Low Budget Wind Machines...Leaf Blower or Carpet Dryer?

Anyone have any experience in attempting to use either of them as a wind machine, or maybe another possiblity?

I was researching the carpet dryers when I came upon a "low budget film making" article that suggested a leaf blower would work.

That really seemed like the best option, but you can get old carpet dryers on ebay for pretty cheap...anyone ever usedone of these? Does it create a concentrated blast of air that would work to simulate wind?

I understand that niether of these would create a high enough blast to sit 20 feet away and blast a whole group of characters but I'm only using it on one actor, and if needs be I can have it sitting only a couple feet away pointed directly at the actor...

Any thoughts?

gallion311

 

I am interested in the answer to this too, I will be needing wind in my next short film

 

What's wrong with a fan?


- Rico

 

I personally don't have any experience with either, but I'd say go with the leaf blower. I've had experience blowing leaves with an electric one and it does kick out a ton of wind. That and you could use it for yard work as well. Sure beats a rake.

 

What's wrong with a fan?

Fans don't produce enough of a concentrated wind, it would be tough to believe that I was soaring through the clouds like Superman with a light summers breeze gently bellowing my shirt...

Some leaf blowers can produce a force of up to 220 mph...small but powerful.

 

No, you can't use my wind machine.


Use a leafblower if you have one, and be prepared to do some extensive ADR and soundscape creation. If you don't have a leaf blower, I'm not sure if I would buy ine just for this.

 

Just get an industrial strenght fan.
Problem solved.

 

Just get an industrial strenght fan.
Problem solved.

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-3-Speed-Aloha-Breeze-Blower-Fan-Industrial-Strength_W0QQitemZ7601099993QQcategoryZ109459QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Thats about the only one I can find for under $300 and I had considered that option. We had one at my old job at a restaurant and as I recall they really weren't that powerful. Much better than a regular Walmart fan but not nearly as much as a leafblower. I'm not sure if it would produce enough force...

gallion311

EDIT:

They even sell those at Target and I really have a hard believing that such a consumer level fan would produce any power.

http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/ref=br_1_8/601-3445588-2871361?%5Fencoding=UTF8&frombrowse=1&asin=B0002VAEXK

 

When I worked at a factory years ago we used fans like that, you'd be surprised how much air those suckers can move. But those newer turbine looking ones (vortex or something) work better. I'd ask someone at the store plug one in so you can try it out; they'll do that.

Or I got it!!! Jump out of a plane head first and have your camera man hold your parachute until you need it! [/sarc]

- The Cat

 

You can try looking at Grainger. They have umpteen million fans for just about every need.

 

Wouldn't a leaf blower be a little bit TOO concentrated?

 

I've used a leaf-blower before for a similar thing to 'Superman flying through the clouds', and yeah, ADR was the main problem.

Other problems were:
Our poorly weighted bluescreen waving around in what was a very strong wind. Made keying tricky.

Concerntrated focus of wind. Solved by moving it back further, though in some setups this can be impossible.

The wind kicked up quite a bit of dust, debris, etc... in front of our screen. We spotted this pretty quick, and swept the whole place down before we tried again.


But it turned out fairly well. 'cept our lack of a proper soundscape.

 

I have used large fans myself. Ryan, check your pm or e-mail.

 

But it turned out fairly well. 'cept our lack of a proper soundscape.

You have a clip of the effect? I'd love to see what others have done as I've always been dying to try a Neo/Superman flying test...

I have used large fans myself. Ryan, check your pm or e-mail.

Like the Kind you buy at Target? After doing some reseach last night here's what I found.

You have the really cheap industrial fans (I actually found the term "High velocity fans"produced more in my price range)for $30 at Target, and then it steps up to anywhere between $50 and $150 at hardware stores. Then after that you go to the real-deal industrial fans that look like mini jet engines...typically those go for about $1000, which is a little more than I'm looking to spend...lol.

gallion311