drill bits
- set of small machine screws, washers, and nuts
- battery clamps
- ring terminals
- tiki wick replacements
- 20Ga nichrome or kanthal wire cut and measure to 2 Ohms resistance (more will create too much smoke)
- wire (at least 20Ga)

You don't need to, but i soldered the wire onto both the ring terminals, and the battery clamps, and the same for the ring terminals and the nichrome.

I installed a ball valve to help regulate the smoke, but quickly found it it wasn't necessary. Probably the best way is to have a switch on one of the terminals to turn the heating element on and off, but I found it wasn't necessary since it worked so quickly.

I took two wicks and dipped downward into the mineral oil, and half of a third and used it to thicken the bundle

Used a combo of washers and nuts to clamp everything together and seal. This is where I'm bringing the current to the heating element.

This is the regulator hookup to air intake. Works well, though the gague is pointless since the flow is so low.

Originally Posted by Bronco Boy

Neat. Easily tweaked into a fancy bong.

Thanks! And I wouldn't know anything about that.....
Hehe

Nice! Yeah, there's about a million ways to build one of these. Probably getting a bit too fancy with the mineral oil, but I'm telling you, puts out enough smoke to fill your garage in about two minutes! lol Nice touch with the cigarette compressor! I'll have to try that. Would simplify design and make it portable! haha

Figured I'd be nice to post a video of it in action. As a preface, in the video I had already turned off the smoke and it had been running for a while so the actual max smoke output is 10 times more than what the video shows.

Originally Posted by CrazyGuy03

Find someone who vapes

Lol I knew a guy who just smoked cigars and blew into a vacuum hose. It worked for large leaks, but not enough pressure or smoke for small ones.

Originally Posted by CrazyGuy03

I bet. I tried it and that **** was tough. I was able to bring it out as far as the vent on the filler neck but never again. It gave me a headache

Hm... might be more fun with a different kind of "smoke"