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| Steam Chips (322) |
| A unique granular powder which produces genuine instant steam. Simply add these miraculous crystals to clean, cold or hot tap water and in seconds piping hot true steam billows upward. |
| Used for many basic to supernatural effects. Superb for food shots anytime and anywhere on the set, indoors, or exterior. Excellent for simulating hot beverages, roasted coffee beans, bread, pie, or rolls right out of the oven, simulating hot oil, molten metal, scalds, hot tar. |
| Used by food stylists for commercials and print shots anywhere steaming vegetables or hot foods need that added "HOT" accent. |
| A typical effect seen nationwide for a fast food hot baked potato plain or with toppings was cleverly achieved by using a sewing thimble and a small, dry, empty pill bottle. Steam chips were sprinkled into the empty containers, these were placed inside the pre-opened potatoes and pressed down into the mashed, softened potato and hidden from view, it was easy to dress and hide the steam chip reservoirs. A small amount of cool water dispensed from an eye dropper on cue was squirted into the reservoir to activate a reaction and thus generate steam. |
| Initially, the boiling super hot rapid steam clams down and fades to a soft steam allowing ample time to catch a different look, the duration of steam generated depends upon how much of the chips were used for the effect, but several minutes is not uncommon. |
| A good range of shots takes place in approximately 2 minutes. The quality of steam generated varies from aggressive to a soft fine mist. A little bit of experimentation and testing will quickly demonstrate timing, control and a great looking fun effect. |
| Numerous situations dictate different set ups. Hot peas in a pot require spreading and distribution of the peas so the steam can come through naturally from the bottom of the pot. A strainer or shallow screen simply cut from a piece of screen from a door to keep flies out of the house is a simple set up requiring nothing more than a pair of scissors, some wire for connecting the screen to the pot edges or by making support legs by twisting the wire and helping the screen by propping it away from the bottom of the pot or insert a colander inside the bottom. |
| In most cases a simple retaining reservoir is used to prevent spillage, a metal or thick hard plastic Phenolic cap from any bottle or jar generally will suffice. Alternatively we have custom made different retaining reservoirs for diverse effects, a piece of threaded steel or brass pipe referred to as a nipple is purchased from any hardware store or plumbing shop. The diameter can be anything from 1/2 to 3" depending upon what your effect requires. A typical size we use is 1" diameter nipple X 1 1/2" long, a cap is used on one end to hold the steam chips in place, once water is injected you have instant steam. |
| A large smoking prop dragon costume was used on stage and required a hissy, smoke from the nostrils. This was cleverly rigged to work on cue by squeezing a small stream of water into metal reservoirs placed inside the dragons head. The open end of the reservoir was capped off but had a 1/8" holes so that the steam could jet out as the reaction between injected water and steam chips took place. |
| Note= Don't allow the jet holes to clog, pressure can build up and explode the reservoir. Be certain the reservoir is big enough to allow expansion and free venting. We took the time to be certain that the water and steam chips reacted uniformly and in one plane. Water is injected by the person inside the costume. Several side by side reservoirs were used when one reservoir lost its punch a second effect in the next reservoir was begun. |
| The water fluid line is nothing more than a length of vinyl or latex hose, this tubing is available anywhere, it connects to the pipe nipple easily by soldering on a piece of copper tubing to make an affixarment nipple or barb coupling, the tube runs to a squeeze bulb which acts as the water reservoir, a battery water squeeze bulb from an auto supply shop is more than adequate. Very little water is needed to cause a chemical reaction so don't shoot an excess amount of water into the steam chip reservoir. |
| Water can be injected by mechanical means through an air assisted solenoid, a pressure bomb, CO-2 charge, etc. |
| WARNING |
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| PYREX, CERAMICS, SILICONE. HEAT/FIRE RESISTANT MATERIALS |
| It is best to utilize a material that is not prone to support ignition nor transfer heat to other surfaces. If you require an illusion of a hot cup of steaming tea or coffee and intend to have a model/actor hold the cup in the hand for a shot then be certain to use a double wall "heat sink" technique to avoid scaring anyone while the steaming reaction is under way. Thin cups can get too hot to hold. By pre-placing a small glass or metal liner inside the cup where the water/steam chips react a confined area absorbs and holds the heat thus isolating heat transfer. Alternatively sand or water can be placed between the double wall cups. This readily dissipates heat build up. |
