Who's doin' SMOKE!!??

cjensen · Post by **cjensen** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 6:53 pm

I decided to start planning a DIY smoke system for my 7. I think we've talked about this in the past, but a search didn't turn up much.

Since I'll be light on the nose, I've been looking for things to add some weight up there, and I think a small smoke system would first of all be sweet, second of all, add some weight to the firewall and be functional, rather than dead weight. I've seen the systems in the baggage compartment, but I'm not at all interested in installing it back there and plumbing it forward. Plus, that would add to aft CG issues, which I'm trying to avoid.

Ideas? Are you thinking of doing one?

I've seen the http://www.smokingairplanes.com/ and it's nice, but rather expensive. I'm thinking this could be done well south of $150...

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 7:34 pm

Same here. I would like to participate in this venture.

I have been thinking you could use a windshield washer reservoir with the integral pump from a junk car or truck. Mount the reservoir/pump on the firewall and use flexible 1/8" line to a spray fitting at the exhaust stack where it exits the lower cowl.

Wire it up to a switch and you are good to go!

Ideally, you could then refill the reservoir through the oil door. Other ideas?

lancef53 · Post by **lancef53** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 8:13 pm

I have a friend that has a system on his pitts, he uses old autofry oil instead of buying the smoke oil--I will have to see what kind of system he uses. I think his system is very low tech, but it works well.

weezbad · Post by **weezbad** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:11 pm

gonna need a pump that can withstand petrol or whatever you use for smoke. the widow washer pump may have enough volume but will most likely fail from the oil....i have a freind that would fill his resivoir with jack daniels and pump it inside the vehicle. yes i know that it the epitome of red

neck however it worked well and was not affected from alcohol....which windsheild solvent has a fair share of. keep it coming ... i may want to do this.

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:21 pm

Why wouldn't water work? I know that in order to get a LOT of smoke that smoke oil is preferred. I heard that smoke oil was only available in 55 gallon drums. It would take a while to use all that.

Water is simple, cheap, non-flammable, and readily available at any airport.

weezbad · Post by **weezbad** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:42 pm

i guess diesel fuel alone is to flamable. but man it makes thick smoke.

smithhb · Post by **smithhb** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 9:55 pm

weezbad wrote:i guess diesel fuel alone is to flamable.

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Sun Jan 20, 2008 10:13 pm

I've thought about it but am not sure if I want to add another system, extra weight, or clean the bottom of the plane after it is used.

My nephew helped maintain a couple of planes with smoke and it seemed they got pretty nasty from it. Anyone on here have experience with it? Is it hard to keep the plane clean if you use it?

With all of that said it would be fun to have. I'll just watch and see what you guys come up with.

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:05 am

diesel is not particularly flammable without a fair bit of compression

jim_geo · Post by **jim_geo** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:19 am

tmbg wrote:diesel is not particularly flammable without a fair bit of compression

Hmmm I don't know about that. Last time I burned brush my diesel caught fairly well. It didn't bark at me like the gasoline I'd been using

and hung around for a good hot long time. Didn't have a bit of trouble getting it lit.

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 1:52 am

well yea, I guess it burns, it's just not as volatile as gasoline...

my bad

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:53 am

jim_geo wrote:
tmbg wrote:diesel is not particularly flammable without a fair bit of compression
Hmmm I don't know about that. Last time I burned brush my diesel caught fairly well. It didn't bark at me like the gasoline I'd been using and hung around for a good hot long time. Didn't have a bit of trouble getting it lit.

What!?! You are using petroleum based ignition sources for brush fires and freely admit to it on the web?!

All that black smoke escaping into the environment! You should be ashamed!

How do I know that it expels large plumes of black smoke? Ummmm, I saw someone ELSE do it once.

CJ

lancef53 · Post by **lancef53** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 7:55 am

I understand diesel being flammable, but isn't smoke oil flammable? It seems like all of it is flammable, just in varying degrees.

Or is smoke oil not actually flammable?

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 8:09 am

The way I understand it, smoke oil is paraffin based, not petroleum based. I think Boelube is too.

Paraffin based stuff doesn't burn.

CJ

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:39 am

uuhmm, I believe paraffin is flammable also... like, I dunno, CANDLES?!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 10:42 am

Ummm, no... like in a candle, the WICK burns!

The paraffin melts, Zippy!

Too funny!

CJ

JohnR · Post by **JohnR** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:27 am

CJ, sorry but I think you stepped in it again.

Check it out at http://home.howstuffworks.com/question267.htm, paraffin does burn and is what makes a candle burn so long.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:31 am

Hmmmm, okay...

It fuels the wick...

When you light a candle, you melt the wax in and near the wick. The wick absorbs the liquid wax and pulls it upward. The heat of the flame vaporizes the wax, and it is the wax vapor that burns.

It is the wax VAPOR that burns. Not the paraffin. The gas burns, not the solid.

The paraffin based oils are safer because it has a higher flash point.

Thanks John!

CJ

tmbg · Post by **tmbg** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 11:47 am

all them damn airplane people think they know everything!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Mon Jan 21, 2008 12:10 pm

Now, we will cure world hunger!

CJ

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Who's doin' SMOKE!!??

Who's doin' SMOKE!!??

hmm

hmmm

Re: hmmm