Fog Blaster from ZERO TOYS

While I don't give them nearly as much attention as my precious action figures, I'm a science toy geek as well. I have a collection of those small electrical kits with the spring-connectors and resistors and 35 billion wires that never connect properly so the Random Number Generator or the Freakishly Obnoxious Buzzer or the Lie Detector projects don't work...

And I have a kit to make a robot arm stashed in the garage, and I dream of the day in which I can assemble all of its various and sundry parts and have it do all of my work for me. No more of that tedious painting, wasting my precious hand-time. I'll do it remotely, dammit, and with my feet! With switches and levers and a flurry of robotic passion! Kits with vials of chemicals have been known to spread through the attic, and while I never did anything more than make expanding concoctions in sealed (and thus dangerously shattering) vials, I sure loved me some science. I probably have the scars and / or tumors to prove it. Wired magazine is my porn.

This is why I contacted ZeroToys. After seeing their stuff advertised and praised in Wired and Scientific American (two magazines which I read regularly and, admittedly, understand irregularly), I couldn't resist. The Zero Blaster caught my eye, because the Zero Blaster is a toy gun - that shoots fog rings. How cool is that? Rings of fog! Holy Jesus, it's so cool that I'm cramping! I got me a Zero Blaster, and I'm here to share its wonders with you.

To begin, the design is really retro-suave. It's big, it's chunky, and nicely 50's sci-fi. It's not streamlined, and the look of it instantly brings to mind the various toy blasters of yore, covered with switches and triggers. It looks like a toy, which is something that's increasingly hard to find, and I dig it.

The biggest question is this : does it work well or at all?

While it's not exactly point and shoot instant gratification, once you get a hang of the various triggers and fluids and levers, it works excellently. This isn't too hard, as I let my 3-year old niece play with it for a while, and even she got the hang of it pretty quickly. Now, she needs to work on keeping her finger out of her nose and eating pixie sticks without spraying them across the kitchen.

The packaging has all of the instructions clearly printed on the back, as well as a section about the science of the Blaster and some tips and tricks for its use. The gun needs 6 AA batteries and some Super Zero Fluid (fog juice) to work, both of which are included in the price of the gun, which is a VERY worthwhile 20 bucks. The packaging is currently being edited for typos and verbal ambiguities. I contacted ZeroToys once I read that it was not for use in 'closed environments', taking it to mean that I had to use the Blaster outside, which I was reluctant to do in the notoriously frigid NY weather. It turns out that this IS an indoor toy, but it shouldn't be used in exceptionally small, enclosed areas. The average room should be more than large enough. Don't go popping this thing off in closets, and most certainly not in a casket.

The package also warned of the gun becoming hot, but I didn't feel any heat off of mine. I believe that there's a small heating coil deep within the fog chamber, but you'd have to really be routing around in there to touch it.

Now, stay with me:

First, insert the batteries. While ZeroToys is upgrading and improving the Blaster, mine does not have an on / off switch. I believe that newer models DO, but for now, I have to unscrew the battery door to turn the Blaster on and off. It's best to do this first, because you'll have Fluid leakage if you do it later.

Next, use the accompanying eyedropper to squirt some of the Zero Fluid into the small chamber at the base of the Blaster. This part made me nervous, because I can make a mess out of just about anything. Luckily, the Zero Fluid comes with a specially adapted eyedropper with a very narrow opening, so moving the Fluid in and out is very easy, much more so than expected. Now, you're in business and past the delicate exchange of fluids! This is beginning to sound like a dating review.

Pull the lower fog trigger to fill the front chamber with fog. The packaging recommends pressing it lightly a few times, but I found myself holding it down for a few seconds in order to get thick, visible fog rings. This trigger also has a small button to activate a chamber light as well. Once the chamber is full (which you can see through the clear opening), pull the upper trigger and bam! A plunger draws back, hits a small rubber sheet and fog ring ahoy!

I found that the fog rings lasted longest when the air was the most still, since it's all based on 'toroidal' air currents. When they're disrupted, so is the fog ring. As they travel, they spread pretty smoothly and don't simply break up in the air. There's a fair amount of extra fog that pours out of the opening, but it doesn't get in the way. It's very original-Trek, 'Studio Hell' kinda stuff. In addition, a few small dropperfulls of Zero Fluid last a LONG time. I was afraid that the fluid would run out quickly, necessitating the purchase of more (which is still pretty cheap), but after a half hour of popping off fog rings, the volume of Fluid barely went down.

Additionally, there's a switch on the back of the Blaster to adjust the pressure of the plunger, making the rings go faster or slower.

If you're concerned about the safety of all of the particles that'll be flying through the air, don't worry too much. They're cherry scented! And also, more importantly but less pleasantly aromatic, nontoxic. It may activate sensitivities in the occasional wussbag, but even my delicate and constantly swollen nasal passages were unhindered by the fog. I'm allergic to allergy medication, if that's an indication. My sinuses can't pass a single photon of light, let alone air, and my tonsil is the size of a gerbil's skull. Yes, just one of them. I can't state this enough.

When you're done with it, empty out the extra juice (also with the eyedropper) and the Zero Blaster stands up solid on its broad base, ready for future action. Some condensation will be left in the chamber, but as far as I can tell, it won't dry up and jam up the works.

I'm very pleased with this little gadget. It makes great use of some fun science, it's something entirely new, and it's keen to have around. Sure, it's entirely novel, but I think that's the best way to collect and play. I give this 5 nerd points out of 5.

Buy it, NOW, directly from Zero Toys!

[ ring! of fog! wow! ]

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