| Before handling a coffee mug or a simulated food vessel it's a good practice to allow the steam chips to cook off a bit and then hand the cup, bowl or whatever the object is, to the model. Enough time is available to get the shot without inconveniencing an actor by holding a boiling steaming vessel. Depending upon how much of the steam chips and water are cooking heat does transfer and occasionally makes it very uncomfortable to hand hold. This must be listed before allowing anyone to hold the object in hand. Some of us can tolerate a hot object quite well. |
| PRECAUTIONS |
| Whereas this product is potentially pyrophoric and in certain cases has been known to start a fire. We suggest paying attention to this detail. The right combination of materials will start a fire. If you use plastic cups to hold the steam chips during an effect be aware that certain varieties of plastic will readily degrade, char, explode or spew volatile by products which are an integral component of the polymer. These intermediates are typically found in Thermoplastic polymers i.e. polyethylene, cellulose acetate butyrate, styrene's, etc. These materials contain processing lubricants/waxes, etc. and tend to catch on fire when heated by a concentrated medium such as steam chips. The fire in question is controlled/isolated but still worth paying keen attention to. |
| In addition to plastics, aluminum foil degrades rapidly via oxidation. It too has ignited and spewed a short white brief flame. The flame was short in duration almost like a puff. A bit scary, unpleasant and somewhat alarming. Kitchen cooking foils are thin and oxidize rapidly from the heat and caustic activity during the water/steam chips reaction. It's difficult to define why this rarely occurs but it appears that all aluminum foils are not alike and must be pre-tested. |
| It is advisable to use a heavier gauge of aluminum sheeting i.e. roof flashing, industrial weight foil used for displays and specialty products. Lead foil or sheet, a good source for these kind of foils is: |
ALUFOIL PRODUCTS COMPANY |
| We use .005 gauge soft and hard temper aluminum. |
| ASH RESIDUE |
| People often rewet the ashy residue from the first steam effect to regenerate additional steam for a second take. This economical feature is a bonus with this product. The dry powdery ash resembles lava rock. Harmless by itself, biodegradable but remains cellular and fully intercized with minute air pockets which entrap oxygen and small traces of hydrogen gas. This leaves an opportunity to generate a flash flame from the ashy solids. The ash is harmless looking by itself but is supportive of combustion by virtue of oxygen enhancement. |
| SAFETY |
| If you choose to rewet and re-steam this ashy particulate be certain to protect adjoining surfaces from scorching or fire. This risk only occurs via reuse of the ash. We rarely endorse this practice and prefer to use fresh steam chips each time we require a steam effect. |
| IN CASE OF FIRE, DO NOT USE WATER. Fight fire with fire fighting chemicals such as G-1 or MET-L-X. Another alternative is dry line. Any other dry chemicals of a dry nature may be used. |
| HANDLING AND STORAGE |
| Keep dry, moisture will degrade this compound. Store in a dry place away from water or dampness. Proper storage assures indefinite shelf life. This product best dispensed with a spoon. Do not allow chips to contact skin unless wearing gloves. Moisture on the hands activates an immediate reaction. |
| Steam chips improperly stored picks up moisture from the atmosphere, and forms hydroxides with the evolution of small percentages of hydrogen. If water, moisture, perspiration or condendsated water from walls or dripping pipes is brought in contact with this material the reaction is instantaneous and rapid enough to ignite the free air born hydrogen vapor. |
| Atomized dusts are capable of burning violently in the air. Small quantities present less difficulty and risk. If handling large quantities, work in a dry static free atmosphere. |
| Store containers off the floor, wrap large containers with a heavy gauge plastic bag or place container inside a metal garbage can or a 55 gallon drum with a tight fitting metal lid. |
| TOXICITY |
| When used for steam effects a combination of carbon dioxide, sodium salts and calcium hydroxide are released. The amounts liberated into the air vary considerably from batch to batch. Most applications are confined to small areas and use little material. The question of inhalation toxicity is a matter of concern and hasn't to the best of our knowledge affected anyone in an injurious way. This does not mean that this compound should be termed nontoxic. Common sense in handling and exposure are a question of how long and how much of this material is used. |
| Anyone with allergies or respiratory complications should wear an organic vapor respirator and work in an atmosphere where adequate ventilation is provided. Everyone uses this material differently and should as best as possible avoid burying his/her face into the vapor emitted. |
| Steam chips generate a slightly ammoniated odor. This can be toned and sweetened by adding lemon or other perfume oils to the water before combining water and steam chip crystals together. The water component generates CO-2 which is harmless. No lingering odor permeates the room. |
copyright Zeller International & Catskill Computer Services, 2000 |
